Post by terrus on Jun 5, 2014 20:55:35 GMT -5
Name: Christopher Bretagne
Position: Colonel, New York Militia
Christopher Bretagne was born in Gironde, France, in August, 1751. He grew up in a lower class household, the child of two servants, and joined the French Army in 1767 to escape hunger. Bretagne proved a capable soldier, rising to the equivalent of Sergeant during the Corsica Campaign, and briefly commanding his artillery company after its commander died. Following the Corsica campaign, Bretagne was assigned as the assistant to a young officer of the aristocracy, known to most as Lafayette.
Lafayette became enamored with the American cause in 1775 and decided to leave France to assist the colonial revolutionaries. Bretagne, who had served as Lafayette's assistant for several years by that point, resigned his billet so as to join his commander. It took two years for Lafayette and Bretagne to reach the states -- by that point, the war was in full swing.
The Continental Congress reluctantly commissioned Lafayette as a Major General upon his arrival, but refused to offer him pay or a command. The Continental Congress offered Bretagne nothing, by contrast, and the former non-commissioned officer served as a civilian aide to Lafayette for a number of months.
Bretagne distinguished himself during the Battle of Brandywine, however, organizing fifty retreating men into a makeshift company, which then played an important role in the organized retreat. The Continental Congress commissioned Bretagne as an Ensign at that point, but the French-trained non-com rose quickly through the ranks. By 1779, Bretagne was a Captain and artillery company commander, despite his foreign background.
General Lafayette returned to France in 1779, but Bretagne remained committed to the colonial cause. Bretagne won a promotion to Major, and the command of an infantry battalion, in late 1780. Just a year later, Major General Nathanael Greene promoted the French-American to Lieutenant-Colonel, and had Bretagne assigned to his staff. Bretagne served out the war in this role.
The Continental Congress disbanded the Continental Army at the end of the war, and Bretagne stepped down after an honorary promotion to Colonel. Unwilling to return to France in the midst of the revolution, Bretagne moved to New York City, where he secured employment as a constable. Bretagne joined the New York state militia in 1784, and with the help of his politically-connected extended family, rose to become a very prominent officer. The Frenchman married Marissa Swaim, the widowed mother of James Swaim, in 1786. Despite her age, Swaim bore Bretagne a single child, Gilbert.
Bretagne organized a volunteer regiment to fight in the Seminole War in 1789, and subsequently commanded one of the four militia divisions organized by President George Washington. The Northern Division did not see actual combat during the war, but instead served in a defensive role, guarding the supply lines of the various militia units, and defending the ground gained by other militia units. Bretagne won a commission in the new United States Army thanks to his service, being made Colonel and Commander of the Artillery Department, stationed at West Point, New York.
Position: Colonel, New York Militia
Christopher Bretagne was born in Gironde, France, in August, 1751. He grew up in a lower class household, the child of two servants, and joined the French Army in 1767 to escape hunger. Bretagne proved a capable soldier, rising to the equivalent of Sergeant during the Corsica Campaign, and briefly commanding his artillery company after its commander died. Following the Corsica campaign, Bretagne was assigned as the assistant to a young officer of the aristocracy, known to most as Lafayette.
Lafayette became enamored with the American cause in 1775 and decided to leave France to assist the colonial revolutionaries. Bretagne, who had served as Lafayette's assistant for several years by that point, resigned his billet so as to join his commander. It took two years for Lafayette and Bretagne to reach the states -- by that point, the war was in full swing.
The Continental Congress reluctantly commissioned Lafayette as a Major General upon his arrival, but refused to offer him pay or a command. The Continental Congress offered Bretagne nothing, by contrast, and the former non-commissioned officer served as a civilian aide to Lafayette for a number of months.
Bretagne distinguished himself during the Battle of Brandywine, however, organizing fifty retreating men into a makeshift company, which then played an important role in the organized retreat. The Continental Congress commissioned Bretagne as an Ensign at that point, but the French-trained non-com rose quickly through the ranks. By 1779, Bretagne was a Captain and artillery company commander, despite his foreign background.
General Lafayette returned to France in 1779, but Bretagne remained committed to the colonial cause. Bretagne won a promotion to Major, and the command of an infantry battalion, in late 1780. Just a year later, Major General Nathanael Greene promoted the French-American to Lieutenant-Colonel, and had Bretagne assigned to his staff. Bretagne served out the war in this role.
The Continental Congress disbanded the Continental Army at the end of the war, and Bretagne stepped down after an honorary promotion to Colonel. Unwilling to return to France in the midst of the revolution, Bretagne moved to New York City, where he secured employment as a constable. Bretagne joined the New York state militia in 1784, and with the help of his politically-connected extended family, rose to become a very prominent officer. The Frenchman married Marissa Swaim, the widowed mother of James Swaim, in 1786. Despite her age, Swaim bore Bretagne a single child, Gilbert.
Bretagne organized a volunteer regiment to fight in the Seminole War in 1789, and subsequently commanded one of the four militia divisions organized by President George Washington. The Northern Division did not see actual combat during the war, but instead served in a defensive role, guarding the supply lines of the various militia units, and defending the ground gained by other militia units. Bretagne won a commission in the new United States Army thanks to his service, being made Colonel and Commander of the Artillery Department, stationed at West Point, New York.
