John Walbach
Encyclopedia
John Baptiste de Barth Walbach, Baron de Walbach, (3 October 1766 Münster
- 10 June 1857 Baltimore, Maryland) was a career soldier who worked his way up to brigadier general
in the early years of the United States Army
.
. He was a lieutenant
in the Lauzun
hussars 1786-1792. He returned to his native land to join the army of the Comte d'Artois, brother of Louis XVI
. He was present during the campaign of 1792 in Champagne in the advance of the Prussian army until it was disbanded at Maestricht, on 6 January 1793, participated in the attack on Frankfurt, and subsequently served during the campaign of 1793 in attacks on the French lines at Germersheim
, Langenkandel, and Weissenburg. In October 1793, he accepted a captaincy in the Hussars de Rohan
in the German service, and took part in covering the retreat of the Duke of York upon Holland and Germany
.
at the opening of the French Revolution
. But the father had died in Philadelphia, and his estate had been sold by the sheriff. Walbach resigned his commission in the Hussars de Rohan in April 1798, and was appointed aide-de-camp to Gen. William Macpherson.
He became 1st lieutenant of U. S. cavalry and adjutant on 10 January 1799, was aide-de-camp to Gen. Alexander Hamilton
in May, assistant adjutant-general to Gen. William North
in September, and in December was assigned to the staff of Gen. Charles C. Pinckney, whom he assisted in preparing regulations for the cavalry. In February 1801, he was made 1st lieutenant in the regiment of artillerists and engineers, and on 25 October following he was appointed aide-de-camp to Gen. James Wilkinson
. He was retained in April 1802 as 1st lieutenant of artillery, and became adjutant 1 December 1804. He was promoted captain 31 January 1806, made assistant deputy quartermaster general in March 1812, assistant adjutant general, with the rank of major, in June 1813, and on 6 August 1813 adjutant general.
He took part in the Battle of Crysler's Farm
, Canada, 11 November 1813. Gen. George W. Cullum, in his Campaigns and Engineers of the War of 1812-1815 says that the enemy, “discovering our disorder and slackened fire, pushed vigorously forward and endeavored by a flank movement to capture our cannon, when Adjutant-General Walbach, a German veteran in our army who had seen much foreign service, gave the order to 'charge mit de dragoons,' and thus saved the pieces.” On 1 May 1815, he received the brevet of lieutenant-colonel “for meritorious services.”
, 25 April 1818, brevet colonel for “ten years' favorable service,” 1 May 1825, lieutenant colonel
in the 1st regiment of artillery, 30 May 1832, and colonel of the 4th artillery, 19 March, 1842. In May 1850, he received the brevet of brigadier general, to date from 11 November 1823.
Walbach possessed mental and physical vigor until an advanced age.
, and Louis Augustus de Barth, who was graduated at West Point Military Academy in 1834, and died a captain of ordnance, 26 June 1853.
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
- 10 June 1857 Baltimore, Maryland) was a career soldier who worked his way up to brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
in the early years of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
.
Early years in Europe
Walbach was the third son of Count Joseph de Barth, and received his military education at StrasbourgStrasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
. He was a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the Lauzun
Lauzun
Lauzun is a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in south-western France....
hussars 1786-1792. He returned to his native land to join the army of the Comte d'Artois, brother of Louis XVI
Louis XVI of France
Louis XVI was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre until 1791, and then as King of the French from 1791 to 1792, before being executed in 1793....
. He was present during the campaign of 1792 in Champagne in the advance of the Prussian army until it was disbanded at Maestricht, on 6 January 1793, participated in the attack on Frankfurt, and subsequently served during the campaign of 1793 in attacks on the French lines at Germersheim
Germersheim
Germersheim is a town in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, of around 20,000 inhabitants. It is also the seat of the Germersheim district. The neighboring towns and cities are Speyer, Landau, Philippsburg, Karlsruhe and Wörth.-Coat of arms:...
, Langenkandel, and Weissenburg. In October 1793, he accepted a captaincy in the Hussars de Rohan
Rohan
Rohan is a realm in J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy era of Middle-earth. It is a grassland which lies north of its ally Gondor and north-west of Mordor, the realm of Sauron, their enemy . It is inhabited by the Rohirrim, a people of herdsmen and farmers who are well-known for their horses and cavalry....
in the German service, and took part in covering the retreat of the Duke of York upon Holland and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Early United States military career
In 1798 he obtained a six months' leave of absence, with a view of visiting his father, who had come to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the opening of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. But the father had died in Philadelphia, and his estate had been sold by the sheriff. Walbach resigned his commission in the Hussars de Rohan in April 1798, and was appointed aide-de-camp to Gen. William Macpherson.
He became 1st lieutenant of U. S. cavalry and adjutant on 10 January 1799, was aide-de-camp to Gen. Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
in May, assistant adjutant-general to Gen. William North
William North
-Life:He was the son of John North, who commanded Fort Frederick in 1751, and Fort St. George in Thomaston, Maine, in 1758. He moved with his mother, Elizabeth North, to Boston, Massachusetts....
in September, and in December was assigned to the staff of Gen. Charles C. Pinckney, whom he assisted in preparing regulations for the cavalry. In February 1801, he was made 1st lieutenant in the regiment of artillerists and engineers, and on 25 October following he was appointed aide-de-camp to Gen. James Wilkinson
James Wilkinson
James Wilkinson was an American soldier and statesman, who was associated with several scandals and controversies. He served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, but was twice compelled to resign...
. He was retained in April 1802 as 1st lieutenant of artillery, and became adjutant 1 December 1804. He was promoted captain 31 January 1806, made assistant deputy quartermaster general in March 1812, assistant adjutant general, with the rank of major, in June 1813, and on 6 August 1813 adjutant general.
He took part in the Battle of Crysler's Farm
Battle of Crysler's Farm
The Battle of Crysler's Farm, also known as the Battle of Crysler's Field, was fought on 11 November 1813, during the Anglo-American War of 1812. A British and Canadian force won a victory over an American force which greatly outnumbered them...
, Canada, 11 November 1813. Gen. George W. Cullum, in his Campaigns and Engineers of the War of 1812-1815 says that the enemy, “discovering our disorder and slackened fire, pushed vigorously forward and endeavored by a flank movement to capture our cannon, when Adjutant-General Walbach, a German veteran in our army who had seen much foreign service, gave the order to 'charge mit de dragoons,' and thus saved the pieces.” On 1 May 1815, he received the brevet of lieutenant-colonel “for meritorious services.”
Later career
He became major of artilleryArtillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
, 25 April 1818, brevet colonel for “ten years' favorable service,” 1 May 1825, lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in the 1st regiment of artillery, 30 May 1832, and colonel of the 4th artillery, 19 March, 1842. In May 1850, he received the brevet of brigadier general, to date from 11 November 1823.
Walbach possessed mental and physical vigor until an advanced age.
Family
He married in Philadelphia in 1807, and had two sons, John de Barth, who entered the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, and Louis Augustus de Barth, who was graduated at West Point Military Academy in 1834, and died a captain of ordnance, 26 June 1853.