Saturday, December 14, 2019

Freiherr von Jungkenn papers (1775-1784)



Collection Scope and Content Note

The von Jungkenn papers comprise one of the major resources in North America for study of the "Hessian" auxiliaries to British forces during the American Revolution. The correspondence, diaries, and military returns of German officers hired by the British during the American Revolution provide a thorough documentation of the military activities involving German forces, and insight into the martial culture that bound them to the British authority. As professional soldiers, serving for pay, rather than patriotism, von Jungkenn and his fellow German officers were often more candid in their assessments of the war and less inclined to the self-serving or wishful myopia that hindered some of their British colleagues. The involvement of German auxiliaries in many of the most significant campaigns of the war make the von Jungkenn collection of great importance for understanding both military and social aspects of the Revolution.

Nearly all of the correspondence received by von Jungkenn is written either in German or French, reflecting the linguistic difficulties posed in fielding a multi-national, multi-lingual force. The letters in German are written exclusively in the old script. The correspondence of Adj. Gen. Maj. Bauermeister comprises the most extensive single correspondence in the collection -- almost one third of the von Jungkenn Papers -- and has been fully translated and published by Bernhard Uhlendorf.


Biography

European warfare during the 18th century was an international affair. An international martial culture shaped elite attitudes toward the conduct of war, and equally significantly, foreign mercenaries were employed throughout Europe and the European colonies to supplement the small standing armies at the core of each nation's defence. From an American vantage, the most famous of these mercenaries were those drawn from six independent German states that were attached to British forces during the American Revolution. With the overwhelming majority of these mercenaries coming from Hesse-Cassel, the whole force came to be refered to as Hessian.

Frederick Christian Arnold, freiherr von Jungkenn, was the youngest son of a German family of the lesser nobility. Although his youth was spent near the family home in Colgenstein, the military was his only true home. At an early age, von Jungkenn entered a Prussian infantry regiment commanded by a cousin, and by the age of 21, had been commissioned as ensign. Like many military men of his generation, however, his break came during the Seven Years' War when at age 25 he accepted a 2nd Lieutenant's commission in a regiment commanded by Frederick, the hereditary prince of Hesse-Cassel. In this capacity, von Jungkenn earned some notice for himself in campaigns in Silesia and Bohemia, but it was the personal connection with the future ruler of his principality that paved his path to fame. When Frederick was elevated to Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel in 1760, von Jungkenn followed into his court. Transferring to the 1st Hessian Guards as a captain, he was appointed 3rd Adjutant General under Frederick, and from there, his rise through the ranks was as rapid as it was assured. By 1776 he was colonel, by 1777, major general and Lord High Chamberlain at court, and by 1781, he had attained the rank of lieutenant general. In court, von Jungkenn climbed just as steadily, taking a seat in council in 1779, and succeeding Baron Martin von Schlieffen as Minister of State in 1780, an appointment which included the duties of secretary of war. Von Jungkenn's military and administrative acumen was highly prized by the Landgrave and his successor, so much so that his requests to resign his post were refused three times before they were finally accepted in 1789.

The seeds of von Jungkenn's association with America were planted during the spring and summer, 1775, when armed insurrection began in the colonies. With only about 18,000 men at his disposal, and unable to increase his ground forces sufficiently by recuitment in England, George III sought to hire troops from abroad to quell the rebellion. Rebuffed by Catherine of Russia, George loaned himself five battalions from his Hanoverian army, but few Hanoverians ever reached American service. Instead, offers to supply troops from the Count of Hesse-Hanau (a nephew of the King), the Markgrave of Ansbach-Bayreuth, and the Prince of Waldeck formed the nucleus of a mercenary army.

