Zweites Husaren-Regiment
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Friday, October 19, 2018
Geschichte des 1. Kurhessischen Infanterie-Regiments Nr. 81
(Translated extract for pages 16-21.)
The Kurfürst Regiment
December 5, 1813 until the outbreak of war in 1866.
The new regiment was formed into two musketeer battalions, a fusilier battalion and two grenadier companies. The battalions had four companies. The two grenadier companies formed together with those of the regiment "Kurprinz" a special grenadier battalion "Von Haller". Lord William I concluded by the with the allied monarch to Frankfurt a. M. entered into a treaty with the League of Nations for Germany's independence. Hesse put 24,000 men to the common Kamps. These formed in the rank of the allied armies the IV. German army corps, which stood under the personal supreme command of the Kurprinzen William. The regiment "Elector" was the first with the regiment "Kurprinz", which left its homeland on 20 January 1814 and started the march across the Rhine to France. The task of the Hessian troop units was to take over the encirclement of the fortresses Metz, Thionville, Luxembourg and Saarlouis.
On February 11, 1814, the regiment participated in the cernization of Luxembourg, with Liebenbrunn in front of the said fortress came to a major battle. Here it was above all the 1st Company of the Fusilier Battalion - consisting only of Upper Hesse - which lack of cartridges the failing Frenchman with the piston repulsed. In a special order of the Gdneral of Dörnberg the company then earned the well-deserved recognition as the first to renew the glorious name of the old Hessians.
Equally prominent was the Regiment before Diedenhosen in the Battle of Manquenon on February 26, where the Grenadier Battalion "Von Haller" distinguished itself particularly by the fact that it cut off a failure of the enemy with the bayonet, made many prisoners and conquered a cannon Even in the battle of Ladonchamps before Metz on April 10, the regiment bravely and fought worthily its old tradition.
When in 1815 Napoleon returned to France after escaping from the island of Elba, a Hessian corps of 12,000 men was mobilized at once, to which our regiment also belonged. The corps belonged to the north German army corps commanded by the Prussian General Gras Kleist von Nollendorff. At its head was lieutenant general Engelhardt. The column with which the regiment "Elector" withdrew marched to the Rhine on the 5th of April, and crossed it on May 11. After the Hessian corps was first marched against Luxemburg and later against Aachen, it finally received the Order to overrun the Maas fortresses.
The regiment participated in the confinement and capture of Sedan on June 27, the storming of the fortified city of Charleville on June 29, the failure of Mohon on July 25, and St. Julien's on the Maas Island (3 to 7 August), which finally ended with the conquest of Mezisres, one of the most important fortresses of France, which had not yet been conquered by any hostile army; The regiment was also on fire when the city of Givet and the fortress of Montmedy were encircled.
On February 27, 1821, the high-ranking chief of the regiment, Elector Wilhelm I, passed away, to whom he had been allowed to reappear after years of hardship in his fatherland. His son, the former Elector Wilhelm, took over as Elector Wilhelm II the government.
In 1816, two companies of the Fusilier Battalion entered and the remaining two companies were combined with those of the regiment "Kurprinz" to form a special Fusilier Battalion, and in 1817, this battalion was converted into the "I. Fusilier Landwehr Regiment".
On 1 May this year, the regiment received the name "I. Linien-Infanterie-Regiment", also organizational changes brought the regiment to the year 1821. It was formed into 3 battalions, namely to 2 musketeer and 1 fusilier battalion, each battalion to 4 companies in such a way that - as mentioned above - from two companies of the regiment "Elector" and from two companies of the regiment "Kurprinz" formed grenadier battalion "Von Haller" the I. battalion, the former I. battalion the II. and the second battalion since then the fusilier battalion , At the same time the regiment received the two companies of "I. Fusilier-Landwehr-Regiments ", which constituted part of the fusilier battalion of our regiment from 1813 to 1816, namely the 1st Company to the 2nd Battalion, the 2nd Company to the Fusilier Battalion.
The 1st Battalion of the regiment, which, as just mentioned, was formed by the previous Grenadier battalion "Von Haller," had also taken over the glorious history of those combined Grenadier battalions, which at all times maintained the reputation of a brave and fearless force At Bergen, Sababurg and Dorsten in the 7-year war, at Flatbush, Whiteplains, Redbank and Charlestown in the American campaign, the grenadiers have acquired everlasting laurels and also the years 1814 and 1815 saw the grenadiers in the fire.
In 1824, the regiment was given the name "I. Linien-Infanterie-Regiment Kurprinz"and awarded the spa prince Frederick William as head of the regiment. After he had taken over the co-regency on September 30, 1831, he appointed the regiment as his body regiment As a result of a reduction of the Army Corps ordered by the Electoral Prince, he formed two battalions on September 18, 1832, in such a way that the 1st and 2nd Battalion remained in existence, the Fusilier Battalion as a rifle battalion from the Regimental Association retired.
