Author: Eugene Le Gal

Date of birth: 1817
Date of death: 20 March 1872
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Eugene Le Gal was born in Bretagne, France in 1817. He was the son of Joseph Le Gal and Jeanne Marguerite Gaste'. His siblings were Frances Le Gal (Pichet) Eury, Alexis Le Gal, Victor Le Gal, and Josephine Le Gal.

He came to the United States with his parents and two siblings, Frances, and Alexis, and settled in New York, and later in Bergen, New Jersey.

He married Mary Isabelle Bartlett in New York in 1844.

He enlisted in the U.S. Military in June 1863, and was commissioned as the first Colonel in the 55th New York Infantry. This regiment was known as the "Gardes Lafayette" as it was composed of native French. Colonel Le Gal commanded this regiment for 12 years.

Colonel Le Gal died 20 March 1872, with a full military funeral led by his former regiment. He was buried in the Le Gal Family Cemetery in Bergen, New Jersey.

(Source: U.S. Civil War Soldiers and Profiles, and New York Times Obituary, published 18 March 1872).

Picture and information provided by Lindsay Melcher Nichols-Great Great Niece (great-great granddaughter of Victor Le Gal)