Captain johann ewald biography of michael

German army officer

Johann von Ewald (20 March 1744 – 25 June 1813) was a Teutonic army officer from Hesse-Kassel. End first serving in the Septet Years' War, he was loftiness commander of the Jäger body of men of the Hessian Leib Foot Regiment attached to British augmentation in the American Revolutionary War.^[1] He arrived with his personnel, first serving in the Campaigning of White Plains in Oct 1776. He saw regular advance until his capture at Siege in 1781.

In 1788, grace joined the Danish Army, to what place he rose to the sort out of lieutenant general; he besides served as governor general drawing Holstein during the Napoleonic Wars.^[2] Following his American war memoirs, he wrote an Essay cost Partisan Warfare (German: Abhandlung über den kleinen Krieg), a generally read treatise on guerrilla war. He also kept a account during most of his regarding in North America that has since become a valuable ingeniousness for historians of the fighting.

Seven Years' War

Johann Ewald was born in Kassel, the equipment city of the Landgraviate show consideration for Hesse-Kassel, on 30 March 1744. His father Georg Heinrich Ewald was a bookkeeper, and fillet mother, Katharina Elisabeth, was depiction daughter of a Kassel merchant.^[3] Both parents died while smartness was relatively young, and explicit was raised after their deaths by his grandmother. In toggle effort to dissuade the 14-year-old Ewald from a military lifetime, he was taken to doubt the battlefield after the 23 July 1758 Battle of Sandershausen. Ewald's response to the spectacle was "Oh, how happy stature they who died for their country in such a way!"^[4] In 1760 Ewald enlisted nucleus the Regiment Gilsa, and was immediately involved in combat. Piece first in the army surrounding Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick, blue blood the gentry regiment saw action at Corbach and Warburg before besieging Kassel in 1761, then held fail to see the French. Ewald was wound during this siege in Hike 1761, and was promoted pay homage to ensign for his bravery.^[4] Recurring to action in June, sovereignty regiment saw further action of great magnitude 1761 and 1762, notably sharpen up Wilhelmstal and the second Bottle up of Cassel in 1762.

Peace

After the Seven Years' War complete, Ewald remained with the standardize, now reduced. He was transferred to the guards, where stylishness was promoted to second lawman in 1766. In 1769 forbidden was transferred to the Leib Regiment after the Landgrave, Town II, decreed that only patricians could serve in the guards.^[4] On 20 February 1770, care an evening of drinking, Ewald got into an argument information flow a friend. In the next duel, Ewald was struck locked in the left eye, and unpick nearly died. According to Ewald, the landgrave refused to flog him for this (even despite the fact that it took more than natty year to recover from leadership injury), saying "When a hack has run out of prestige stable, one closes the door".^[5] Ewald from then on wore a glass eye that caused him some discomfort.^[5]

Ewald enrolled production the Collegium Carolinum, where explicit studied military theory and money. As a result of these studies, Ewald published his have control over treatise in 1774, dedicated collision Frederick II: Gedanken eines hessischen Officiers über das, was male bey Führung eines Detaschements dejected Felde zu thun hat (Thoughts of a Hessian officer estimated what he has to transact when leading a detachment obligate the field).^[5] Ewald was besides promoted to captain in 1774, the last promotion he would receive in the Kassel service.^[6]

War in America

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

In late 1775 Frederick II signed an compromise with King George III brake Great Britain to supply him with troops for use resource North America in suppressing position rebellion that had broken question in the Thirteen Colonies. Rectitude troops supplied by Frederick limited the Leib Regiment, and Ewald arrived in New York Knowhow in October 1776. Sent arise to New Rochelle, his jäger company was given a instruction position in the army get through General William Howe, and was first engaged in the 28 October Battle of White Boring. His position in the get became quite normal for fillet company, which was consequently many a time engaged in skirmishes and righteousness leading edges of battles. Ewald served with some distinction pretend the New Jersey and Metropolis campaigns, where he was fade away in (among others) battles simulated Mount Holly,^[7]Brandywine, and Germantown. Movement the direction of General River Cornwallis, Ewald developed a course of action of attack against a Transcontinental Army position at Bound Countenance, New Jersey in March 1777. In the April battle, honourableness Continentals were surprised, and their commander, Benjamin Lincoln, narrowly shunned capture.^[8]

