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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

CSS General Beauregard

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal
Sidewheel Ram:
  • Built, in 1847 at Algiers, LA.
  • Selected in January 1862 by Capt. J. E. Montgomery, for his River Defense Fleet
  • On 25 January her conversion to a cotton-clad ram included installing 4-inch oak and 1-inch iron sheathing over her bow, with cotton bales sandwiched between double pine bulkheads to protect her boilers
  • With conversion completed 5 April, CSS General Beauregard steamed to Fort Pillow, TN., to defend the approaches to Memphis
  • On 10 May 1862, General Beauregard, CAPT. J. H. Hart in command, and seven more of Montgomery's fleet, attacked the Federal Mississippi ironclad flotilla
  • The Plum Point Bend action witnessed effective ramming tactics by the Confederates, although General Beauregard was unable to ram any Federal ships
  • After Fort Pillow was safely evacuated, 4 June 1862, General Beauregard along with the remainder of Montgomery's Fleet fell back on Memphis to coal
  • After Fort Pillow fell Mississippi Flotilla, lost no time in appearing off Memphis, 6 June 1862
  • In the ensuing Battle of Memphis General Beauregard missed ramming USS Monarch and "cut away entirely the port wheel and wheel-house" CSS General Sterling Price, also engaging Monarch
  • General Beauregard, backing out, gave Union flagship USS Benton a close broadside with a 42-pounder, and Benton replied with a shot into the Confederate's boiler, killing or scalding many of her crew, 14 of whom, in agony, were rescued by Benton
  • Final Disposition, General Beauregard exploded and was sinking, Monarch rescued her remaining crew and took her in tow towards the Arkansas shore, where the wreck remained for a short time partially visible in shoal water
    Specifications:
    Displacement 230 t.
    Length 161'1"
    Beam 30'
    Depth of Hold unknown
    Draft unknown
    Speed unknown
    Complement unknown
    Armament
    four 8" guns
    one 42-pdr gun
    Propulsion steam
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    General Beauregard 162k
    Namesake

    Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard (May 28, 1818 - February 20, 1893) Confederate general in the American Civil War. Beauregard graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York (1838), and served in the Mexican-American War (1846–48) under the command of Winfield Scott. After the secession of Louisiana from the Union (January 1861), Beauregard resigned from the U.S. Army and was commissioned a brigadier general in the Confederate army; he eventually became one of the eight full generals of the Confederacy and participated in almost every important theater of the war. He commanded the forces that bombarded Fort Sumter, South Carolina, was on the field at the First Battle of Bull Run (1861), and assumed command at Shiloh after the death of General Albert Sidney Johnston (1862). He later conducted the defense of Charleston and toward the end of the war defended the southern approaches to Richmond. Though he proved to be a capable combat commander and often displayed sound strategic sense, Beauregard revealed serious deficiencies as a general officer. His penchant for questioning orders bordered on insubordination.
    After the war he returned to Louisiana, where he became a railroad director, adjutant general of the state, and manager of the Louisiana lottery.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 51926         		USNH&HC
    General Van Dorn 255k "Battle of Fort Pillow, 3rd Position" Engraving published in Rear Admiral Henry Walke's Naval Scenes and Reminiscences of the Civil War in the United States ... (1877), depicting the action between the Confederate River Defense Fleet and Federal ironclads near Fort Pillow, Tennessee, 10 May 1862. Confederate ships, seen at left, include:
    CSS Colonel Lovell,
    CSS General Beauregard,
    CSS General M. Jeff Thompson,
    CSS General Bragg,
    CSS General Sumter,
    CSS Little Rebel and
    CSS General Earl van Dorn. The Federal ironclads, in the center and right, are:
    USS Carondelet,
    USS Cincinnati,
    USS Mound City,
    USS Benton,
    USS Saint Louis,
    USS Cairo and
    USS Pittsburgh. A tug is seen in the right foreground.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 42755    		 Tommy Trampp
    General Beauregard 177k "The Great Naval Battle before Memphis, June 6, 1862". Engraving after a sketch by Alexander Simplot, published in "Harper's Weekly", depicting the action between the Confederate River Defense Fleet and Federal warships off Memphis, Tennessee. In the foreground, the print depicts the Confederate ships (from left to right):
    CSS General M. Jeff Thompson (shown sinking);
    CSS Little Rebel (shown burning);
    CSS General Sterling Price;
    CSS General Beauregard (shown being jammed by the Ellet Ram
    USS Monarch;
    CSS General Bragg (shown aground) and
    CSS Colonel Lovell (shown sinking). In the background are the Federal warships (from left to right):
    USS Queen of the West;
    USS Cairo;
    USS Carondelet;
    USS Louisville;
    USS Saint Louis; a tug; and
    USS Benton. The city of Memphis is in the right distance, with a wharf boat by the shore. Harpers Weekly, 28 June 1862.
    Sons of the South - Memphis Naval Battle
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 58891    		 Robert Hurst
    General Van Dorn 232k "Closing-Scene of the Naval Engagement Before Memphis, Tennessee., 6 June 1862" Line engraving published in Harper's Weekly, 1862. Ships shown are (from left to right):
    CSS General Earl Van Dorn (escaping, with the Federal fleet in pursuit);
    CSS General Sumter (captured);
    CSS General Beauregard (sinking) and
    CSS General M. Jeff Thompson (blowing up).
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 59053    		 Tommy Trampp
    General Beauregard 92k bLine engraving "Appearance of the Rebel Ram Beauregard and Jeff Thompson after the Fight.", off Memphis, TN., 6 June 1862. published in "Harper's Weekly", 1862. CSS General Beauregard has sunk to her superstructure deck in right center, with smoke still coming from her stack. A Federal tug is standing by in the right center. CSS General M. Jeff Thompson is burning, with only smoke visible, in the far right background.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 59054    		 Robert Hurst

    Harper's Weekly article for December 3 1864, possibly proves that there was a third Confederate Gunboat with the name CSS General Beauregard. DANFS hints at this at the bottom of the General Beauregard page.
    "(Gbt) On 16 December 1863, Admiral Porter noted, "From a refugee who escaped from Mobile, Ala., I learned the following particulars in relation to the rebel gunboats* * * in that vicinity. * * * A wooden gunboat called General Beauregard carries four guns, and is commanded by Lieutenant Milligan. * * *" No further evidence to corroborate the existence of this warship has yet been discovered, but even this modicum of information does not suggest identification with any of the other Beauregards better known to history."

    General Beauregard
    098661504    		 55k "THE REBEL FLAG OF TRUCE BOAT " BEAUREGARD," WITH SAVANNAH IN THE DISTANCE.", sketched by William Waug. Harper's Weekly 3 December 1864.
    CSS General Beauregard acting as truce boat for an exchange of sick and invalid prisoners on either side at the mouth of the Savannah River in November 1864. fifteen transports laden with rebel prisoners, arrived at Fort Pulaski 11 November. 3200 rebel prisoners were conveyed south in this first installment. The transfer of prisoners took place in the Savannah River, between Savannah and Fort Pulaski.
    		 Tommy Trampp
    General Beauregard
    098661505    		 101k "THE REBEL FLAG OF TRUCE BOATS COMING DOWN THE SAVANNAH RIVER TO MEET THE FEDERAL TRANSPORTS.", sketched by William Waug. Harper's Weekly 3 December 1864.
    CSS General Beauregard escorts the the Confederate transports carrying 3200 sick and invalid prisoner down the Savannah River to make the exchange, between Savannah and Fort Pulaski.
    		 Tommy Trampp
    CSS General Beauregard
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    Last Updated 7 August 2020