P.G.T. BEAUREGARD: Napoleon in Gray Book

T. Harry Williams P. G T. Beauregard covers the life of one of the more interesting confederate generals during the Civil War. The Creole General or the Napoleon in Gray was a widely regarded celebrity that lives on in the annals of history that include Lee, Johnston, and Davis. Beauregard was never truly in command of independent field but served under and planned key battles for Shiloh, Manassas and the siege of Sumter. From his WestPoint training and experience in the Mexican American War he was ready like many of his contemporaries for command in the Civil War. He was a firm believer in the principles espoused by Jomini and Napoleon regarding concentration although he would often fail to utilize these due to his inability for logistics. Beauregard would be one of the primary commanders for Manassas and Sumter in the east before being transferred to the west under Albert Sidney Johnston to plan Shiloh and establish the base at Cornith, Mississippi.

His disagreements with Jefferson Davis would relegate him to the sidelines preparing the defense of Charleston against siege which he would do admirably well. He was eventually transferred to Petersburg where he would command a defensive line ably against overwhelming odds until being sent back West again after disagreeing with Lee. Jefferson Davis would leave Beauregard without a direct field command in charge of two armies that were already finished. The great master of concentration was not prepared for the new way of war being fought by Sherman and was hopelessly outmatched as was his superior Joe Johnston to prepare for the fight against Sherman. Finally after the surrender of Lee, Beauregard and Johnston would arrange the surrender to Sherman of the last major confederate army in the field while Davis continued his flight.

After the war Beauregard went back to Louisiana, where he was one of the few confederate generals to to make a living, as a railroad engineer and eventually ran the states Lottery system. Overall Williams does an excellent job of telling the story of this flamboyant general. He covers the high points and the low points fairly giving credit that has often been overlooked. Beauregard was rated as a second tier general since he never had a command but he participated in almost all of the major Confederate victories throughout the war and established some of the tightest fortifications that the Union had to overcome. His knowledge helped the confederacy extend its life longer than it would without him. Well worth the time for those who are looking to expand their Civil War knowledge.