Georges Augustus Gaston De Coppens (1836–1862) was a Confederate States Army officer during the American Civil War who was killed at the

Battle of Antietam The Battle of Antietam (), or Battle of Sharpsburg particularly in the Southern United States, was a battle of the American Civil War fought on September 17, 1862, between Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and Union G ...

. De Coppens was born in France, where he attended the Marine Academy before moving with the rest of his family to New Orleans. He became known as an avid military arts student, and as a frequent duelist, a notable occasion being a duel with an opera critic named Emile Bozonier. After joining the Confederate army, he received permission from President

Jefferson Davis Jefferson F. Davis (June 3, 1808December 6, 1889) was an American politician who served as the president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865. He represented Mississippi in the United States Senate and the House of Representatives as a ...

to form a

Zouave The Zouaves were a class of light infantry regiments of the French Army serving between 1830 and 1962 and linked to French North Africa; as well as some units of other countries modelled upon them. The zouaves were among the most decorated unit ...

battalion. Six companies were organized for twelve months service at Pensacola, under Lieutenant Colonel Georges Auguste Gaston Coppens and Major Waldemar Hylested. Two of Colonel Coppens’ brothers served in the battalion and his father, Baron August de Coppens, served as Quartermaster. His 1st Louisiana Zouaves joined the Army of Northern Virginia during the Peninsula Campaign. At the Battle of Sharpsburg, Coppens was put in temporary command of the

8th Florida Infantry Regiment The 8th Florida Infantry Regiment was a unit of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Serving in the Army of Northern Virginia throughout the war; it fought in most battles of the Eastern Theater. In the summer of 1862, th ...

. He does not show up in records again until he was listed in the casualties.

References

Confederate States Army officers 1836 births 1862 deaths French emigrants to the United States Confederate States of America military personnel killed in the American Civil War {{US-mil-bio-stub