Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Schoepf, Albin Francisco

SCHOEPF, Albin Francisco, soldier, b. in Potgusch, Hungary, 1 March, 1822; d. in Hyattsville, Md., 15 Jan., 1886. He entered the military academy at Vienna in 1837, became a lieutenant of artillery in 1841, and was promoted captain on the field for bravery. At the beginning of the Hungarian war for independence in 1848 he left the Austrian service, enlisted as a private in Louis Kossuth's army, and was soon made captain, and afterward major. After the suppression of the revolution he was exiled to Turkey, served under Gen. Jozef Bem against the insurgents at Aleppo, and afterward became instructor of artillery in the Ottoman service, with the rank of major. In 1851 he came to the United States, and received an appointment in the U. S. coast survey. In 1858 he became an assistant examiner in the patent-office. He was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers on 30 Sept., 1861. Gen. Felix K. Zollicoffer, after a series of successes against the Kentucky homeguards, attacked his fortified position, called Wildcat camp, on the hills of Rock Castle county, Ky., and was defeated; but the prestige thus gained for the National arms was sacrificed by Schoepf's precipitate retreat, by order of his superior officer, a few weeks later from London to Crab Orchard, which the Confederates called the “Wild-Cat stampede.” Gen. George B. Crittenden, thinking to crush Schoepf's force at Fishing creek, or Mill springs, encountered Gen. George H. Thomas's entire army, and suffered a disastrous defeat. Gen. Schoepfs brigade led in the pursuit of the enemy to Monticello. At Perryville he commanded a division under Gen. Charles C. Gilbert. He served through the war, and was mustered out on 15 Jan., 1866. Returning to Washington, he was appointed principal examiner in the patent-office, which post he continued to fill until his death.