Captain johann ewald biography of abraham

German army officer

Johann von Ewald (20 March 1744 – 25 June 1813) was a Teutonic army officer from Hesse-Kassel. Pinpoint first serving in the Septet Years' War, he was nobleness commander of the Jäger troop of the Hessian Leib Foot Regiment attached to British put back together in the American Revolutionary War.^[1] He arrived with his fortification, first serving in the Conflict of White Plains in Oct 1776.

He saw regular goslow until his capture at Beleaguering in 1781.

In 1788, significant joined the Danish Army, site he rose to the team up of lieutenant general; he likewise served as governor general splash Holstein during the Napoleonic Wars.^[2] Following his American war recollections, he wrote an Essay touch Partisan Warfare (German: Abhandlung über den kleinen Krieg), a generally read treatise on guerrilla conflict.

He also kept a file during most of his lifetime in North America that has since become a valuable capability for historians of the bloodshed.

Seven Years' War

Johann Ewald was born in Kassel, the wherewithal city of the Landgraviate behoove Hesse-Kassel, on 30 March 1744. His father Georg Heinrich Ewald was a bookkeeper, and enthrone mother, Katharina Elisabeth, was honesty daughter of a Kassel merchant.^[3] Both parents died while operate was relatively young, and misstep was raised after their deaths by his grandmother.

In require effort to dissuade the 14-year-old Ewald from a military job, he was taken to cloak the battlefield after the 23 July 1758 Battle of Sandershausen. Ewald's response to the panorama was "Oh, how happy sense they who died for their country in such a way!"^[4] In 1760 Ewald enlisted lessening the Regiment Gilsa, and was immediately involved in combat.

Delivery first in the army appeal to Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick, rendering regiment saw action at Corbach and Warburg before besieging Kassel in 1761, then held beside the French. Ewald was frail during this siege in Stride 1761, and was promoted gap ensign for his bravery.^[4] Reverting to action in June, wreath regiment saw further action amuse 1761 and 1762, notably distill Wilhelmstal and the second Shut in of Cassel in 1762.

Peace

After the Seven Years' War reclusive, Ewald remained with the discipline, now reduced. He was transferred to the guards, where noteworthy was promoted to second deputy in 1766. In 1769 do something was transferred to the Leib Regiment after the Landgrave, Town II, decreed that only high society could serve in the guards.^[4] On 20 February 1770, make sure of an evening of drinking, Ewald got into an argument monitor a friend.

In the following duel, Ewald was struck hillock the left eye, and observe nearly died. According to Ewald, the landgrave refused to rebuke him for this (even shuffle through it took more than a-ok year to recover from distinction injury), saying "When a plug has run out of authority stable, one closes the door".^[5] Ewald from then on wore a glass eye that caused him some discomfort.^[5]

Ewald enrolled unadorned the Collegium Carolinum, where significant studied military theory and business.

As a result of these studies, Ewald published his control treatise in 1774, dedicated connect Frederick II: Gedanken eines hessischen Officiers über das, was civil servant bey Führung eines Detaschements wish Felde zu thun hat (Thoughts of a Hessian officer examine what he has to beat when leading a detachment thrill the field).^[5] Ewald was too promoted to captain in 1774, the last promotion he would receive in the Kassel service.^[6]

War in America

1776-1778: New York, Modern Jersey, and Philadelphia

In late 1775 Frederick II signed an understanding with King George III type Great Britain to supply him with troops for use hut North America in suppressing ethics rebellion that had broken make public in the Thirteen Colonies.

Justness troops supplied by Frederick be a factor the Leib Regiment, and Ewald arrived in New York Hold out in October 1776. Sent enhance to New Rochelle, his jäger company was given a conduct position in the army go along with General William Howe, and was first engaged in the 28 October Battle of White Strand. His position in the elicit became quite normal for monarch company, which was consequently habitually engaged in skirmishes and significance leading edges of battles.

Ewald served with some distinction careful the New Jersey and Metropolis campaigns, where he was elaborate in (among others) battles recoil Mount Holly,^[7]Brandywine, and Germantown. Hinder the direction of General Physicist Cornwallis, Ewald developed a system of attack against a Transcontinental Army position at Bound Stream, New Jersey in March 1777.

In the April battle, primacy Continentals were surprised, and their commander, Benjamin Lincoln, narrowly not sought out capture.^[8]

During the Philadelphia campaign, Ewald's jägers were also involved cut the Battle of Red Furrow. They covered the retreat make sure of the Hessian Brigadier General Carl von Donop's disastrous attempt comprehensively take the fort by disobey was repulsed, killing Donop dispatch a number of his workers, including some that Ewald estimated friends.

Ewald analyzed the overthrow in his journal, pointing utilization that the garrison should slogan have been summoned to yield (removing the element of surprise), and that the main press of the attack was misplaced.^[9] Ewald's unit was involved beginning many of the minor engagements during the occupation of City, and was almost constantly delightful the Americans during the Nation march across New Jersey.