The first contract for the provision of mercenary troops was struck in January, 1776, when an English veteran of the Seven Years' War, Col. William Faucitt, reached an agreement with Duke Charles I of Brunswick. The Duchy ultimately supplied over 5,700 soldiers to the British cause, of whom only about half ever returned to Germany. In short order, similar treaties were arrived at with Hesse-Cassel -- long allies of the English -- Waldeck, Ansbach-Bayreuth, Anhalt-Zerbst, and Hesse-Hanau, each desperate for the infusion of money that mercenary activity afforded. The Waldeck troops served mainly in the Floridas, the Hesse-Hanauers largely in Canada, while the others served variously in the colonies. Von Jungkenn's principality of Hesse-Hanau supplied the greatest number of soldiers, almost 17,000 out of the total mercenary force of 30,000. In another measure of the commitment of the principality to the counter-Revolutionary cause, approximately one of every four able-bodied adult men in the principality saw American service. Among the rulers of other German states -- those that did not contract in mercenaries -- the princes who supplied mercenaries were viewed as traffickers in blood, though the practice was common and widely accepted. In America, the troops were viewed with loathing and disdain, symbolizing the tyranny of the monarchy and the barbarity of British rule.

By agreement, the German mercenaries were required to swear allegiance to the British crown, though without having to renounce their allegiance to their own rulers, and although they had their own commanders, they were under the overall command of British forces. The first contingent of Germans arrived at Halifax in June, 1776, soon numbering almost 22,000, a figure which remained nearly constant throughout the war. By special agreement, the Hesse-Cassel troops were commanded by their own generals -- successively Leopold Philipp von Heister, Wilhelm von Knyphausen, and Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Lossberg. The officers of all of the German regiments regularly reported to Jungkenn as one of the highest-placed officers in the command.

In all, fifteen Hessian regiments were authorized by the Landgrave, including infantry, grenadier, dragoon, jäger, and artillery regiments. During their service in America, they and other German mercenaries took part in nearly every major land engagement, fighting with varying degrees of efficiency and prominence, particularly during the southern campaigns of 1780-1781. Their reputation for rapacity, pillaging, marauding, and plundering may well have been deserved, but Hessian behavior was probably little different than that of other European soldiers -- or that of many American soldiers in dealing with their Loyalist foes.

After von Jungkenn was allowed to resign as minister in 1789, he retired to Schloss Hüffe, Kreis Minden, Westphalia, remaining there until his death on November 11, 1809.

A Hessian Map from the American Revolution: Its Origin and Purpose



Peter J. Guthorn
The Quarterly Journal of the Library of Congress
Vol. 33, No. 3 (July 1976), pp. 218-231
Published by: Library of Congress
https://www.jstor.org/stable/29781681
Page Count: 14

The Making of Patriots: Love of Fatherland and Negotiating Monarchy in Seventeenth‐Century Germany


Robert von Friedeburg
The Journal of Modern History
Vol. 77, No. 4 (December 2005), pp. 881-916
Published by: The University of Chicago Press
DOI: 10.1086/499829
https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/499829
Page Count: 36

The Decision to Hire German Troops in the War of American Independence: Reactions in Britain and North America, 1774–1776.


FRIEDERIKE BAER
Early American Studies
Vol. 13, No. 1 (Winter 2015), pp. 111-150
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press
https://www.jstor.org/stable/24474906
Page Count: 40

Foreign Orders & Decorations - The Electorate of Hesse Cassel


pp. 177 - 183

Red Bank. Paper read before the Monmouth County, N.J., Historical Association, July 26, 1900, wherein is given a true account of the gallant defence of Fort Mercer by Colonel Christopher Greene and his band of 400 patriots, against an assault of 2000 Hessians, under Count Donop, on October 22, 1777.



[Atlantic City? N.J., 1900]

The Operations of the Allied Army, Under the Command of His Serene Highness Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick and Luneberg, During the Greatest Part of Six Campaigns, Beginning in the Year 1757, and Ending in the Year 1762.


London: Printed for T. Jefferys, Geographer to the King., 1764.


The Battle of Long Island: With Connected Preceeding Events, and the Subsequent American Retreat


Brooklyn : Long Island Historical Society, 1869.


André's Journal: An Authentic Record of the Movements and Engagements of the British Army in America from June 1777 to November 1778


Boston : Issued by the Bibliophile Society for members only, MDCCCCIII [1903]


Journal of John Charles Philip von Krafft 1776-1784


New York, Printed for private distribution only, 1888.

Battles of the American Revolution, 1775-1781


New York, A. S. Barnes, 1904.

Hessians in New Jersey



Newark, N.J. : Advertiser, 1888.

