Following the surrender, the general made his way back to Louisiana where he debated his future. After numerous years, he decided to apply for amnesty, although he would not be pardoned for three more years.
Beauregard's first employment following the war was in October 1865
as chief engineer and general superintendent of the New Orleans, Jackson and
Great Northern Railroad. In 1866 he was promoted to president, a position he
retained until 1870, when he was ousted in a hostile takeover. Beauregard's railroad career had serious ups and downs, including one ugly period where the Republican government of Louisiana and New Orleans usurped the power of the Board of Directors for a while
After the loss of these two railway executive positions, Beauregard spent time briefly at a variety of companies and civil engineering pursuits, but his personal wealth became assured when he was recruited as a supervisor of the Louisiana Lottery in 1877. He and former Confederate general Jubal Early presided over lottery drawings and made numerous public appearances, lending the effort some respectability. For 15 years the two generals served in these positions, but the public became opposed to government-sponsored gambling and the lottery was closed down by the legislature.
As more and more biographies were being published on civil war generals, Beauregard employed a biographer in order to hasten the publishing of his autobiography so that he could not only contend his reputation that was being criticized by other generals, but also place the credit on his hired biographer for anything vulgar.
Beauregard would later serve as the adjutant general of the Louisiana state militia starting in 1879. In his later years Beauregard continued to engage in a long-running feud with Jefferson Davis through his published writings, which included a personal account of the First Battle of Bull Run.
Although he returned to politics, elected to a minor position in New Orleans in 1888, Beauregard kept his life centered on his growing family. A few years later, following a week of delusions that had him concentrating his forces and attacking an imaginary enemy, the Hero of Fort Sumter died In New Orleans on February 20, 1893 at the age of 74
After the loss of these two railway executive positions, Beauregard spent time briefly at a variety of companies and civil engineering pursuits, but his personal wealth became assured when he was recruited as a supervisor of the Louisiana Lottery in 1877. He and former Confederate general Jubal Early presided over lottery drawings and made numerous public appearances, lending the effort some respectability. For 15 years the two generals served in these positions, but the public became opposed to government-sponsored gambling and the lottery was closed down by the legislature.
As more and more biographies were being published on civil war generals, Beauregard employed a biographer in order to hasten the publishing of his autobiography so that he could not only contend his reputation that was being criticized by other generals, but also place the credit on his hired biographer for anything vulgar.
Beauregard would later serve as the adjutant general of the Louisiana state militia starting in 1879. In his later years Beauregard continued to engage in a long-running feud with Jefferson Davis through his published writings, which included a personal account of the First Battle of Bull Run.
Although he returned to politics, elected to a minor position in New Orleans in 1888, Beauregard kept his life centered on his growing family. A few years later, following a week of delusions that had him concentrating his forces and attacking an imaginary enemy, the Hero of Fort Sumter died In New Orleans on February 20, 1893 at the age of 74