Washington Carroll Tevis (February 22, 1829September 29, 1900), also known as Charles Carroll Tevis, Nassim Bey and Charles Carroll de Taillevis, was an American-born soldier of fortune who served in a variety of armies and conflicts during the 19th century.
Early life Washington C. Tevis was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 22, 1829. His parents were Benjamin Tevis (1789–1845), a Unitarian and an auctioneer and commission merchantp. 535 Campbell, John Hugh History of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and of the Hibernian Society for the Relief of Emigrants from Ireland: March 17, 1771 – March 17, 1892 Hibernian Society, 1892 and Mary Hunter. Born in Maryland, Benjamin served as a First Lieutenant with the 39th Regiment of Maryland Militia during the War of 1812.Hickman, Nathaniel The Citizen Soldiers at North Point and Fort McHenry, September 12 & 13, 1814 1858 Benjamin was involved with the Whig Party and the Hibernian Society of Philadelphia. In addition to Washington, the Tevis family had a daughter Martha Heloise Tevis who was born on August 7, 1826, but died on August 8, 1827.
Washington entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1842 and graduated in 1845 with a Master of Arts degree.p. 536 Miller, Richard F. States at War, Volume 4: A Reference Guide for Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey in the Civil War University Press of New England, 3 Feb. 2015Catalogue of the Trustees, Officers, and Students of the University of Pennsylvania Session 1848–4849 L. R. Bailey 1849
United States Army With an ongoing situation of war with Mexico brewing, Tevis was appointed at large to the United States Military Academy at West Point on June 30, 1845. He graduated 24th in his class of 43p.202 Cullum, George Biographical Register of the Officers Applewood Books, 2009 on 1 July 1849, He was commissioned a Brevet Second Lieutenant with the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen.p. 167 Official Register of the United States: Containing a List of Officers and Employees in the Civil, Military, and Naval Service U.S. Government Printing Office, 1849 Tevis trained at the School of Cavalry Practice but resigned his commission on May 12, 1850.p.536 Miller, Richard F. States at War, Volume 4: A Reference Guide for Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey in the Civil War University Press of New England, 3 Feb. 2015 From May 1850 to November 1851 Tevis was a member of the prestigious First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry.p. 188 History of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry: From Its Organization, November 17th, 1774 to Its Centennial Anniversary, November 17th, 1874 Princeton, 1875
France, the Near East and the Crimean War Financed by the inheritance from his late fatherThe Checkered Career of Charles Carroll Tevls The Times from Philadelphia Sunday, July 5, 1885 Tevis traveled to Paris. There he began using the name "Charles Carroll Tevis". He converted to Roman Catholicism in 1853 where he received Baptism in the Chapel of the Archbishop of Paris, from the hands of then Monsignor Georges Darboy who was charged with Tevis's instruction and preparation in the faith.The Bengal Catholic Herald Vol. 25 July–Dec 1853
On February 4, 1854, he was commissioned a Major or Binbashi in the army of the Ottoman Empire and soon advanced to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel or Kaymakam.p. 525 Eicher, John & Eicher, David Civil War High Commands Stanford University Press, 1 Jun. 2002 He adopted the name of "Nessim Bey". Initially a staff officerp. 148 Badem, C. The Ottoman Crimean War (1853–1856) Brill Online Books 2010 Tevis led a force of Bashi-bazouks under General György Kmety in the Battle of Kurekdere,p, 104 Sandwith, Humphry A Narrative of the Siege of Kars and of the Six Months' Resistance by the Turkish Garrison Under General Williams to the Russian Army John Murray, 1856 Battle of Indjédéré and the Siege of Kars.p. 230 Stafford, William Cooke History of the War in Russia and Turkey Jackson, 1855p. 287 The Edinburgh Review, Or Critical Journal Volume 103 Archibald Constable, 1856 He was made an Officer in the Order of the Medjidie, a Grand Officer in the Order of Glory of the Ottoman Empire and was awarded the Medal for the Defence of Kars and the British Crimea Medal.Report of the) Thirty-Second Annual Reunion of the Association of the Graduates of the United States Military Academy, June 8th, 1901
Tevis left the army in 1855 to return to Paris. There he published a book of warfare La Petite guerre et le service des avant-postes published by Guiraudet et Jouaust in 1855 and patented a revolver.
Return to the United States Tevis returned to Philadelphia in approximately 1859 and applied to have his name changed to Charles Carroll de Taillevis;p. 44 Reports of the Heads of Departments to the Governor of Pennsylvania 1859 believing it to be his original family name from a Huguenot who came to America in 1702.Maryland Genealogical Society Bulletin: 1994, Volume 35 Maryland Genealogical Society, 1994, p. 33.
Tevis eloped with Blanche Florance, the daughter of Jacob Florance, a successful merchant, and Hannah Levy Florance, of Philadelphia, in November 1860. Her parents, who were Jewish, reportedly objected to the marriage because Tevis was Christian. As a result, she was disinherited, though her father left her an inheritance after his death in 1867.
