Destruction and Reconstruction

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

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 XI.

ESCAPE OF BANKS AND PORTER. 176