Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/265

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

BEAUREGARD.


BEAVER


he was placed in charge of the ■ • IMississippi and Lake Defences" in Louisiana. In November.

1860, he became the superintendent of the mili- tary academy at West Point, a position which he

held but a few days, owing to the crisis in the affairs of the country, and to the state of liis own con- victions. Two months later he resigned his commission in the J United States army, ' and entered the ser- >^ vice of the Confeder- ~- acy with the rank of brigadier-general. He was assigned to the _^5^ ^^^ command of the South

-^ ^ ^^.iut4.^p^i.>,^ CaroUna troops at CJharleston, S.C., and in April, 1861, opened fire on Fort Sumter, which surrendered after a bombard- ment of tliirty-six hours. At Manassas, July 21,

1861, where he had command, in conjunction wdth Joseph E. Johnston, he was victorious, and in the spring of 1862 he stepped into the breach, when Gen. A. S. Johnston was killed at Shiloh, and conducted an orderly retreat, halting his army at Corinth, which position he was obliged to evacu- ate after holding it stubbornly for six or seven weeks. After a short leave of absence, made necessary by illness, he was again given command of the defences of Charleston, S. C, with the fuU rank of general. With scant and utterly in- adequate resources, he held over three hundred miles of assailable coast line against the formid- able attacks of land forces vmder Generals GiU- more and Hunter and the combined naval forces of Admirals Dupont and Dahlgren, from Sep- tember, 1862, to April, 1864. In 1864, when Grant was investing Richmond, General Beauregard was summoned to the assistance of Lee. He defeated General Butler at Drury's Bluff, and made a brilliant defence at Petersburg. In Octo- ber, 1864, as commander of the military division of the west, he made a futile attempt to check the march of the Federal army through Georgia, and joined forces with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston in North Carolina, where both officers surrendered to Sherman in April, 1865. After peace was restored lie became president of the New Orleans, Jackson and Mississippi railroad. In 1870 he was appointed adjutant-general of the state of Louisiana and later became the manager of the Louisiana state lottery. (See "MiUtary Opera- tions of General Beauregard in the War between States, 1881 -'65," by Col. Alfred Roman.) Gen- eral Beauregard wrote and published: "The Principles and Maxims of the Art of War "


(Charleston, 1863) ; a "Report of the Defence of Charleston" (Richmond, 1864); and "A Com- mentary on the Campaign and Battle of Ma- nassas" (New York, 1891). His death occurred in New Orleans, Feb. 20, 1893.

BEAVEN, Thomas, R.C. bishop, was born in Springfield, WafS .March 1, 1851. He received his primary education in the common schools of his native town, and subseqviently pursued his classical course in the college of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Mass., being graduated from this in- stitution in 1870 with high honors. He was professor at Loyola college, Baltimore, for the following two years, and in 1872 entered the Montreal college for his ecclesiastical course. On Dec. 18, 1875, Mr. Beaven was ordained a priest and placed himself at the disposal of Bishop O'Reilly. He was first appointed assistant to Rev. J. Carson at Spencer, Mass. , filling this po- sition until July, 1879, when he succeeded to the pastorate. Soon after he became pastor, he decided to erect a magnificent new church, but active operations were not begun until May 10, 1882, when he was enabled to lay the corner- stone. In 1887 the handsome edifice, St. Mary's of Spencer, was dedicated. Bishop O'Reilly offi- ciating. Father Beaven remained at Spencer for thirteen years, and the good effects of his ministry have left an indelible stamp upon the place and people. In October, 1889, he was appointed to take charge of the church of the Holy Rosary at Holyoke. Mass. , and served there until he received his appointment to the bishopric of Springfield. He was consecrated with impos- ing ceremonies on Oct. 18, 1892, at St. Michael's cathedral, Springfield, Mass. Bishop Beaven became noted for his scholarly attaininents and executive ability. As a lover of free institutions he publicly proclaimed his devotion to the Ameri- can republic on all suitable occasions. He re- ceived the degree of D.D. from Georgetown college.

BEAVER, James Addams, soldier, was born in Millerstown, Pa., Oct. 21, 1887; son of Jacob and Ann E. (Addams) Beaver. He was prepared for college in the Pine Grove academy and matric- ulated in 1854 at Jefferson college, where he was graduated with honor in 1856. He studied law with Hon. H. N. Mc AlHster in Bellefonte, was admitted to the bar in 1858. and became a partner with his preceptor. While pursuing his legal studies he joined the Bellefonte Fencibles, Capt. Andrew G. Curtin. He gave close attention to tactics, and was made 2d lieutenant of the com- pany. On the breaking out of the civil war the Bellefonte Fencibles reported at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg. April 18, 1861. At the close of their three montlis" term of enlistment Lieutenant Beaver aided in recruiting the 45th Pennsylvania