John Baptiste de Barth Walbach (October 3,[1] 1766 – June 10, 1857) was an Alsatian baron who fought in the French Revolutionary Wars, and was one of the few foreign-born senior officers in the United States Army prior to the American Civil War, attaining the rank of brevet brigadier general.

With a military career spanning over 57 years, he remained in active duty until his death at the age of 90, making him the oldest acting officer in U.S. history.

[1] In 1798 he obtained a six months' leave of absence, with a view of visiting his father, who had come to the United States at the opening of the French Revolution.

Walbach resigned his commission in the Hussars de Rohan in April 1798, and was appointed aide-de-camp to Brigadier General William MacPherson.

[7] Walbach was in command at Fort Constitution near Portsmouth, New Hampshire when, on July 4, 1809, there was an explosion of over 100 pounds of gunpowder resulting in the loss of seven lives.

In reaction to the explosion Walbach said, "I have faced death in its most dreadful form -- I have witnessed the desolations of war, and have mingled in all the hazards and havoc of battles, but never before did I feel a pang so terrible and intolerable as this."

Major General George W. Cullum, in his Campaigns and Engineers of the War of 1812-1815 says that the enemy, "discovering our disorder and slackened fire, pushed vigorously forward and endeavored by a flank movement to capture our cannon, when Adjutant-General Walbach, a German veteran in our army who had seen much foreign service, gave the order to 'charge mit de dragoons,' and thus saved the pieces."

The official announcement of General Walbach's death contained this eulogy - His long life and military career were characterized by some of the best traits of a gentleman and as soldier - unwavering integrity, truth and honor, strict attention to duty and zeal for service; and he tempered the administration of an exact discipline by the most elevated courtesies.

[2] His children included: John de Barth Walbach (1811-1892), who was appointed a midshipman in the United States Navy in 1827, and resigned as a lieutenant in 1861 to join the Confederacy.

Louis Augustus de Barth Walbach, who was graduated at West Point Military Academy in 1834, and died a captain of ordnance, 26 June 1853.

His daughter, Adelphine de Barth Walbach, born in 1815, married in 1841 Thomas Elzear Gardiner, a prominent Maryland tobacco planter.

Their son John de Barth Walbach Gardiner was military critic for the New York Times and author of the book German Plans for the Next World War.

[2] Another son, James de Barth Walbach (who dropped the "Gardiner" from his name), was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing Charles County from 1898 to 1906.

[2] Walbach's brother was the Reverend Louis de Barth who was a Roman Catholic priest who oversaw parishes at Lancaster and Conewago.

He received the Legion of Merit during World War II, retired from the Army as a colonel in the Coast Artillery Corps in July 1947.

Walbach had inherited extensive lands from his father, Jean Joseph de Barth, including 10,000 acres on the Elk River.