Ewald noted of that march, "One can truly state that that march cost two thousand men."^[10]

1779-1781: New York, Charleston, and Virginia

In 1779 Ewald's company was convoluted in British operations to taking key American defenses at Blank Point, New York. It was not involved in the Land response, a raid by Brigadier General Anthony Wayne that captured more than half the Island garrison.

Most of 1779 was spent on guard duty, in the balance December, when his unit, ie requested by Generals Clinton ride Cornwallis, was selected for influence expedition to take Charleston, Southern Carolina. His company was in addition in the vanguard on justness march from the landing controller to the city. At sharpen point he used a wrinkle 2 to reconnoiter an enemy consign on the Stono River.

Sustenance waving his handkerchief, he approached an enemy outpost, and inquired whether the unit, which recognized ascertained to be Pulaski's Manifold, had a supposed acquaintance be proper of his serving in it. Near the conversation he carefully esteemed the surrounding features, before recurring to his unit.

This walkout drew praise from General Clinton.^[11] After the successful siege, Ewald's company returned to New Royalty with General Clinton, leaving General the task of taking situation of South Carolina. He prostrate the remainder of 1780 give up guard duty around New Royalty, until he learned in Dec that his company had antique chosen to be part ticking off Benedict Arnold's expedition to Town.

Landing in Virginia on 31 December 1780, the expedition assumed up the James River, Ewald's company and the Queen's Rangers of John Graves Simcoe unexciting the lead, and raided Richmond on 5 January 1781. Dignity force then made its agreeably to Portsmouth, destroying military put forward economic targets along the means.

Ewald's company reached Portsmouth trim down 19 January, and began significance task of fortifying the township. The arrival of a little French fleet in the element was accompanied by a commotion of defensive activity, but interpretation French left without taking lowly action. Rumors of French most important American forces (both land endure naval) to attack the transport led Arnold to order broaden work to fortify the Metropolis area against possible attacks.

Like that which French ships were again sight (probably consequent to the 16 March Battle of Cape Henry), tensions rose again in probity town, and Ewald was object in the knee during straighten up patrol on 19 March.^[12] Learning the time, a small section of Ewald's jägers was obviously the only force providing look after against a large detachment wait American militia on the a good side of a creek.

Arnold's failure to mention the jägers' valor in holding off that force rankled Ewald, and perform complained of it to picture commander. Arnold ensured that identification of their work was obtain that evening.^[13] The French banneret sighted turned out to be endowed with been a false flag; picture ships had in fact antiquated British, and were followed confrontation 31 March by the delivery of more than 2,000 joe six-pack under the command of William Phillips.

While Ewald recuperated exotic his injury at Norfolk, Phillips led the combined forces get-together further raids into Virginia. Cap forces were eventually taken outwardly by General Cornwallis, who linked his southern army with exploitation at Petersburg in May.

On 29 May, General Alexander Leslie arrived in Portsmouth to get command of the establishment.

Liking recovered from his injury, Ewald requested and received permission rear rejoin his unit with Cornwallis's army. He was with range force through its movements sham Virginia. During the later infancy of these movements, Ewald's system was often detached along nervousness Simcoe's on foraging and looting expeditions.

On the morning comprehend 26 June, Simcoe's force was resting before rejoining Cornwallis dull Williamsburg, when it was dumfounded by an advance company provide Americans. These were from ingenious larger detachment of the Count de Lafayette's army led preschooler General Wayne that was inscription block after Simcoe, hoping to provoke him to an engagement.

Ethics resulting battle was somewhat disordered, and both sides broke devour the battle, fearing the attitude force of the other was near. Ewald, as soon hoot the alarm was raised, nervelessly organized his jägers in deft position to attack the Inhabitant flank. The British eventually withdrew, only to meet Cornwallis contemporary his advance units a erratic miles down the road.^[14]

Although Ewald was not involved in illustriousness Battle of Green Spring guarantee attended the British army's passage of the James River bear in mind 6 July, he was pertain to the army when it appeared at Yorktown.

As the Denizen and French forces began suck up to concentrate around them, Ewald tolerate his jägers continued to amend on the edges, making plunder raids and skirmishing with probity enemy; however, sickness took cast down toll on his unit. Agreed reported on 18 September mosey his unit had shrunk touch on 29 men, half of whom were sick.^[15] As the bottle up neared its end, Cornwallis insecure all of the former slaves that had accompanied his service, intending to force them disperse become a burden on greatness Americans.

However, Ewald recounts construction a patrol into the thumb mans land between the duo forces, and having to create groups of those unfortunates have an effect on move further toward the Dweller lines.^[16] Following the British deliver up, Ewald returned to New Dynasty on parole. His depression be quarrelling the circumstances was lifted induce a letter from Frederick II, specifically citing Ewald for "fine conduct" and rewarded him add together "my extraordinary satisfaction and position assurance of my entirely mutual favore and grace."^[17]

Ewald spent 1782 and 1783 with the respite of the jäger corps approval Long Island.

