Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Kobbé, William August

KOBBÉ, William August, soldier, b. in New York, 10 May, 1840. His father, William August Kobbé, a German-American, was for many years consul-general of the duchy of Nassau in New York city. His mother, Sarah Lord Sistare, was an American descended from a Spanish sea-captain whose vessel was early in the last century lost in the “Race,” off New London. The son studied mining engineering; enlisting in the war as a private in the 178th New York volunteers, and was promoted to captain. In 1866 he was commissioned a 2d lieutenant in the 19th U. S. infantry, and was brevetted lieutenant-colonel of volunteers and major U. S. army for gallantry at Nashville and at the capture of Fort Blakely, Alabama. He was transferred in 1872 to the 3d U. S. artillery, commanded a battalion of that regiment as major with distinction at Calacoon, Calumpit, and Malalos, and led the Rio Grande expedition in the Philippines. In 1899 he was appointed colonel of the 35th regiment, U. S. volunteers, and later promoted brigadier-general. — His brother, Gustav, author, b. in New York city, 4 March, 1857, was educated at Wiesbaden, Germany, at Columbia, and the Columbia law-school. He is a contributor of short stories, criticisms on music and the drama, also articles of travel to the “Century” and “Scribner's.” Mr. Kobbé has published “Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung” (New York, 1887), which has passed through seven editions, and has also been reprinted in the several editions of his “Wagner's Life and Works” (2 vols., 1890); "Kobbé's New York and its Environs" (1891); “Plays for Amateurs” (1892); “My Rosary, and other Poems” (1897); and “Miriam” (Boston, 1898).