Hessian Troops in the American War of Indepenence

Hessian Troops in the American War of Indepenence
Army Historical Research,p.69

Von Steuben and the German Contribution to the American Revolution


Washington : Library of Congress, 1987.

American History from German Archives, With Reference to the German Soldiers in the Revolution and Franklin's Visit to Germany


Lancaster, Pa. [Press of The New Era Print. Co.] 1904.

The Ancient Barracks at Fredericktown, Where Hessian Prisoners Were Quartered During the Revolutionary War


Frederick, Md., Printed at the Maryland state school for the deaf, 1939.

Defences of Philadelphia in 1777



Brooklyn, N.Y., Historical printing club, 1897.

The Battle of Monmouth. Letters of Alexander Hamilton and General William Irvine, Describing the Engagement


The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 2, No. 2 (1878), pp. 139-148 (10 pages)
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press

The Siege of Fort Mifflin


The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 11, No. 1 (Apr., 1887), pp. 82-88 (7 pages)
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press

The Brunswick Contingent in America, 1776-1783


The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 15, No. 2 (1891), pp. 218-224 (7 pages)
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press

Battle of Germantown


The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 1, No. 4 (1877), pp. 368-403 (39 pages)
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press

From Brandywine to Philadelphia


The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 34, No. 2 (1910), pp. 229-232 (4 pages)
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press

The Hessians in Philadelphia


The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 1, No. 1 (1877), pp. 40-43 (4 pages)
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press

Occupation of New York City by the British


The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 10, No. 4 (Jan., 1887), pp. 418-445 (28 pages)
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press

Popp's Journal, 1777-1783


The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 26, No. 1 (1902), pp. 25-41 (23 pages)
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press



The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 26, No. 2 (1902), pp. 245-254 (10 pages)
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press

The Siege of Charleston; Journal of Captain Peter Russell, December 25, 1779, to May 2, 1780


The American Historical Review
Vol. 4, No. 3 (Apr., 1899), pp. 478-501 (24 pages)
Published by: Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Historical Association


Wilhelm, Baron Innhausen and Knyphausen


The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 16, No. 2 (Jul., 1892), pp. 239-245 (8 pages)
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press


Adventures of a Hessian Recruit


Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society
Second Series, Vol. 4, [Vol. 24 of continuous numbering] (1887 - 1889), pp. 1-36 (38 pages)
Published by: Massachusetts Historical Society

Hessian and British Soldiers Married by Father Farmer of Philadelphia

The American Catholic Historical Researches
New Series, Vol. 3, No. 3 (JULY, 1907), p. 243 (1 page)
Published by: American Catholic Historical Society

The High Water Mark of the British Invasion


The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 31, No. 4 (1907), pp. 393-405 (14 pages)
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press


A Recently Discovered Letter of the American Revolution


The Princeton University Library Chronicle
Vol. 4, No. 4 (JUNE, 1943), pp. 113-122 (12 pages)
Published by: Princeton University Library


Before and after the Battle of Brandy-Wine. Extracts from the Journal of Sergeant Thomas Sullivan of H.M. Forty-Ninth Regiment of Foot


The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 31, No. 4 (1907), pp. 406-418 (13 pages)
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press


Plundering by the British Army during the American Revolution


The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 25, No. 1 (1901), pp. 114-117 (4 pages)
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press


The Battle of Princeton

Thomas Sullivan

The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 32, No. 1 (1908), pp. 54-57 (4 pages)
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press

Foraging & Combat Operations at Valley Forge February–March 1778

Ricardo A. Herrera

Army History
No. 79 (Spring 2011), pp. 6-29 (24 pages)
Published by: U.S. Army Center of Military History

The Capture of Fort Washington, New York, Described by Captain Andreas Wiederhold, of the Hessian "Regiment Knyphausen



The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 23, No. 1 (1899), pp. 95-97 (3 pages)
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press


Extracts from the Letter-Book of Captain Johann Heinrichs of the Hessian Jäger Corps, 1778-1780


The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 22, No. 2 (1898), pp. 137-170 (35 pages)
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press


Catholic Hessians in the Revolution


The American Catholic Historical Researches
New Series, Vol. 3, No. 1 (JANUARY, 1907), pp. 53-57 (5 pages)
Published by: American Catholic Historical Society


