Piotrowski, Rudolph Korvin (1814-1883)
Captain of Civil War. Born 1814 in Kamieniec. Took part in the Polish uprising in 1830-1831 against Russia in battles at Kuflewo, Wielkie Deby, Przytyk, Ostroleka. In 1840 came to U.S. and settled in California; about 1848 became a gold digger. Bought a ranch, called it Sebastopol, along Sacramento River, near San Francisco. During Civil War took part as a captain of the Union Army. Prior to the Civil War about 1849 founded the Polish American Pioneers Association, in San Francisco, Cal.; was very active in this society. Died in 1883.From: "Who's Who in Polish America" by Rev. Francis Bolek, Editor-in-Chief; Harbinger House, New York, 1943 Piotrowski, Rudolph Korwin (1814-1883)
Captain Rudolph K. Piotrowski came to California as a member of the Pittsburgh Enterprise Company which started its long trek across the country on April 13, 1849. Born in Kamien, in the old palatinate of Lublin, in 1814, he played an enthusiastic part in the Polish November insurrection of 1830-1 against Russia. He distinguished himself signally in several battles and advanced to the rank of Captain of Uhlans, winning also the highly prized Virtuti Militari cross for bravery. After the Insurrection became a lost cause he emigrated with many other patriots to France and there he married a French woman, but not too happily. In 1840 he came to the United States and fora while led a rather nomadic life. In 1848 he is listed as a member of the Polish Committee at New Orleans, LA. He began life in California as a gold miner. From his savings he was able to buy some land near San Francisco, where he founded a town called Sebastapol; undoubtedly the Captain chose that name to celebrate the capture of the Russian fortress of Sevastapol by the allied forces in the Crimean War. Democratic to the core, he was an enthusiastic supported of the Union during the Civil War. Among his intimate American friends were Newton Booth, Governor of the State and United States Senator, and Booth's successor in the governorship, Romulado Pacheco. There is no doubt that Piotrowski was the Captain in Booth's short story "After Dark," mostly dealing with prominent Poles in France. He was also very popular among the Poles and was one of the founders of the Polish Society of California. He liberally contributed to all worthy purposes and he was one of those who helped Helena Modjeska, the famous Shakespearean actress, in the beginning of her spectacular American career. The Actress left a very interesting sketch of him in her writings. Henryk Sienkiewicz, whom he also met and befriended, immortalized him as Zagloba in his famous novel With Fire and Sword. A few years before his death he lost his sight and feeling his end nearing, returned to France to be as near to Poland as possible. He lived for a few more years at the Polish Institute of St. Casimir and died there in 1883.