Destruction and Reconstruction: Personal Experiences of the Late War   By: Richard Taylor (1826-1879)

Personal Experiences of the Late War.

by

RICHARD TAYLOR,

Lieutenant General in the Confederate Army.

New York: D. Appleton and Company, 549 and 551 Broadway. 1879.

Copyright by D. Appleton and Company, 1879.

PREFACE.

These reminiscences of Secession, War, and Reconstruction 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, but 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, 1877.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

PREFACE 3

CHAPTER I.

SECESSION. 9

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

CHAPTER II.

FIRST 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 IV.

OPENING OF THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN. 31

McClellan as an Organizer The James River 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.

CHAPTER V.

THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 42

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 AROUND 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 VII.

THE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA. 99

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 VICKSBURG CAPTURE OF BERWICK'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.

CHAPTER X.

MOVEMENT TO THE RED RIVER CAMPAIGN AGAINST BANKS. 148