The British Occupation of Newport Rhode Island 1776–1779


Army History
No. 74 (Winter 2010), pp. 30-45 (16 pages)
Published by: U.S. Army Center of Military History

Notes on the Battle of Germantown


The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 23, No. 4 (1899), pp. 483-487 (5 pages)
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press

Report of the Court-Martial for the Trial of the Hessian Officers Captured by Washington at Trenton, December 26, 1776



The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 7, No. 1 (1883), pp. 45-49 (5 pages)
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press

The Battle of Germantown Described by a Hessian Officer


The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 16, No. 2 (Jul., 1892), pp. 197-201 (6 pages)
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press


"Patrimonial" Bureaucracy and "Rational" Policy in Eighteenth-Century Germany: The Case of Hessian Recruitment Reforms, 1762-93

Central European History
Vol. 22, No. 1 (Mar., 1989), pp. 33-56 (24 pages)
Published by: Cambridge University Press on behalf of Central European History Society

"Barbarous Strangers": Hessian State and Society during the American Revolution

The American Historical Review
Vol. 87, No. 4 (Oct., 1982), pp. 954-976 (23 pages)
Published by: Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Historical Association

Hessian Troops in Scotland, 1746


Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research
Vol. 46, No. 187 (AUTUMN 1968), p. 188 (1 page). A. W. Haarmann
Published by: Society for Army Historical Research

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

The Storming of Frankfurt by the Hessians in 1792

The Storming of  Frankfurt by the Hessians in 1792

A gripping historical narrative set against the backdrop of the 1792 Franco-Prussian conflict. The book explores the strategic and heroic endeavors of the Hessian forces during the French invasion led by General Cüstine. Highlighting the seizure of Mainz and the consequential march towards Frankfurt, it delves into the complex military tactics, the fierce urban battles, and the profound moral resistance of the local populace. 

The narrative vividly recounts the intense combat at key locations like the Friedberger Tor and the Allerheiligentor, bringing to life the chaos and heroism of these encounters.

Beyond the battlefield, the book portrays the societal and political dynamics in Hesse and Frankfurt, emphasizing the community's solidarity and nationalistic fervor in supporting their defenders. It also sheds light on the intricate political maneuvers of the era, offering insights into the decisions and strategies of the military leaders involved.  146 pages.


Available for Purchase
The Storming of Frankfurt by the Hessians in 1792




Sunday, June 16, 2019

The Kurhessische Leibgarde Regiment

The Kurhessische Leibgarde Regiment

This captivating book is a captivating exploration of the rich historical tapestry of the Hessian Grenadiers, which eventually gave rise to the esteemed Kurhessische Leibgarde-Regiment, highlighting its existence in the year 1866, just before the annexation of the Kurstaates. Within its pages, readers embark on a journey through diverse epochs of warfare, immersing themselves in meticulously detailed accounts of numerous battles and combats. This narrative also serves as a tribute to the remarkable weaponry wielded by the Hessian guard regiments, which left an indelible mark on the theaters of war, both in Europe and beyond. 221 pages.

Available for Purchase
The Kurhessische Leibgarde Regiment







The Hessian Light Troops in the Campaign of 1793 on the Upper Rhine

The Hessian Light Troops 
in the  Campaign of 1793  on the Upper Rhine

"The Hessian Light Troops in the Campaign of 1793 on the Upper Rhine," August von Baumbach provides an enlightening and comprehensive account of the pivotal roles played by elite Hessian military units during a critical period of European warfare. This work meticulously details the operations and experiences of the Hussar Regiment, the Jäger Corps, and the Light Infantry Battalion Lenz in the campaign along the Upper Rhine.

Drawing extensively from diaries and various historical sources, Baumbach's narrative offers an in-depth examination of the strategies, tactics, and day-to-day experiences of these renowned units. The book not only covers the military engagements and maneuvers of these troops but also provides insights into their organization, training, and the unique challenges they faced during the campaign.

This volume is particularly valuable for its detailed portrayal of light infantry and cavalry operations, shedding light on lesser-known aspects of military history during the tumultuous period of the early 1790s. 256 pages.


Available for Purchase