The Southron Archive

#biography
#WarforSouthernIndependence

Polignac was born in Millemont, Seine-et-Oise, France, into one of the most prominent families of the French nobility. His paternal grandmother, Yolande de Polastron, had been a famous aristocratic beauty and Queen Marie-Antoinette's closest friend. His grandfather traced his male-line back to 1205, and was made a duke in 1780. His father, Jules de Polignac, was the absolutist chief minister of King Charles X of France who was rewarded for his services with the title of prince, which all of his legitimate male-line descendants enjoy (his first cousin twice removed, Prince Pierre de Polignac, Duke of Valentinois, would become prince consort to the heiress of the Grimaldi dynasty in 1920, and his descendants still rule the Principality of Monaco).

Polignac studied mathematics and music at St. Stanislas College in the 1840s. In 1853 he joined the French army. He served in the Crimean War from 1854 to 1855, receiving a commission as a second lieutenant. He resigned from the army in 1859 and traveled to Central America to study geography and political economy, as well as the native plant life. He then visited the United States in the early 1860s.

#biography
#WarforSouthernIndependence

During the Battle of Middleburg, Von Borcke suffered a significant wound from a bullet in his neck and was incapacitated for the remainder of the year.[5] He recovered enough to resume staff duties in the spring of 1864, and was present at Yellow Tavern in which General Stuart was killed. In December of that year, he was promoted again, this time to lieutenant-colonel and voted the official thanks of Congress. Von Borcke was then sent by President Jefferson Davis on a diplomatic mission to Great Britain.

With the collapse of the Confederate States in the spring of 1865 and the ensuing surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, Von Borcke returned to Prussia. He resumed his career and fought in the Austro-Prussian War on the staff of Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia, receiving the Order of the Red Eagle for his gallantry. He married Madalene Honig and raised three sons.

Stuart soon was impressed by the new arrival, and the two became fast friends. Following the cavalry's famed "ride around McClellan's army", General Stuart wrote, "Capt. Heros von Borcke, a Prussian cavalry officer, who lately ran the blockade, assigned me by the honorable Secretary of War, joined in the charge of the First Squadron in gallant style, and subsequently, by his energy, skill, and activity, won the praise and admiration of all".

In August of the year, Von Borcke was promoted to the rank of major, an appointment confirmed by the Confederate States Congress on September 19. He rode with General Stuart as his adjutant general during the Northern Virginia and the Maryland campaigns, further adding to his reputation for bravery in the face of the enemy. Stuart detailed him to accompany the body of fallen horse artillerist John Pelham to Richmond for burial following Pelham's death at Kelly's Ford.

Von Borcke became a Prussian cavalry officer in 1855, served with the Guards Cuirassiers and until 1862 in the 2d Brandenburg Dragoons. Financial difficulties forced him to quit the service, whereupon he emigrated to the Confederate States in 1862.

Von Borcke brought with him a massive Solingen straight sword, which would become famous during his ensuing career. By the end of the month, he had made his way to Richmond, capital of the Confederate States. He was given the rank of captain in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States on June 1 of that year and assigned to Major-General J. E. B. Stuart by the order of Secretary of War George W. Randolph. Von Borcke was conspicuous on the battlefield for his large height and girth and the extremely large sword he wielded, became known as the "giant in gray."

#biography
#WarforSouthernIndependence

Postbellum:

Forsberg remained a prisoner of war at Fort Delaware until released in June 1865.

He then returned to Lynchburg, where he had been a convalescent after his wounding at Winchester. During his stay at the Ladies Relief Hospital in the city, he had met Mary Elizabeth Otey, the widow of a young officer, George Gaston Otey, who had been killed in action early in the war. She was daughter-in-law of Lucy Mina Otey, the founder of the hospital, and worked as a nurse there. Soon after his return, Forsberg married Mary Elizabeth, and the family settled in the city. Forsberg served as city engineer for 21 years, and designed many of the city's public buildings, some of which were in the Fifth Street Historic District.

Having escaped from the prison camp, the 51st Virginia Infantry eventually returned to Virginia. Reorganized at Wytheville, several officers left the service, including the lieutenant colonel James W. Massie. In accordance with the Confederate Conscription Act, elections of new officers were held in the beginning of May. Forsberg was elected in his stead, and officially commissioned May 26, 1862.

When in August 1862, Colonel Gabriel C. Wharton became brigade commander, Lieutenant Colonel Forsberg was put in his placer as commanding officer, and would henceforth lead the regiment. In July 1863, Colonel Wharton was promoted to brigadier general, and Forsberg was subsequently promoted to full colonel, July 8, 1863. In hospital at Lynchburg, Virginia during the battle of New Market, Forsberg could not command his regiment during that critical battle. During the battle of Lynchburg, Forsberg commanded Wharton's brigade, as the general had been put in command of Breckinridge's division. Leading the brigade at the third battle of Winchester, Forsberg was shot in his right hand while trying to rally his men. He did not return to active service until February 1865, when he resumed the brigade command. At the battle of Waynesboro, Forsberg, as well as most of his command, become prisoners of war.

Civil War:

Forsberg was well known for his Southern sympathies. When the Civil War began, the Danish consul informed him that the United States government would offer him a commission in the army, if he refused it, he would be arrested. Forsberg soon found place on a fishing vessel that took him to Charleston, where he was employed as a volunteer topographical engineer in the defense of the city. In August, 1861, Forsberg moved to Richmond, Virginia where he met John B. Floyd, former U.S. Secretary of War, who advised him to apply President Jefferson Davis in person for a commission in the Confederate army. Commissioned as a lieutenant, Forsberg was detailed to serve on the staff of Floyd, now a brigadier general in command of the Confederate troops in the Kanawha Valley.

Forsberg was commissioned first lieutenant in the Corps of Infantry of the Army of the Confederate States of America (the regular army of the Confederacy). The Provisional Congress of the Confederate States confirmed his commission, January 24, 1862, to take rank from October 11, 1861. In August 1861, Forsberg had been detached from the Floyd's staff to the 51st Virginia Infantry, to aid with the training of the men. He remained with the regiment during the rest of the war. In early February 1862, the regiment, with the rest of Floyd's division, was sent to Fort Donelson, in order to strengthen its garrison. Lieutenant Forsberg was commended for his bravery during the battle of Fort Donelson. When the fort ignominiously surrendered, Floyd's command managed to escape.

Early Life:

Born in Stockholm, Forsberg graduated from the Royal Institute of Technology, and served as a lieutenant in the Royal Swedish Engineers. In 1855, he moved to the United States, working as an engineer on a government project in Charleston, South Carolina.

He later worked as an architect in Baltimore and as a draftsman at the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., still under construction at the time.