The American Civil War Though an experienced cavalryman, Tevis was commissioned a Lieutenant Colonel of Infantry in the United States Volunteers; the second in command of the 4th Delaware Volunteer Infantry Regiment on August 18, 1862. In addition to organising the regiment and serving with them at the defence of Baltimore he was involved in operations around Gloucester Point, Virginia. In June 1863 Lt. Col Tevis led a combined infantry force of 400 men, from several regiments in addition to his 4th Delaware, in an amphibious operation in the vicinity of Walkerton, Virginia, where his men successfully destroyed a large amount of Confederate supplies.pp. 235-236 Tomblin, BarbaraBluejackets and Contrabands: African Americans and the Union Navy University Press of Kentucky, 9 Oct. 2009
In September 1863 Lt. Col Tevis was selected by Brigadier General Robert C. Schenck to organise and lead an unusual cavalry regiment, the 3rd Maryland Volunteer Cavalry composed of hundreds of Confederate prisoners of war who agreed to serve the Union; many were captured at the Battle of Gettysburg.Arrival of Cavalrymen from Fort Delaware Philadelphia Inquirer, September 23, 1863
The state of Maryland in the American Civil War contained large amounts of citizens loyal to both the Federal and Confederate governments. In addition to normal wartime military operations Tevis's regiment patrolled the areas of elections and made arrests.p. 173 Shugg, Wallace & Wagandt, Charles The Mighty Revolution: Negro Emancipation in Maryland, 1862–1864 Maryland Historical Society, 2000 Tevis entered the forbidden zone of politics when on November 2, 1863, he issued a proclamation not only declaring that all qualified voters should engage in their right to vote, but to vote for the platform of the Unconditional Union Party as "recognized by the Federal authorities as loyal or worthy of the support of any one who desires the peace and restoration of the Union".p. 183 Documents Accompanying the Message of Governor Bradford to the General Assembly of Maryland, 1864 R.P. Bayly, printer, 1864 – Maryland Tevis's soldiers also arrested several candidates in the election. As a result, Brigadier Schenck ordered the withdrawal of the proclamation and the arrest of Tevis. After further investigation Schenck ordered Tevis released believing that Tevis acted in good faith, though he was quite wrong to sign the proclamation that was actually written by provost marshal and a candidate in the election, Captain John Frazier,p. 311 McPherson, Edward The Political History of the United States of America, During the Great Rebellion Philp & Solomons, 1865 - United Statesp. 418 Miller, Richard F. States at War, Volume 4: A Reference Guide for Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey in the Civil War University Press of New England, 3 Feb. 2015 however Tevis was honorably discharged July 20, 1864.
Prior to the ending of hostilities, Tevis' friend and fellow Philadelphian Charles Godfrey Leland used his influence with John Weiss Forney to obtain a Brevet commission as a Brigadier General for Tevis.Leland, Charles Godfrey Memoirs of Charles Godfrey Leland Library of Alexandria, 14 Dec. 2015p. 802 Hamersly, Thomas Holdup Stevens Complete Regular Army Register of the United States for One Hundred Years (1779 to 1879) T.H.S. Hamersley, 1881
Adjutant General of the Fenian Army With the Civil War only recently ending, Tevis found himself in a new war at a much higher level of command. The Fenian Brotherhood Congress appointed Tevis a committeeman from the state of Pennsylvania.The Fenian Congress, New York Times, October 21, 1865
Brigadier General Thomas William Sweeny was made Secretary of War in late 1865 by the Fenian Brotherhoodp. 179 Samito, Christian G. Becoming American Under Fire: Irish Americans, African Americans, and the Politics of Citizenship During the Civil War Era Cornell University Press, 2009 who had a scheme to gain the independence of Ireland through military attacks on Canada. In November 1865 Tevis was appointed Adjutant General of the organisation,p. 113 Morgan, Jack Through American and Irish wars: the life and times of General Thomas W. Sweeny, 1820–1892 Irish Academic Press, 2006 with the rank of Brigadier GeneralDenieffe, Joseph A Personal Narrative of the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood The Gael Publishing Co. 1906 one of nine men in Sweeny's Fenian General Staff.p.65 Senior, Hereward The Last Invasion of Canada: The Fenian Raids, 1866–1870 Dundurn, 25 July 1991
Tevis and Major William O'Reilly purchased 4,220 Pennsylvania militia muskets from the Bridesburg, Philadelphia arsenal, however plans to purchase cannon did not come to fruition.p.113 Clark, Dennis The Irish in Philadelphia: Ten Generations of Urban Experience Temple University Press, 1982
With the plans for Fenian Raids being devised, Tevis would lead the left wing of the assault on Canada in May 1866. He organised and would transport 3,000 Fenian raiders leaving from Chicago, then linking up with Fenians in Milwaukee to steam up Lake Michigan to land for operations in Goderich, Ontario.p. 10 Somerville, Alexander Narrative of the Fenian Invasion of Canada 1866 - Canada The Western invasion did not come to pass because Tevis was unable to organise the invader's transportation. Major General Sweeny dismissed Brig. Gen. C. C. Tevis, Adjutant General, for disobedience of orders.
Though there are theories that the United States Government did not want the Fenian plans to actually succeed, Tevis was in the pay of the British Crown as a secret agent for £100 each month.Kenna, Shane War in the Shadows: The Irish-American Fenians Who Bombed Victorian Britain Merrion Press, 30 Nov. 2013 He would remain providing information to Her Majesty's Secret Service for years to come. The British Ambassador to the United States Frederick Wright-Bruce reported that Tevis "quarreled with the Fenian leaders and is now ready to do them as much harm as possible".p. 105 Dutil, Patrice & Hall, Roger Macdonald at 200: New Reflections and Legacies Dundurn, 10 Oct. 2014
The Army of the Pope