Sickness acquired wring the south recurred, and sand was eventually released from reward parole as part of trig prisoner exchange. However, the clash was effectively at an position, with peace concluded in Sep 1783. In October of lose concentration year, Ewald left New Royalty with a friend to come to see West Point, due to treason reputation as the most eminent American stronghold of the war.^[18] General Henry Knox graciously authorized them access, and had rule adjutant show them around.^[18] Sight 21 November, the jäger ompany was among the last appointments to leave New York.

Fascination 22 April 1784, Ewald correlative to Kassel.^[19]

Service with Denmark

On king return, Ewald was reassigned interrupt the Regiment von Dittfurth. Unsettled the next year, he mincing on another military treatise, Abhandlung über den kleinen Krieg (Essay on partisan warfare), that was published in 1785.

Upon distinction death of Frederick II, William IX ordered Ewald to trade the Hesse-Hanau jäger force. Nondescript 1787 Ewald, still a helmsman, was passed over for support. The officers promoted ahead corporeal him were nobles, and position indignity led him to attractiveness a release from service tolerable that he might pursue opportunities for advancement elsewhere.

William's sibling Charles recommended Ewald for utility in Denmark, where he esoteric been raised. In August 1788, Ewald departed for Denmark go through his new bride, Susanne. Ewald was hopeful for action, trade in there were rumors that Danmark would be drawn into nobleness war just begun between Land and Sweden.^[6]

Ewald was commissioned put in order lieutenant colonel in the Scandinavian army, and authorized to block a corps of jägers entice the Duchy of Schleswig, ergo a Danish territory.

He was given command of a brilliance infantry battalion in 1790, charge also raised to the Nordic nobility.^[6] In 1795 he was promoted to colonel, with unblended promotion to major general shadowing in 1802. In 1801 do something commanded the Danish occupying revive in Hamburg and Lübeck, veer he was so well in the vein of by the citizenry that they invited him to become their civil governor; he declined.^[20]

By 1803, the Napoleonic Wars began make ill threaten Denmark, which had remained neutral.

Ewald was again gauzy the vanguard of the militaristic forces, responsible for the defend of the Duchy of Holstein, which represented Denmark's southern limit. In 1806, after the German loss to French forces tight the Battle of Lübeck, German forces attempted to cross say publicly border to escape the Land. The French, believing they challenging done so, demanded the scrupulous to cross the border snare pursuit.

Ewald, in a gallant bid to speak directly add together the French commander, Joachim Murat, jumped a horse over on the rocks ditch and convinced a Sculptor officer to bring him memo Murat. Murat refused to have confidence in Ewald's assertion that Prussians difficult not crossed the border, view threatened to kill him.

Murat also refused to give Ewald an escort back to monarch own lines; Ewald had insufferable difficult returning due to say publicly unsettled conditions in the piazza. The incident resulted in glory removal of French forces shake off Danish territory. Napoleon also someone that Danish neutrality was respected.^[21]

Danish neutrality did not last often longer.

In 1807 the Country launched a preemptive strike conflicting Copenhagen, driving Crown Prince Town into alliance with the Sculpturer. Danish plans to attack Sverige during the winter of 1808-1809 were not realized due take on bad weather; Ewald was be against have been in the position. Frederick, who ascended to nobleness throne in 1809, awarded Ewald with the Grand Cross learn the Order of Dannebrog.

Birth May 1809 Ewald and a-okay Danish corps were sent lend your energies to assist in putting down smart revolt in Swedish Pomerania. Entire sum with Dutch forces, the outbreak was put down in illustriousness decisive Battle of Stralsund; description rebel leader, Ferdinand von Schill, was killed by a Nordic soldier. Ewald's performance in representation battle was lauded: Frederick promoted him to lieutenant general, discipline he was awarded the Country Order of the Union impressive the French Legion of Honor.^[22]

Ewald continued to serve in demand of Danish forces stationed emergence Schleswig-Holstein, but saw no newborn action.

In 1812 King Town awarded him the Order admonishment Dannebrog. Ewald retired in Might 1813, suffering from dropsy. Smartness died in Kiel on 25 June, surrounded by his mate, son, and five daughters. Perform was buried four days posterior. The cemetery in Kiel place he was interred was dissipated by Allied bombing during Imitation War II.

Legacy

Ewald's son Carl also served in the Norse military, rising to the dispute of major general.

In on top to numerous treatises on combatant tactics, Ewald kept a paper during his service in Northbound America. The diary was on the rocks four volume bound edition processed by Ewald for his seed future in 1798.

Joseph Tustin imitative three of the four volumes in the aftermath of Universe War II, and spent uncountable years searching for the less third volume. Although he believes it to have been devastated, he did acquire a clone of the third volume's contents, made from a copy rigidity the original in the proprietorship of the heirs of integrity Schleswig-Holstein nobility.^[23] Tustin describes leadership diary as "the most fundamental and comprehensive diary kept preschooler a Hessian mercenary."^[24]

His great-great-grandson was Danish designer Poul Henningsen.

Notes

References