The Hessians and the other German auxiliaries of Great Britain in the revolutionary war/Appendix

by Edward J. Lowell

APPENDIX.

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A.

LIST OF GERMAN AUTHORITIES USED IN PREPARING THIS WORK.

Printed.

Friedrich Kapp.—Der Soldatenhandel deutscher Fürsten nach Amerika. Berlin, 1864.

The same.—The same. Berlin, 1874. (The first edition contains in its appendix much interesting material omitted in the second edition. The second edition is enlarged and corrected. References in this volume are to the second edition unless stated to be otherwise.)

The same.—Geschichte der Deutschen im Staate New York. New York, 1869.

The same.—Friedrich der Grosse und die Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika. Leipzig, 1871,

The same.—Article in Sybel's Historische Zeitschrift. II. 6=42. 1879.

The same.—Leben des Amerikanischen Generals Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben. Berlin, 1858.

Max von Eelking.—Die deutschen Hülfstruppen im nordamerikanischen Befreiungskriege, 1776 bis 1783. Hannover, 1863. 2 vols.

The same.—Leben und Wirken des Herzoglich Braunschweig 'schen General-Lieutenants Friedrich Adolph von Riedesel. Leipzig, 1856. 3 vols.

Generalin von Riedesel.—Die Berufs-Reise nach Amerika. Berlin, 1801.

Christian Leiste.—Beschreibung des Brittischen Amerika zur Ersparung der englischen Karten. Wolfenbüttel, 1778.

F. B. Melsheimer.—Tagebuch von der Reise der Braunschweigischen Auxiliar Truppen von Wolfenbüttel nach Quebec. Minden, 1776.

The same.—Erste Fortsetzung. (These are two small pamphlets.)

J. von Ewald.—Belehrungen über den Krieg, besonders über den kleinen Krieg, durch Beispiele grosser Helden und kluger und tapferer Männer. Schleswig, 1798.

Folge derselben. Schleswig, 1800.

Zweite und letzte Folge derselben. Schleswig, 1803.

Briefe eines Reisenden über den gegenwärtegen Zustand von Cassel, mit aller Freiheit geschildert. Frankfurt und Leipzig, 1781.

Hochfürstl. Hessen-Casselischer Staats- und Adress-Calender auf das Jahr Christi 1779. Cassel.

Karl Biedermann.—Deutschland im Achtzehnten Jahrhundert. Vol. I. Deutschlands Politische, materielle und sociale Zustände im Achtzehnten Jahrhundert. Leipzig, 1880.

Ferdinand Pfister.—Der Nordamerikanische Unabhängigkeitskrieg. Kassel, 1864.

Friedrich II. und die neuere Geschichts-Screibung.—Ein Beitrag zur Widerlegung der Märchen über angeblichen Soldaten-Handel hessischer Fürsten. Zweite mit eine Beleuchtung Seumens vermehrte Auflage. Melsungen, 1879.

I. G. Seume.—Sämtliche Werke. Leipzig, 1835. (Mein Leben.)

The same.—Article in I. W. v. Archenholtz's Neue Literatur und Völkerkunde. Für das Jahr 1789. Zweiter Band. (Schreiben aus Amerika nach Deutschland, Hallifax, 1782.)

August Ludwig Schlözer's, &c., Briefwechsel meist historischen und politischen Inhalts. Göttingen, 1780 to 1782. (A reprint in 10 vols. of this interesting magazine, dating from 1776 to 1782, and containing a large number of articles on the Revolutionary War, and of letters from America.)

The same.—Stats-Anzeigen. (A continuation of the above-mentioned magazine under a new title.) 18 vols.

Die neuesten Staatsbegebenheiten mit historischen und politischen Anmerkungen. Frankfurt am Mayn und Mainz, 1775, 1776, 1777. 3 vols.

Karl Heinrich Ritter von Lang.—Geschichte des vorletzten Markgrafen von Brandenburg-Anspach. Anspach, 1848.

J. B. Fischer.—Geschichte von Anspach oder Onolzbach. Anspach, 1786.

Reglement für Hessische Infanterie. Cassel, 1767.

Von den Hessen in Amerika, ihren fürsten, &c., 1782. (The pamphlet attributed to Schlieffen.)

Manuscripts.

(From originals or copies in the Ständische Landesbibliothek at Cassel.)

