FRIEDRICH KAPP - Der Soldatenhandel deutscher Fursten 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 Hulfstruppen 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. Wolfenbuttel, 1778.
F. B. MELSHEIMER - Tagebuch von der Reise der Braunschweigischen Auxiliar Truppen von Wolfenbuttel nach Quebec. Minden, 1776.
The same. - Erste Fortsetzung. (These are two small pamphlets.)
J. VON EWALD - Belehrungen uber den Krieg, besonders uber den kleinen Krieg, durch Beispiele grosser Helden und kluger und tapferer Manner. Schleswig, 1798.
Folge derselben. Schleswig, 1800.
Zweite und letzte Folge derselben. Schleswig, 1803.
Briefe eines Reisenden uber den gegenwartegen Zustand von Cassel, mit aller Freiheit geschildert. Frankfurt und Leipzig, 1781.
Hochfurstl. Hessen-Casselischer Staats-und Adress-CaIender auf das Jahr Christi 1779. Cassel.
KARL BIEDERMANN - Deutschland im Achtzehnten Jahrhundert. Vol. I. Deutschlands Politische, materielle und sociale Zustande im Achtzehnten Jahrhundert. Leipzig, 1880.
FERDINAND PFISTER. - Der Nordamerikanische UnabhangigkeitsKrieg. Kassel, 1864.
Friedrich II und die neuere Geschichts-Screibung. - Ein Beitrag zur Widerlegung der Marchen uber angeblichen Soldaten-Handel hessischer Fursten. Zweite mit eine Beleuchtung Seumens vermehrte Auflage. Melsungen, 1879.
I. G. SEUME - Samtliche Werke. Leipzig, 1835. (Mein Leben.)
The same - Article in I. W. v. ARCHENHOLTZ'S Neue Literatur und Volkerkunde. Fur das Jahr 1789. Zweiter Band. (Schreiben aus Amerika nach Deutschland, Hallifax, 1782.)
AUGUST LUDWIG SCHLOZER'S, & c., Briefwechsel meist historischen und politischen Inhalts. Gottingen, 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 voIs.
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. FISCHE - Geschichte von Anspach oder Onolzbach. Anspach, 1786.
Reglement fur Hessische Infanterie. Cassel, 1767.
Von den Hessen in Amerika, ihren fursten, & c., 1782. (The pamphlet attributed to Schlieffen.)
(From originals or copies in the Standische Landesbibliothek at Cassel.)
(1.) journal von dem Hochlobl: Hessischen Grenadier olom Battaillon von Minnigerode, modo von Loewenstein vom 20ten Januarii, 1776, bis 17ten May, 1784.
(2.) journal vom Hochfurstlich Hessischen Grenadier Battaillon Platte. Vom 16 Februar, 1776, bis den 24 Maij, 1784. Gefuhrt durch dem Regiments Quartier Meister Carl Bauer.
(3.) journal des Hochloblichen Fuselier Regimentes
von Alt-Lossberg. Gefuhrt durch den Regiments Quartier Meister
Heusser, vom Ausmarsch aus der Garnison Rinteln an, bis zur Zuruckkunft
des gedachten Hochloblichen Regiments aus America vom 10ten
Merz, 1776, bis den 5ten October, 1783.
(4.) Geschichte des hochloblichen Fuselier-Regiments von Lossberg in Form eines Tagebuchs angefangen 1776-1783 (by Adj. Piel).
(5.) journal vom Loblichen Garnisons-Regiment von Huyn, nachher von Benning de ao. 1776, bis medio November, 1783 gefuhrt dutch mich dem Regiments Qtiermstr G. Kleinschmidt.
(6.) Journal gefuhrt bei dem Hochloblich Hessischen Feld-Jager Corps wahrend denen Campagnen der Konigl. Grossbrittanischen Armee in North Amerika. Angefangen den 23ten Juli, 1777, von dem Tage wo der Oberstlieutenant Ludwig Johann Adolph von Wurmb das Commando uber das Corps ubernahm und geendigt den 20ten April, 1784, bei der erfolgten retour derer samtlich Hochfurstlich. 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 Hochfurstl. Hessischen Hlobl. Infanterie Regiment von Trumbach, 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 Hochfurstlichen Hessischen, des General Major von Knoblauch Lobl. 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 ExcelIentz des Herrn General Lieutenant von
Knyphausen an 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.)
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 (Jagers), 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 Trumbach; 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 Trumbach; 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 Bunau. (II. div. - Fort Washington, Newport, Springfield.)
Feld Jager 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 up a part of the Hessian Jager Corps.)
The BRUNSWICK contingent, serving in Canada and northern New York, was composed of the:
Regiment of Dragoons (dismounted). (Benninglon 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.)
Jager 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.
"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.
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 Schlozer'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
" " " March, 1777........224
" " " April, 1778...........475
" " " April, 1779...........286
" " " May, 1780............266
" " " 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
" " " December, 1777.......403
" " " March, 1779..............993
" " " May, 1780..................915
" " " April, 1781.................915
" " " April, 1782.................961
Total......................................................................6,992
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
" recruits sent in April, 1781............50
" " " " 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
the autumn of the same year, recruits................318
1779........................157
1780........................152
1781........................205
1782........................236
Total......................................................................2,353
Returned in the autumn of 1783.......................1,183
Did not return.......................................................1,170
WALDECK sent in 1776......................................670
" " " April, 1777..........................89
" " " February, 1778.................140
" " " May, 1779...........................23
" " " April, 1781.........................144
" " " April, 1782.........................159
Total.......................................................................1,225
Returned in the autumn of 1783...........................505
Did not return...........................................................720
ANHALT-ZERBST sent in 1778............................600
" " " April, 1779.................82
" " " May, 1780.................50
" " " 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
LIST OF THE LOSSES SUSTAINED BY THE GERMANS
IN THE PRINCIPAL BATTLES OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Killed Wounded Missing
Long Island....................2.............25
Sept. 15th 1776 *........2.............16
Sept. 16th, 1776..........1................1
Oct 9th to Oct 23d
(incl. Chatterton Hill)....13..............63...............23
Fort Washington ...........56.............276
Trenton............................17...............78
Assanpink
(Jan. 2d, 1777)......4...............11
Burgoyne's Campaign
to October 6th....164.............284
Burgoyne's Campaign
from Oct. 7th to 16th....25 (?).........75 (?)
Skirmish, Sept. 3, 1777...1...............19
Brandywine:
Chasseurs...................7...............39
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
*Although the British landed on New York Island without opposition, there was a skirmish on the day of their landing, in which the Hessian grenadiers suffered the loss stated above.