Lafayette of the South : Prince Camille de Polignac and the American Civil War / Jeff Kinard.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kinard, Jeff, 1954-

Series:

Texas A & M University military history series ; 70.

Texas A & M University military history series ; 70

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Polignac, Camille de, 1832-.

Polignac, Camille de.

Confederate States of America. Army--Biography.

Confederate States of America.

Generals--Confederate States of America--Biography.

Generals.

French--Confederate States of America--Biography.

French.

Princes--France--Biography.

Princes.

Red River Expedition, 1864.

Southwest, Old--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Campaigns.

Southwest, Old.

Texas--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Campaigns.

Texas.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Campaigns.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (248 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

College Station : Texas A&M University Press, c2001.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The remarkable Confederate career of Prince Camille de Polignac--French aristocrat, professional military man, and solider of fortune-has gone largely unnoticed because most of his service occurred in the relatively neglected western theater of the American Civil war. While in Louisiana in early 1863, after serving under Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard and Gen. Braxton Bragg, newly promoted Brigadier General Polignac took over a brigade of unruly Texans. In many ways it was a last chance for both Polignac and the brigade. Lieutenant General Richard Taylor, disgusted with the insubordinate Texans, was on the verge of breaking up the brigade. Polignac despite an impeccable military background, had been rejected by a number of units because of his foreign birth. Through hard work and personal bravery. The French prince eventually won his men's trust and played a crucial role in defeating the Red River campaign of Union general Nathaniel P. Banks, for which Polignac was promoted to major general. In early 1865 Polignac made a final attempt to save his adopted country by sailing to France on a secret diplomatic mission, but by the time he arrived in Paris, the South had surrendered. In the engaging, well-written "Lafayette of the South," Jeff Kinard reveals the distinguished but underappreciated life and career of Prince Camille de Polignac. With riveting storytelling, Kinard follows Polignac through his early days, his dramatic years during the Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War, and the rest of his long life. Polignac dies in1913, holding the peculiar distinction of being the last Confederate major general and the only foreign national on either side to earn a rank.

Contents:

Intro

Contents

Illustrations

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Lieutenant Colonel, C.S.A., 'Thru Courtesy

'Time Will Tell'

'Was Not CaesarE Caesar at Twenty?'

'I Stood with You-I Marched with You-I Charged with You'

'One WillE One EndE One All Pervading Thought'

'A Damn Frog-Eating Frenchman'

'I Will Show You Whether I Am 'Polecat' or 'Polignac!'

'Follow Your Polignac!'

'Twelve Hundred Muskets'

'Lafayette of the South'

Union Casualties in the Battle of RichmondE Kentucky

Confederate Casualties in the Battle of RichmondE Kentucky

Confederate and Union Losses in the Red River Campaign

Confederate Order Of Battle

Notes

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. 213-224) and index.

ISBN:

1-60344-715-6

1-58544-910-5

OCLC:

179147938