Destruction and reconstruction: personal experiences of the late war

Preface

These reminiscences of Secession, "War, and Eeconstruction it has seemed to me a duty to record. An actor therein, accident of fortune afforded me exceptional advantages for an interior view.

The opinions expressed are sincerely entertained, hut of their correctness such readers as I may find must judge. I have in most cases been a witness to the facts alleged, or have obtained them from the best sources. Where statements are made upon less authority, I have carefully endeavored to indicate it by the language employed.

R. TAYLOR.

December j 1877.

Contents

PAGE

PREFACE 3

Chapter I

Causes of the Civil War — The Charleston Convention — Convention of Louisiana— Temper of the People.

CHAPTER II. FntST Scenes of the "War. . . . . . .15

Blindness of the Confederate Government — General Bragg occupies Pensacola — Battle of Manassas — Its Effects on the North and the South — " Initiative " and " Defensive " in War.

CHAPTER III. After Manassas. . . . . . . .22

General W. H. T. Walker— The Louisiana Brigade— The "Tigers"— Major Wheat — General Joseph E. Johnston and Jefferson Davis — Alexander H. Stephens.

CHAPTER IY.

OPENINa OF THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN. . . . .31

McClellan as an Organizer — The James Eiver Route to Richmond — Army of Northern Virginia moved to Orange Court House — Straggling — General Ewell — Bugeaud's " Maxims " — Uselessness of Tents — Counsels to Young Officers.

6 CONTENTS.

Chapter V. Fags

The Army moved to Gordonsville — Joseph E. Johnston as a Commander — Valley of Virginia — Stonewall Jackson — Belle Boyd — Federals routed at Front Royal — Cuirassiers strapped to their Horses — Battle of Winchester— A " Walk Over " at Strasburg — General Ashby — Battle of Port Republic.

CHAPTER VI. " The Seven Days abound Richmond." . . . .83

Clever Strategy — The Valley Army summoned to the Defense of Richmond— Battles of Cold Harbor, Frazier's Farm, Malvern Hill — Ignorance of the Topography — McClellan as a Commander — General R. E. Lee — His magnificent Strategy — His Mistakes.

CHAPTER Vn.

General Bragg — Invasion of Kentucky — Western Louisiana — Its Topography and River Systems — The Attakapas, Home of the Acadians — The Creole Population.

CHAPTER VIII. Operations in Louisiana and on the Mississippi. . . .111

Federal Post at Bayou Des Allemands Surprised — Marauding by the Federals— Salt Mines at Petit Anse — General Pemberton — Major Brent Chief of Artillery — Federal Operations on the Lafourche — Gunboat Cotton — General Weitzel Advances up the Teche — Capture of Federal Gunboats — General Kirby Smith.

CHAPTER IX. Attacked by the Federals — Attempt to Relieve Vicksbubg

Capture of Beewiok's Bay. . . . . .129

Federal Advance against Bisland — Retreat of the Confederates — Banks's Dispatches — Relief of Vicksburg impracticable — Capture of Federal Post at Berwick's Bay — Attack on Fort Butler — Fall of Vicksburg and of Port Hudson.

CONTENTS.

Chapter X. Page

Movement to the Red Rivee — Campaign against Banks. . . 148

The Confederate Losses at Vicksburg and Port Hudson — Federals beaten at Bayou Bourbeau — Trans-Mississippi Department, its Bureaux and Staff— A Federal Fleet and Army ascend Red River — Battle of Pleasant Hill — Success of the Confederates — Perilous Situation of Banks's Army and the Fleet.

CHAPTER XL

Escape of Banks and Poetee. . . . •* .176

The Fleet descends Red River to Grand Ecore— Banks concentrates his Army there — Taylor's Force weakened by General Kirby Smith — Confederates harass Rear of Federal Column — The Federals cross the River atMonette's Ferry and reach Alexandria — Retreat of the Fleet harassed — It passes over the Falls at Alexandria.

CHAPTER XII. East op the Mississippi. . . . . . .196

The Mississippi controlled by the Federals — Taylor assigned to the Command of Alabama, Mississippi, etc. — Forrest's Operations — General Sherman in Georgia — Desperate Situation of Hood — Remnant of his Army sent to North Carolina.

CHAPTER Xm.

Closing Opeeations of the "War — Surrender. . . . 221

Fall of Mobile — Last Engagement of the "War — Johnston-Sherman Convention— Taylor surrenders to General Canby — Last Hours of the " Trans-Mississippi Department."

CHAPTER XIV. Criticisms and Reflections. ...... 230

Gettysburg — Shiloh — Albert Sidney Johnston — Lack of Statesmanship in the Confederacy — " King Cotton " — Carpet-Baggers.

8 CONTENTS.

Chapter XV. Page

Interceding for Prisoners — Debauchery and Corruption in Washington — General Grant — Andrew Johnson — Stevens, Winter Davis, Sumner — Setting up and pulling down State Governments — The "Ku-Klux" — Philadelphia Convention.

CHAPTER XVI. Reconstruction under Grant. ..... 256

Demoralization at the North — a Corrupt Vice-President — a Hypocritical Banker — a Great Preacher profiting by his own Evil Reputation — Knaves made Plenipotentiaries — A Spurious Legislature installed in the Louisiana State House — General Sheridan in New Orleans — An American Alberoni — Presidential Election of 1876 — Congress overawed by a Display of Military Force.