Régis de Trobriand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Philippe Régis Denis de Keredern de Trobriand
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Maj. Gen. Régis de Trobriand
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| Born | June 4, 1816 near Tours, France |
| Died | July 15, 1897 (aged 81) Bayport, New York |
| Place of burial |
St. Anne's Cemetery, Sayville, New York
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| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1879 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General Brevet Major General |
| Commands held | 55th New York Infantry 38th New York Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Other work | author |
Philippe Régis Denis de Keredern de Trobriand (born June 4, 1816 – died July 15, 1897) was a French nobleman, lawyer, poet, and writer. When he was in his twenties, he moved to the United States after a challenge from a friend. He first settled in New York City.
During the American Civil War, he became a U.S. citizen and joined the Union Army. He rose to the rank of general. From 1867 to 1870, he commanded Fort Stevenson in Dakota Territory. He was promoted to a special honorary rank of brigadier general in the regular army in 1868. After the war, during the time known as Reconstruction, Trobriand was part of the U.S. Army forces in Louisiana. He lived in New Orleans from 1875 until he retired from the Army in 1879.
Contents
Early Life and Moving to America
Philippe de Trobriand was born at Chateau des Rochettes, near Tours, France. His father, Joseph de Keredern de Trobriand, was a baron and a general in Napoleon Bonaparte's army. His family had a long history of military service.
As a young man, Trobriand studied law in Paris. He also enjoyed writing and published his first novel, Gentlemen of the West, in 1840. Because his father had served a previous king, Trobriand was not allowed to serve the new king, Louis Philippe, after the July Revolution of 1830. Trobriand was also a very skilled swordsman.
In 1841, at age 25, Trobriand moved to the United States. He did this to win a dare! He quickly became popular among the wealthy people in New York City. He published his second novel, The Rebel, in New York that same year.
He met Mary Mason Jones in New York, whose father was a rich banker. They married in Paris. After living in Venice for a while, they returned to New York and made it their permanent home. They had two daughters, Marie-Caroline and Beatrice. In the 1850s, Trobriand worked as a writer and editor for French-language newspapers in the U.S.
Serving in the Civil War
When the Civil War began, Trobriand became a U.S. citizen. On August 28, 1861, he became an officer and was given command of the 55th New York Volunteer Infantry. This regiment was mostly made up of French immigrants and was known as the Gardes de Lafayette.
His regiment fought in the 1862 Peninsula Campaign. Their first battle was on May 5, 1862, at the Battle of Williamsburg. Trobriand became very sick with "swamp fever" and missed the rest of the campaign. His regiment later fought at the Battle of Fredericksburg, but they were kept in reserve and did not suffer many losses.
In December 1862, Trobriand became the colonel of the newly combined 38th New York regiment. He led this regiment at the Battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863. After this battle, Trobriand was given command of a new group of soldiers called a brigade.
Trobriand is most famous for his actions at the Battle of Gettysburg. He arrived on the second day of the battle, July 2, 1863. His brigade defended an area known as the Wheatfield against strong attacks from Confederate forces. His soldiers fought bravely until other Union troops arrived to help. However, the fight was very costly, with one out of every three men in Trobriand's brigade becoming a casualty (killed, wounded, or missing).
After the battle, his commander, Maj. Gen. David B. Birney, praised Trobriand's leadership. He said Trobriand "deserves my heartiest thanks" and that he "certainly deserves the rank of brigadier-general."
Even with this praise, Colonel Trobriand did not become a brigadier general until April 10, 1864. President Abraham Lincoln appointed him to this rank. He finally took command of a brigade that matched his new rank when another general was removed from duty. Later in the war, Trobriand sometimes led a larger group of soldiers called a division during the Petersburg Campaign and the Appomattox Campaign.
On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Trobriand for the honorary rank of major general. This was confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Trobriand left the volunteer army on January 15, 1866. He was also given the honorary rank of brigadier general in the regular army in 1868.
After the War
After the Civil War, Trobriand went back to France. He planned to write a book about his experiences with the Union Army. In November 1866, he learned that General Ulysses S. Grant had appointed him as a colonel to command the 31st Regiment of Infantry. Trobriand asked for time off to finish his book, Quatre ans de campagnes à l'Armée du Potomac, which was published in 1867. The English version, Four Years with the Army of the Potomac, came out much later in 1889.
Trobriand returned to the U.S. Army in 1867 to serve in the West. He commanded Fort Stevenson in Dakota Territory from 1867 to 1869. While in North Dakota, Trobriand painted many landscapes and portraits of friendly Native American tribes like the Arikara, Gros Ventre, and Mandan people. Reproductions of 27 of his paintings are shown at the fort today.
He then commanded Fort Shaw in Montana. In 1870, the Army mistakenly attacked a friendly Native American group in what became known as the Marias Massacre. Over the next few years, Trobriand also served in Utah and Wyoming.
In 1874, President Ulysses S. Grant sent Trobriand to New Orleans. He was to lead the 13th Regiment to protect the state government during a time of political unrest. Trobriand handled these difficult situations carefully.
Trobriand had fewer assignments from 1877 until he retired from the Army on March 20, 1879. He was ordered to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in July 1877 to command federal troops during the Great Strike of 1877, but local forces had already stopped the riots.
Later Years
After retiring, Trobriand and his wife lived in New Orleans. He enjoyed growing roses in his garden, painting, and reading.
He wrote more books, including Vie militaire dans le Dakota, notes et souvenirs (1867–1869) (published in 1926 as Army Life in Dakota) and Our Noble Blood (published in 1997). He and his wife spent their summers visiting their daughters. Trobriand made his last trip to France in 1891.
Trobriand died in Bayport, New York, and is buried in St. Ann's Episcopal Cemetery in nearby Sayville, New York.
Legacy and Honors
- The de Trobriand Art Gallery was created in his honor at the Fort Stevenson Guardhouse near Garrison, North Dakota. It displays copies of 27 of his paintings from his time in North Dakota.
- Four of his original paintings and many sketches are kept by the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
- In North Dakota, there is a place called de Trobriand Bay on Lake Sakakawea, near Fort Stevenson State Park where he served.
Books Written by Trobriand
- Les gentilshommes de l'ouest (The Gentlemen of the West), 1840
- The Rebel, 1841
- Quatre ans de campagnes à l'Armée du Potomac, 1867 (English translation: Four Years with the Army of the Potomac, 1889)
- Vie militaire dans le Dakota, notes et souvenirs (1867–1869), published in 1926 (English translation: Army Life in Dakota)
- Our Noble Blood, published in 1997
