Kasper Tochman | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1797 |
| Died | 1880 (aged 82–83) |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Poland Confederate States |
| Branch | November Insurgents Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1830–1831, 1861–1865 |
| Rank | Major (insurgents) Colonel (C.S.) |
| Awards | Virtuti Militari |
| Spouse | Appolonia Jagiello |
| Other work | lawyer |
Kasper (Gaspar) Tochman (1797 – December 20, 1880) was a Polish-born American lawyer and soldier who formed the Polish Brigade (14th and 15th Louisiana regiments) ofJohnson's Division.
Tochman was born inŁętownia in 1797. He studied Law and Administration atWarsaw University and after graduation worked as an attorney inWarsaw. Vicechairman of thePolish Patriotic Society [pl;ru;uk], he was a good friend of the Commander-in-Chief of theNovember UprisingJan Zygmunt Skrzynecki as well asJoachim Lelewel andMaurycy Mochnacki. A renowned speaker and writer he acted in the Society for Upbringing Orphans after the Fallen Polish Knights (Polish:Towarzystwo Wychowania Dzieci po Poległych Rycerzach Polskich).
Tochman served as an officer (lieutenant or evenmajor according to various sources) during theNovember Uprising. After theBattle of Białołęka he was awardedVirtuti Militari as a testimony to his bravery.
With the defeat of the Insurgents Tochman was forced to flee with Gen.Maciej Rybiński's Corps. He emigrated toAvignon, France where he served as secretary of the Polish Council and later traveled through France in hopes of gathering more supporters. During that time he joined theEagle and Pahoniafreemason lodge. In 1837 Tochman becamepersona non grata for the French government and decided to emigrate toUnited States.He worked asFrench teacher inNew York City until 1840 when he was granted citizenship and began studying American civil law - this enabled him to acquire attorney licence and start apractice of law inWashington D.C. in 1845.
He was an active member of thePolish diaspora - from 1840 to 1844 he gave over a hundred lectures on the situation of thenpartitioned Poland. An account published by theBaltimore Sun described him as a patriot of high reputation who was capable of "thrilling bursts of eloquence".[1] His speeches were published in 1844 inLecture on the social, political and literary condition of Poland, and her future prospects. Tochman tried both to integrate the Polish community - by establishing the Polish-Slavonic Literary Society which gathered also many Americans - as well as sought contact with prominent US officials; his house in Virginia was visited byAbraham Lincoln,William Seward orSamuel Tilden among others. As an active sympathiser of theDemocratic Party he was elected Virginia State Elector.
In 1851, he marriedAppolonia Jagiello,[2][3] a widely celebrated military nurse who had previously accompaniedLászló Újházi in his efforts to establish a Hungarian colony in the United States for exiles of the unsuccessfulHungarian Revolution of 1848.[4]
Tochman represented the Kościuszko family during the inheritance court battle between them and theRussian Empire represented by the Russian diplomatic representativeAleksandr Bodisko.
After the outbreak of theAmerican Civil War Tochman, a pro-slavery farm owner organised the 14th and 15th Louisiana Regiments as part of the famousLouisiana Tigers brigade. ThePolish Brigade fought atGettysburg as part of 2nd Corps,Johnson's Division. On July 2, it sustained heavy casualties. Despite the fact that Tochman called himself General he was "only" aColonel. Tochman's joining the Confederate Army was criticised by Lelewel and the Polish emigrants close to him.
After the defeat of the Confederacy, Tochman was nominated Virginia Immigration Commissary gathering people to settle in the state.Tochman died at his farm near Washington on December 20, 1880.
gaspar tochman.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
