Kelly's_Irish_Brigade
Cadet
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2018
While researching i've come across a frenchman named Camille Armand Jules Marie de Polignac. From what I read about him he was born February 16, 1832 at Millemont Seine-et-Oise, France. He was born into A prestigious noble family and served the French army as a Second Leuitenent in the Crimean War. In 1859 he traveled to Central America to study Geography and plant life. When the Civil War broke out he volunteered for the Confederacy where he was placed under P.G.T. Beauregard And later Braxton Bragg as a staff Officer. In 1863 he was promoted to Brigadier General and transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Department where he was put in charge of a Texan Infantry Brigade, though I couldn't find which one. It is said that some of his Texans had troubles pronouncing his last name so they nicknamed him "Prince Polecat." During his service he distinguished himself during the Red River Campaign and was promoted again in 1864 to Major General.
After he was promoted he left for France to negotiate with Emporer Napolean III about sending aid to the Confederacy however, they were cut short when he learned of General Lee's Surrender. He decided to retire to his home in France until re-enlisting in the French army to fight in the Franco-Prussian war. He died at 81 years old in in 1913 and became The last surviving Confederate Major General.
This was all I could find on him. if anyone else has any information on him or any other French Immigrants during the war please feel free to share.
*forgive me if I've made any mistakes here I'm still learning the ropes.