(1.) Journal von dem Hochlobl: Hessischen Grenadier olom Battaillon von Minnigerode, modo von Loewenstein vom 20^ten Januarii, 1776, bis 17^ten May, 1784.

(2.) Journal vom Hochfurstlich Hessischen Grenadier Battaillon Platte. Vom 16 Februar, 1776, bis den 24 Maij, 1784. Geführt durch dem Regiments Quartier Meister Carl Bauer.

{3.) Journal des Hochlöblichen Fuselier Regimentes von Alt-Lossberg. Geführt durch den Regiments Quartier Meister Heusser, vom Ausmarsch aus der Garnison Rinteln an, bis zur Zurückkunft des gedachten Hochlöblichen Regiments aus America vom 10^ten Merz, 1776, bis den 5^ten October, 1783.

(4.) Geschichte des hochlöblichen Fuselier-Regiments von Lossberg in Form eines Tagebuchs angefangen 1776-1783 (by Adj. Piel).

(5.) Journal vom Löblichen Garnisons-Regiment von Huyn, nachher von Benning de ao. 1776, bis medio November, 1783 geführt durch mich dem Regiments Q^tiermstr G. Kleinschmidt.

(6.) Journal geführt bei dem Hochlöblich Hessischen Feld-Jäger Corps während denen Campagnen der Konigl. Grossbrittanischen Armee in North Amerika. Angefangen den 23^ten Juli, 1777, von dem Tage wo der Oberstlieutenant Ludwig Johann Adolph von Wurmb das Commando über das Corps übernahm und geendigt den 20^ten April, 1784, bei der erfolgten retour derer sämtlich Hochfürstlich. Hessischen Truppen aus America.

(7.) Tagebuch des Hauptmannes Wiederhold, v. 1776-80. (The copy in the library at Cassel is made from the original by the husband of Wiederhold's granddaughter, and contains several interesting appendices.)

(8.) Journal von dem Hochfürstl. Hessischen Hlöbl. Infanterie Regiment von Trümbach, modo General Lieutenant von Bose, seines in ao. 1776 aus Hessen nach Amerika gethanen Aus Marches, und in ao. 1783 wieder gehabten Ein Marches zur Garnison Hofgeismar.

(9.) Journal von dem Hochfürstlichen Hessischen, des General Major von Knoblauch Löbl. Garnisons-Regiment, seit dem Amerikanischen Krieg von anno 1776 bis Ende 1783.

(10.) Briefe des General-Majors von Riedesel. Tagebuch vom Capit. Pausch.

(From the library of his Serene Highness the Prince of Waldeck.)

(11.) Fragment of a diary of the Waldeck Regiment, April 11, 1780, to July, 1782.

(From the archives at Marburg.)

(12.) Berichte Sr Excellentz des Herrn General Lieutenant von Knyphausen au Serenissimum.

(Of the above-named MSS. I have copies. I have also consulted a collection of papers concerning Regt. von Mirbach in the library at Cassel, and sundry documents in the archives at Marburg.)

B.

THE HESSIAN REGIMENTS AND THEIR NAMES.

The Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel sent fifteen of his regiments to America. Each of these regiments was composed of 650 officers and men, in five companies. This was less than the normal strength of a Hessian regiment. Fourteen of the fifteen regiments had given up one company of grenadiers each, and these fourteen companies, with two more from the Landgrave's bodyguard, were formed into four battalions of grenadiers, with a strength of 524 officers and men for each battalion. A corps of chasseurs (Jägers), originally consisting of two companies, accompanied the army. It was augmented in 1777 to a nominal strength of 1067 officers and men, but I think it never much exceeded six or seven hundred effective. There were three companies of artillery, together numbering 588 (Kapp's Soldatenhandel, 1. ed., p. 280). Thus the Hessian force (Cassel) was composed of 15 regiments of infantry, 4 battalions of grenadiers, 1 corps of chasseurs, and 3 companies of artillery. There was no cavalry, but a few of the chasseurs were mounted.

A Hessian regiment was usually named after its “Chef.” This “Chef” was sometimes the colonel of the regiment, but more frequently a prince or superior officer. As the “Chefs” were frequently changed or transferred, it is often difficult to identify a regiment. The battalions of grenadiers in America were named after their lieutenant-colonels. The following list of the regiments and battalions that served in America, and of the changes in their names, is taken partly from a list appended to the copy of Wiederhold's diary, in the library at Cassel. I believe it to be generally correct. I have added the names of the principal battles and expeditions in which the various regiments and battalions were engaged. (Those regiments which came over with von Heister are marked “I. div.” Those which came with von Knyphausen are marked “II. div.”)