Once again, the regiment changed its name, in 1835 the name "I. Infantry Regiment (Leib-Regiment) "received until the death of Elector Wilhelm II his successor from the throne, Elector Friedrich Wilhelm I, on November 20, 1847 his regiment, to which he was already 23 years as chief, the name "I. Infantry Regiment (Elector)" awarded. This name was retained by the regiment until 17 September 1866.
When a breakout broke out in the Grand Duchy of Baden in the month of April 1848-one of the disturbances caused by the revolt that had taken place in France at the beginning of this year and the influence thus transferred from Germany-came on the initiative of the Baden Government made Hessian corps in the Grand Duchy. In this corps was the I. Battalion of the regiment. The strike was quickly ended by the capture of Freiburg and the battalion returned to the home. But at the beginning of August the battalion again marched out with a Kurhessian corps, and indeed the 1st Battalion, which formed the 2nd Battalion of a combined Brigade, went to Mannheim, but entered Frankfurt a. M., in the middle of the following month returned to his garrison.
In 1849 the regiment was increased by a Landwehr battalion. But this was re-launched in 1854, and its crew assigned to the other two battalions.
The re-emergence of the war with Denmark in 1849 was the reason why the Second Battalion followed on April 16 this year as a substitute for the Hessian Corps, which had already left for Holstein in March. When the Kurhessian brigade under Major General Spangenberg invaded the center of the main army in Jutland in the month of May, the 2nd Battalion of the regiment remained in Horsens to maintain contact with the Reserve Division in the Sundewitt. With riders and 4 guns, the battalion was sent from here to cover the left flank of the army to Gunden-Aa, from where it advanced as far as Skanderborg. After the Battle of Friedericia the isolated Kurhessische troop units were united and placed against Friedericia. When the peace was concluded at the end of July, the battalion with the other Kurhessian troops returned via Altona back home.
On February 17, 1855, by order of the German Confederation, a part of the Kurhessian army, among which was also the I. Infantry Regiment "Elector", was put into readiness for war, and this readiness was raised again on June 8, 1856.
Similarly, on April 27, 1859, also on the basis of the Federal Decree, 6677 Kurhessische soldiers were put into march readiness and brought on July 31 of the same year again from peace-kiss. Once again the regiment was among the mobilized units.
In 1863, the Zündnadelgewehr was introduced at the Lurhessian Army Corps.
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Erinnerungen eines alten preußischen Officiers aus den Feldzügen 1792, 1793 und 1794 in Frankreich und am Rhein
Memories of an old Prussian officer from the campaigns of 1792, 1793 and 1794 in France and on the Rhine.
Geschichte der Kriege in Europa seit dem Jahre 1792 als Folgen der Staatsveränderung in Frankreich unter Ludwig XVI
History of wars in Europe since 1792 as a consequence of the change of state in France under Louis XVI
Sunday, October 14, 2018
The Grenadier Battalion of Linsingen in the Assault on Fort Redbank 1777
Since the Americans had fallen into the hands of the English and Hessians on September 26, 1777, but still with their oars under the protection of Fort Redbank barred shipping on the Delaware, the Hessian Colonel received from Donop the English General Lord Cornwalli's order to go over the Delaware with a detachment of Hessian Jäger, the Grenadier battalions of Linsingen, Minningerode and Lengerke, and the regiment of Mirbach, together with eight battalions and two English howitzers at Copersfery, on the left bank of this River below Philadelphia take away Fort Redbank with a storm. *)
*) The Grenadier Battalion of Linsingen was the Grenadier Compagnies of the 2nd Guards (later 2nd Battalion Guardsman) and 3rd Guards of the Leib-Regiment (subsequently 1st battalion of the 1st Infantry Regiment) and the Regiment of Mirbach (later Fusiliers Battalion ). The Grenadier Battalion of Minningerode was formed by the Grenadier Companies of the Regiments of the Erbprinz (included in the subsequent Fusilier Battalion), Löhberg (2nd Battalion of the Life Guards Regiment), Knyphausen (2nd Battalion of the 2nd Infantry Regiment), and Ditfurth (reduced in 1795) , Lengerke's Grenadier Battalion consisted of the Grenadier Companies of the Regiments of Wuttginau (2nd Battalion of the 1st Infantry Regiment), Prince Carl (reduced 1832), Donop (1st Battalion of the 1st Infantry Regiment) and Trummbach (1st Battalion) of the 3rd Infantry Regiment). - The Regiment of Mirbach was Fusilier Battalion and received in 1856 the designation: Schützen Battalion.
