Theophile Lybaert

**Theophile Lybaert** was the 4th Secretary of War in the United States and a Representative from New York. Lybaert was also a Secretary of War under President John Adams and later George Benckendorf and Amo Gus, also serving as Senior Officer of the Army under President Benckendorf during the Second American Civil War.

## Military Service

### American Revolution

Theophile Lybaert was a 26 year-old Major in the French Army at the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, and was dispatched by the French Government to assist in the training of American troops, alongside then Colonel George Benckendorf, among others. Lybaert fought in several battles according to his notebooks, but the exact ones are unclear.

### French Revolution

Theophile returned to France in 1787, in time for the French Revolution. He was a close associate of Robespierre, and was commissioned as a Colonel in the 4th Paris Militia Regiment in 1789. He served in the French Revolutionary Wars for 7 years as a colonel, holding duel citizenship with the United States all along.

Theophile's career in the French Republic looked promising, until the ascension of Napoleon Bonaparte to first consul. Bonaparte had been Theophile's commanding officer in the Italian Campaign, and had ordered him back to Paris after a failed bayonet charge at the Battle of Lodi. The two held a rivalry ever since, and once Napoleon began to settle his debts against old enemies, Theophile felt forced to seek refuge in the only nation who would accept him - the United States of America.

### Second American Civil War

Theophile was appointed as a Colonel in 1800, and was immediately dispatched to serve in the Second American Civil War, Theophile was present under General George Benckendorf for the Seven Days Campaign. Lybaert was promoted to Lieutenant General and put in charge of the front in New Jersey. Lybaert would face off against James Aubrey in the Battle of Newark, soundly beating him, and crushing the political organization of the state of New Jersey. Later Lybaert would corner Aubrey at the Battle of the Mullica River, defeating his enemy, who he apparently highly respected. It was around this time that Lybaert was promoted to Major General, and served as the President's second in command during the civil war.

Lybaert travelled north to the New English front in early 1801, taking the city of Norwalk, and beating an ailing General Henry Whittleston of New England.

After the Battle of Norwalk, which was seen by some as an act of savagery on Lybaert (though according to his own journals, he simply viewed it as 'revolutionary justice'), he was sent south by President Benckendorf to take command of the Army of Virginia and was in command of the southern campaign while Benckendorf went North to defeat New England.

Lybaert moved south west to take the port city of Norfolk, which was the last hold-out of Dixie forces in the state of Virginia. After a bombardment of the enemy fleet, sinking several ships, and a skirmish near a vast swamp, a flanking force of 8,000 men attacked the Dixie forces from the rear and forced them to abandon the city.

Months later, Lybaert moved South through North Carolina in order to assist President Benckendorf in his March on Charleston, which by that stage had reached a dire situation. Despite sending a cavalry force ahead to aid Benckendorf, Lybaert's forces did not arrive in time to assist the President, who narrowly avoided capture as he fled North. The President then reunited with General Lybaert, and the two then marched on Charleston.

The Second Battle of Charleston, also known as the Surrender of Charleston, was a very minor confrontation tactically, but of huge significance politically. The Dixie President Covington surrendered unconditionally to Benckendorf, and Lybaert's troops then entered the city as General Hall's forces withdrew southward. This marked the end of Lybaert's involvement in the civil war, as it soon ended once Hall was captured several weeks later.

## Political Career

### House of Representatives

Theophile Lybaert arrived from France in 1800, and would run for the House of Representatives. Lybaert would win his seat, and would join. In 1802 Lybaert would motion to censure The Patriot, the newspaper infamously known to support secession.

In 1805, Lybaert announced his intention to run for the Senate, receiving the endorsement of New York Governor Amo Gus.

### Secretary of War

In his first term as Secretary of War Lybaert helped Acting President Scott Benckendorf organize the army, additionally he would personally lead troops on the field in New England.

After George Benckendorf won re-election in 1804, Lybaert was appointed to the position once more due to his extensive military experience from the civil war.

## Personal Life

Theophile Lybaert was born on April 19, 1751 in Paris to a minor noble family. Lybaert would live in France for his teenage years joining the military at 20. In 1789 Lybaert supported the French Revolution, and he became a Colonel in the 4th Paris Militia Regiment. Lybaert would live their several years, meeting Charlotte De Robespierre in 1794, they would keep in contact for several years even after Lybaert returned to the United States.

Lybaert founded the Military Academy of New York in November of 1800, a prestigious training centre for cadets still in use today, based out of his estate in Albany, New York. The Academy expanded rapidly after the civil war in part thanks to a strong partnership with members of the Gus Family, who supported the institution financially and academically. It also became the base of the Cadet Battalion, a militia composed of cadets and their lecturers, most of whom were former army officers themselves.

In addition to this, Lybaert became the owner of a Freedman Plantation, paying the former slaves a wage the same as their counterparts in the North. Upon his death, the farmland was divided up between some 231 freed slaves and their descendants. Lybaert married Charlotte in 1802, bringing her back to the United States with him, Lybaert and Charlotte had one child in 1798 Jean-Claude Lybaert (Born: April 20, 1798)