Gren. batt. von Linsingen. (I. div.—Long Island, Chatterton Hill, Brandywine, Redbank, Charleston.}

Gren. batt. von Block; 1777, von Lengerke. (I. div.—Long Island, Chatterton Hill, Brandywine, Redbank, Charleston.)

Gren. batt. von Minnigerode; 1780, von Loewenstein. (I. div.—Long Island, Chatterton Hill, Brandywine, Redbank, Charleston.)

Gren. batt. von Koehler; 1778, von Graff; 1782, von Platte. (II. div.—Fort Washington, Charleston.)

Leib Regiment. (I. div.—Chatterton Hill, Brandywine, Germantown, Newport, Springfield.)

Regiment Landgraf (sometimes called Wutgenau). (II. div.—Fort Washington, Newport, Springfield.)

Regiment Erbprinz. (I. div.—Long Island, Fort Washington, Yorktown.)

Regiment Prinz Carl. (Newport.)

Regiment von Dittfurth. (I. div.—Newport, Charleston.)

Regiment von Donop. (I. div.—Long Island, Fort Washington, Brandywine, Germantown, Springfield.)

Fuselier Regt. von Lossberg (sometimes Alt von Lossberg). (I. div.—Long Island, Chatterton Hill, Fort Washington, Trenton, Brandywine.)

Fuselier Regt. von Knyphausen. (I. div.—Long Island, Chatterton Hill, Fort Washington, Trenton, Brandywine.)

Grenadier Regt. Rall; 1777, von Woellwarth; 1778, von Trümbach; 1779, d'Angelelli. (I. div.—Long Island, Chatterton Hill, Fort Washington, Trenton, Brandywine, Savannah.)

What remained of the three last-mentioned regiments after Trenton formed the “Combined Battalion” in the campaign of 1777. In December of that year two battalions were formed, under Colonels von Loos and von Woellwarth. The three regiments subsequently resumed their separate organization, but the two first of them again suffered heavily by storm and captivity in September, 1779 (see Chapter XX.).

Regiment von Mirbach; 1780, Jung von Lossberg. (I. div.—Long Island, Fort Washington, Brandywine, Redbank.)

Regiment von Trümbach; 1778, von Bose. (I. div.—Fort Clinton, Springfield, Guildford Court-House, Green Spring, Yorktown.)

Garnisons Regt. von Stein; 1778, von Seitz. (II. div.)

Garnisons Regt. von Wissenbach; 1780, von Knoblauch. (II. div.—Savannah.)

Garnisons Regt. von Huyn; 1780, von Benning. (II. div.—Fort Washington, Newport, Charleston.)

Garnisons Regt. von Bünau. (II. div.—Fort Washington, Newport, Springfield.)

Feld Jäger Corps. (Detachments of this corps were concerned in almost every operation.)

(The above-named regiments are from Hesse-Cassel.)

With the army commanded by Howe and Clinton, commonly served the following German regiments, in addition to those above-mentioned:

Regiment Waldeck. (Fort Washington, Pensacola.)

Regiment Anspach. (Philadelphia, Newport, Springfield, Yorktown.)

Regiment Bayreuth. (Philadelphia, Newport, Yorktown.)

(The two last-mentioned are generally called the two Anspach regiments. The Anspach chasseurs made a part of the Hessian Jäger Corps.)

The Brunswick contingent, serving in Canada and northern New York, was composed of the

Regiment of Dragoons (dismounted). (Bennington under Baum.)

Battalion of Grenadiers. (Bennington under Breymann, 1st Stillwater, 2d Stillwater, Saratoga.)

Regiment Prinz Friedrich. (Remained at Ticonderoga during the Saratoga campaign.)

Regiment von Riedesel. (1st Stillwater, Saratoga.)

Regiment von Rhetz. (2 companies at 1st Stillwater, Saratoga.)

Regiment von Specht. (Saratoga.)

Jäger battalion, or Battalion Barner. (1st Stillwater, Saratoga.)