It was thought that the fortifications of this fort were so insignificant at the English headquarters, according to confiscated inquiries, that Lord Cornwallis, at the request of Colonel Donop, whether the charge should be carried out under all circumstances, and at his request for an even more difficult one cannon, to whom he gave the disparaging answer: that if he and his Hessian would find the task set too difficult, he should only say so by putting it to execution by English troops.
Unfortunately, it was forgotten that those inquiries on which this confidence was based had already been absorbed nearly three weeks ago, and since then the Americans had had enough time to remedy those shortcomings.
The fort, consisting of a regular pentagon and one side close to the Delaware, not only had a high and strong mound with the existing deep and wide ditch and covered path, but was also on the four sides of the land facing 30 steps away from the foot of the glacis girded with a dense abatis and wolf pits behind it. Likewise, in the ditch itself, as well as at the entrance to the front, several networks favoring the defense were built, and a detached redoubt had been built on the summit of a sand-hill close to the Delaware, and dominating the north-front.
All of these works were staffed by a number of heavy guns equivalent to their size, as well as 2 battalions of Virginian and 2 battalions of New England militia under Colonel Hasselworth.
As the fort was surrounded by the primeval forest which at that time still covered the area, approaching almost 400 steps, especially by the northern front, Colonel Donop was able to approach the fort unnoticed, not only at noon on the 21st of October but also to pick up some crew sent to receive cattle for slaughter, from whose testimony it was stated that the crew was in complete lightheartedness and that nothing less was prepared for a near attack.
Although, according to this, there was every prospect of being able to seize the fort by means of a rapid attack, Colonel von Donop, whether it was prescribed by his order of conduct, or led to it by hope, allowed his purpose to be achieved without bloodshed being able to formally ask the American Commander to be surrendered by a parliamentarian. Using this misunderstanding cleverly for his past, the latter was able to consult the resulting negotiations until the afternoon of 4 o'clock, in order to gain time to put himself in defensive position. To be sure, this time was also very useful for the Hessian side, to reconnoiter the fort, to determine the most appropriate point of attack, and to make a considerable quantity of tearing bundles to fill the trenches; yet this did not keep the balance with the advantages which this offered to the enemy.
According to the orders made by Colonel Donop, especially since there had been no evidence of the proximity of the enemy oars, the north face, facing upwards, was to be attacked so vigorously by artillery, then by the Grenadier battalion of Minnesota. The regiment of Mirbach and the grenadier battalion of Linsingen attacked the fort itself, and the grenadier battalion of Lengerke remained in reserve. To each of the storming battalions all the carpenters of the same, as well as 100 man-bearers, were to be led by a henchman, the former to open passages in the present case, the latter to make trench transitions by means of the tufts.
At four o'clock in the afternoon, at last, when the American Commandant had given a definite refusal to surrender, Colonel von Donop summoned all the staff officers, informed them of the manner in which each of them was to proceed, and added a short one and urgent request: remembering that at the prevailing opinion in England's headquarters about the nature of the fort, the conquest of which had become a necessity for the Hessian military doctrine, venturing even the utmost.
After this, each commander had set foot on the foot of his unit, and the signal for the opening of this gunfire was made. But as the day soon began to run out, after a quarter of an hour of rather ineffectual bombardment the further signal was given at the beginning of the assault.
The battalions who attacked him undoubtedly belonged to the bravest, most beautiful troops of the time. Like every captain of his company, every staff officer to his battalion, so did Colonel von Donop, a handsome officer still in his prime, well-respected for his fine sense of honor, knightly demeanor and fiery courage, the bravest of the brave with the sword in hand.
In rapid succession the interlocking was reached, and in spite of the murderous grape-shot and small-gunfire, which was soon to be directed by the works of the fort on the onslaughters, it penetrated into them.
So great was the eagerness of the storming to open passageways through this interception, that even severely wounded did not pay attention to their wounds and even wounded several times did not give way. In particular, Captain von Stamford of the Grenadier Battalion of Linsingen, though he had been hit almost at the same time by a bullet in the left leg and another in the left shoulder, distinguished himself in the most glorious, and endeavored to bravely put his hand to When he broke the lock, and when he had succeeded, he, the first one, rushed to the main wall, although his sword was smashed out of his hand by a pestle and his right shoulder was struck.
Hessians attack the southern wall.
