Lt. Col. Anne-Louis de Toussard-- Part 3: A Major Force in Creation of the USMA

In 1798 he proposed the idea of a national military school, with a comprehensive curriculum, to  Secretary of War James McHenry.  He helped convert the West Point garrison into that academy in 1800.  He then began instruction to the first twelve cadets in the first Class at the academy on 1800.

His regiment was disbanded in 1802 and he returned to France via Santo Domingo in 1802.  French Vice-Consul in Philadelphia in 1805.  Served as the French Consul ad interim in New Orleans  1811-1816 (when he wrote the letter about the Hurricane of 1812).  Supported the work of General Jackson during the War of 1812.

Returned to Paris in 1816.  Made a Knight of the Royal Military Order of St. Louis in 1799  Wrote "American Artillerists Companion" in 1809.  Married  Maria Francisca Joubert in 1788 and then Anna Maria Geddes in 1795.

A grandson of his, Lt. -Col.  Anthony Eugene Stocker MD (1819-1897), a grandson, succeeded him in the Society of the Cincinnati, being admitted as a Heriditary Member in 1888.  He was a medical doctor during the Civil War, most of the time in a position of leadership in the medical corps.

--Brock-Perry

Lieutenant Colonel Anne-Louis de Toussard-- Part 2: A Man of Much History

Lt. Colonel in the Continental Army in the American Revolution.

Born 13 March 1749 in Saint Eustache, Paris, France, and died  4 or 8 May 1817, in Paris, France.

Studied at the artillery school of La Pere.  Graduate of the Artillery School in Strasbourg, France, in 1769.  Commissioned a second lieutenant in the French Royal Artillery  Corps in 1769.  Resigned to join the American Revolution.

After that, he returned to France in 1784.  Imprisoned as a Royalist 1792-1793.  Lt. Colonel in the Regiment  du Cap in Santo Domingo in 1794 where he led his regiment to suppress the slave  uprising that became the Haitian Revolution. Imprisoned by Haitian forces in 1794.

Escaped to America and emigrated to Philadelphia.  Commissioned a Major of the 2nd Artillery in the U.S. Army and then promoted to Lt. Colonel.

Helped plan and supervise the construction of Fort Mifflin,  Pennsylvania.

This Guy Sure Saw a Lot of History.  --Brock-Perry

200 Years Ago: Napoleon Enters Paris and USS Hornet Captures the HMS Penguin

MARCH 19, 1815:  British Commodore Sir Edward Campbell Rich Owens arrives at Kingston, Upper Canada, to assume command of the British Royal Navy station from Commordore Sir James Yeo.

MARCH 20, 1815:  Napoleon enters Paris and begins his 100 Day Rule.

MARCH 23, 1815:  USS Hornet captures the HMS Penguin.

--Brock-Perry

Timeline for March 1814-- Part 3

MARCH 30TH:

The Second Battle of Lacolle, Lower Canada. After his failed Montreal Campaign of 1813, U.S. Major General James Wilkinson made one last attempt to invade Lower Canada and restore his reputation.

He left Champlain, New York, with 4,000 troops and occupied Odelltown and then attacked Lacolle, a fortified British outpost, defended by a garrison of 180 in a fortified mill guarding the crossing of the Lacolle River.

American artillery had little effect on the mill and after the British received reinforcements, Wilkinson withdrew.

MARCH 31ST:

And meanwhile, over in Europe, something that did not bode well for the Americans. Allied armies of Prussia, Austria and Russia enter Paris, France, defeating Napoleon and restoring the Bourbon monarch Louis XVIII.

Now, Britain Can Concentrate on the United States. --Brock-Perry