The Hanau regiment and the Hanau artillery served with this army, and shared its fate. The artillery had done good service in the campaign of 1776, on Lake Champlain, as well as in 1777.

The Hanau chasseurs, or some of them, took part in St. Leger's expedition.

The regiment from Anhalt-Zerbst reached Canada after active hostilities in that province were over.

C.

“He is, at this time, transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation, and tyranny already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.”—Declaration of Independence.

D.

TABLE OF THE NUMBER OF TROOPS SENT TO AMERICA BY EACH ONE OF THE GERMAN STATES, AND OF THE NUMBER THAT RETURNED.

The numbers originally given in Schlözer's “Stats-Anzeigen” (vi. pp. 521, 522), were corrected by Kapp as to the Anspach contingent. They form, perhaps, the nearest approximation attainable.

Brunswick sent in 1776	4,300
Brunswick sent in March, 1777	224
Brunswick sent in April, 1778	475
Brunswick sent in April, 1779	286
Brunswick sent in May, 1780	266
Brunswick sent in April, 1782	172
⁠Total	5,723
Returned in the autumn of 1783	2,708
Did not return	3,015
Hesse-Cassel sent in 1776	12,805
Hesse-Cassel sent in December, 1777	403
Hesse-Cassel sent in March, 1779	993
Hesse-Cassel sent in May, 1780	915
Hesse-Cassel sent in April, 1781	915
Hesse-Cassel sent in April, 1782	961
⁠Total	16,992
Returned in the autumn of 1783 and the spring of 1784	10,492
Did not return	6,500
Hesse-Hanau, under various treaties	2,038
Hesse-Hanau recruits sent in April, 1781	50
Hesse-Hanau recruits sent in April, 1782	334
⁠Total	2,422
Returned in the autumn of 1783	1,441
Did not return	981

Anspach-Bayreuth sent in 1777	1,285
Anspach-Bayreuth sent in the autumn of the same year, recruits	318
Anspach-Bayreuth sent in 1779	157
Anspach-Bayreuth sent in 1780	152
Anspach-Bayreuth sent in 1781	205
Anspach-Bayreuth sent in 17782	236
⁠Total	2,353
Returned in the autumn of 1783	1,183
Did not return	1,170
Waldeck sent in 1776	670
Waldeck sent in April, 1777	89
Waldeck sent in February, 1778	140
Waldeck sent in May, 1779	23
Waldeck sent in April, 1781	144
Waldeck sent in April, 1782	159
⁠Total	1,225
Returned in the autumn of 1783	505
Did not return	720
Anhalt-Zerbst sent in 1778	600
Anhalt-Zerbst sent in April, 1779	82
Anhalt-Zerbst sent in May, 1780	50
Anhalt-Zerbst sent in April, 1781	420
⁠Total	1,152
Returned in the autumn of 1783	984
Did not return	168
Total number sent	29,867
Total number returned	17,313
Total number of those who did not return	12,554

Of the 12,554 who did not return my own estimate is as follows:

Killed and died of wounds	1,200
Died of illness and accident	6,354
Deserted	5,000
⁠Total	12,554

E.

LIST OF THE LOSSES SUSTAINED IN THE PRINCIPAL BATTLES OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR BY THE GERMANS

	Killed.			Wounded.			Missing.
Long Island	2			25
September 15th, 1776[1]	2			16
September 16th, 1776	1			1
October 9th to October 23d (including Chatterton Hill)	13			63			23
Fort Washington	56			276
Trenton	17			78
Assanpink (January 2d, 1777)	4			11
Burgoyne's Campaign to October 6th, 1777	164			284
Burgoyne's Campaign from October 7th to 16th	25	(?)		75	(?)
Skirmish, September 3d, 1777	1			19
Brandywine, Chasseurs	7			39
Brandywine, other Hessians	2	(?)		16	(?)
Redbank	82			229			60
Newport	19			96			13
Stono Ferry	9	(?)		34	(?)
Charleston	11			62
Springfield	25	(?)		75	(?)
Baton Rouge	25			8
Pensacola	15	(?)		45	(?)
Guildford Court House	15			69			4
Yorktown	53			131			27
⁠Total	548			1652			127

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1. Although the British landed on New York Island without opposition, as stated on page 72, there was a skirmish on the day of their landing, in which the Hessian grenadiers suffered the loss stated above.