But as the very first, through the intercourse, wound themselves, they found beyond it, as far as the foot of the glacis, not only a multiple series of wolf-pits, between which was to pass only one by one, but became, as they emigrated, the same Suddenly also from two American rowing galleys close to the Delaware shore, which had hitherto not been perceived because of the dense bank growth, most surprisingly with grape-shot and chain-balls in the shot at the right flank. Nevertheless, even this could not stop them; rather, the regiment of Mirbach and the Grenadier Battalion of Linsingen, so to speak before the mouths of the enemy guns, rejoined the glacis of the covered path anew, if only fleetingly limb, though the flank fire from those rudder-galleys heaped the crew in heaps, and then, in the midst of the triumphant victory of the Grenadier Battalion of Minningerode, which had just penetrated the detached redoubt, pressed on, on towards the moat and main wall.
Already, the first of the stormers began to climb this and try to penetrate into the loopholes or burst open the entrance gate, as from the ditch-caponier also a violent gunfire broke loose in her left flank.
Then it is an unfortunate coincidence that almost at the same time not only Colonel von Donop but all the staff officers and captains sink mortally or seriously wounded to the ground.
COUNT DONOP, 1777.
Count Carl Emilius von Donop mortally wounded at the Battle of Red Bank.
Nevertheless, the team still does not let go of storms; but, since almost all the other officers are killed or wounded, the line is missing.
The individual who had climbed up the ramparts and entered the loopholes did not follow the necessary support; they were pushed back with lances and bayonets. The whole thing faltered, until the ever-increasing twilight makes the continuation of the fight in these circumstances impossible anyway, and thus gives reason for the attackers to retreat.
Fortunately, the Americans did not dare to make a loss, so that even the majority of the severely wounded, after the complete collapse of darkness, still had occasion to crawl back to the near edge of the forest, and thus very few of them enemy captivity.
Nevertheless, the total loss of the stormers amounted to 26 officers and 376 civilians.
Besides the commander of the regiment of Mirbach-Colonel von Schick-8 other officers were dead. Amongst those who were seriously injured in hostile captivity Gerathenen was the Captain Wagner and Lieutenant Heimel and Colonel von Donop himself.
A shotgun bullet had shattered his right leg in the hip just as he was about to climb the wall.
At the same time those who had stood round him were partly killed, some were badly wounded. So he had fallen between the bundles of shreds piled up here and gone unnoticed.
Only at dawn he was found by the Americans, and at once with all care he made his way to the fort and summoned up everything to give him the most sought-after care.
However, since an amputation of the leg was impossible, he had to give up the ghost already on the 29th of October, after suffering enduring only forty-five years. But even in death the enemy honored him by solemnly burying him with all his military honors on the north front of the fort, where he had preceded his followers by storm. He was also there, after the Americans had voluntarily evicted Fort Redbank shortly thereafter, a memorial stone with the inscription: Multis Flebilis Occidit d. h. to German - he died mourned by many - erected.
But the debris of the battalions, more than decimated by the storm, had taken their departure again during the night, under the command of the Lieutenant Colonel Linsingen, on the same way in which they had come, and were pursuing-without any trace at all will be returning to Philadelphia at noon on the 23rd of October.
Although, as a result of the great departure still continuing in the course of the American War, only a few of the men of the two Guards Regiments, who had come to America, returned to their homes, there were some when the war against France broke out in 1792, though after that, almost 30 years had elapsed since they had ceased to be enemies, but equaled their ancestors, and decorated their flags with new, no less brilliant laurels than those on the battlefields at the Speyerbache, Hochstadt, Bergen, and Prussian Minden had achieved.
(Translated from pages 39-44.)
Das kurhessische Leibgarde-Regiment: Eine geschichtl. Skizze
Maximilian von Ditfurth, 1882
Friday, October 12, 2018
Geschichte des Krieges in Hannover, Hessen und Westfalen
History of the war in Hanover, Hesse and Westphalia from 1757 to 1763: edited according to previously unused handwritten original works and other sources politico-military.
Hessen-Kassel. Leib-Dragoner-Regiment. Husaren-Regiment. 1789
Hessen-Kassel: Dragoner vom Leib-Dragoner-Regiment 1789 /
Husar und Husarenoffizier vom Husaren-Regiment 1789
(Uniformenkunde, Bd.II, Nr. 20), Richard Knötel
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Abhandlung über den kleinen Krieg / Treatise On Partisan Warfare - Johann von Ewald
Johann Ewald's classic essay, "Abhandlung Uber den kleinen Krieg," published in 1785, describes light infantry tactics in an era of heavy infantry formations. Robert Selig and David Skaggs comment on Ewald's treatise on partisan warfare and its relevance to current military doctrine. They also provide extensive scholarly notations with the text, explaining people, places, and events during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolution, where Ewald had extensive experience as a company commander in the Hessian Field Jaeger Corps.
Captain Ewald, eventually a Major General in the Danish Army, describes the recruiting and training of light infantry troops, and discusses their use both in the Seven Years' War and the American Revolution at length. He provides illuminating insights into light infantry tactics and doctrine.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)