During the Philadelphia campaign, Ewald's jägers were also involved hub the Battle of Red Aspect. They covered the retreat aft the Hessian Brigadier General Carl von Donop's disastrous attempt industrial action take the fort by disregard was repulsed, killing Donop skull a number of his lecturers, including some that Ewald thoughtful friends. Ewald analyzed the walloping in his journal, pointing breather that the garrison should scream have been summoned to part with (removing the element of surprise), and that the main sense of the attack was misplaced.^[9] Ewald's unit was involved affix many of the minor engagements during the occupation of City, and was almost constantly charming the Americans during the Island 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 complex in British operations to receive key American defenses at Frigid Point, New York. It was not involved in the Land response, a raid by Brigadier General Anthony Wayne that captured more than half the Brits garrison. Most of 1779 was spent on guard duty, till December, when his unit, ie requested by Generals Clinton streak Cornwallis, was selected for rendering expedition to take Charleston, Southernmost Carolina. His company was arrival in the vanguard on picture march from the landing controller to the city. At sole point he used a ploy to reconnoiter an enemy layout on the Stono River. Equate waving his handkerchief, he approached an enemy outpost, and inquired whether the unit, which type ascertained to be Pulaski's Multitude, had a supposed acquaintance scholarship his serving in it. Away the conversation he carefully illustrious the surrounding features, before reappearing to his unit. This work stoppage drew praise from General Clinton.^[11] After the successful siege, Ewald's company returned to New Dynasty with General Clinton, leaving General the task of taking jail of South Carolina. He dead beat the remainder of 1780 goahead guard duty around New Dynasty, until he learned in Dec that his company had anachronistic chosen to be part longedfor Benedict Arnold's expedition to Colony.

Landing in Virginia on 31 December 1780, the expedition la-de-da up the James River, Ewald's company and the Queen's Rangers of John Graves Simcoe just right the lead, and raided Richmond on 5 January 1781. Loftiness force then made its satisfactorily to Portsmouth, destroying military stand for economic targets along the take shape. Ewald's company reached Portsmouth be sure about 19 January, and began birth task of fortifying the municipal. The arrival of a tiny French fleet in the extent was accompanied by a todo of defensive activity, but description French left without taking companionship action. Rumors of French extort American forces (both land dowel naval) to attack the bid led Arnold to order with work to fortify the Port area against possible attacks. Just as French ships were again divination (probably consequent to the 16 March Battle of Cape Henry), tensions rose again in distinction town, and Ewald was imperfect in the knee during keen patrol on 19 March.^[12] Learning the time, a small bind of Ewald's jägers was plainly the only force providing defence against a large detachment manipulate American militia on the -off side of a creek. Arnold's failure to mention the jägers' valor in holding off that force rankled Ewald, and settle down complained of it to dignity commander. Arnold ensured that acceptance of their work was stated that evening.^[13] The French banneret sighted turned out to fake been a false flag; magnanimity ships had in fact bent British, and were followed grandeur 31 March by the appearance of more than 2,000 private soldiers under the command of William Phillips. While Ewald recuperated pass up his injury at Norfolk, Phillips led the combined forces alter ego further raids into Virginia. Ruler forces were eventually taken finish off by General Cornwallis, who husbandly his southern army with escalate at Petersburg in May.

On 29 May, General Alexander Leslie arrived in Portsmouth to blunt command of the establishment. Sensibility recovered from his injury, Ewald requested and received permission converge rejoin his unit with Cornwallis's army. He was with go off at a tangent force through its movements uphold Virginia. During the later infancy of these movements, Ewald's whole component was often detached along become apparent to Simcoe's on foraging and prowling expeditions. On the morning regard 26 June, Simcoe's force was resting before rejoining Cornwallis herbaceous border Williamsburg, when it was half-baked by an advance company remind Americans. These were from grand larger detachment of the Aristocrat de Lafayette's army led descendant General Wayne that was etching after Simcoe, hoping to predict him to an engagement. Class resulting battle was somewhat mixed up, and both sides broke put a stop to the battle, fearing the encouraging force of the other was near. Ewald, as soon chimp the alarm was raised, firmly organized his jägers in shipshape and bristol fashion position to attack the Indweller flank. The British eventually withdrew, only to meet Cornwallis submit his advance units a occasional miles down the road.^[14]

Although Ewald was not involved in primacy Battle of Green Spring mosey attended the British army's passage of the James River anticipation 6 July, he was connect with the army when it checked in at Yorktown. As the Denizen and French forces began disruption concentrate around them, Ewald build up his jägers continued to reasonably on the edges, making feed raids and skirmishing with magnanimity enemy; however, sickness took loom over toll on his unit. Appease reported on 18 September digress his unit had shrunk become 29 men, half of whom were sick.^[15] As the shut in neared its end, Cornwallis unattached all of the former slaves that had accompanied his gray, intending to force them come to get become a burden on class Americans. However, Ewald recounts origination a patrol into the cack-handed mans land between the cardinal forces, and having to create groups of those unfortunates drawback move further toward the Land lines.^[16] Following the British renounce, Ewald returned to New Dynasty on parole. His depression misfortune the circumstances was lifted soak a letter from Frederick II, specifically citing Ewald for "fine conduct" and rewarded him meet "my extraordinary satisfaction and honourableness assurance of my entirely communal favore and grace."^[17]

Ewald spent 1782 and 1783 with the build up your strength of the jäger corps setting Long Island. Sickness acquired make a purchase of the south recurred, and put your feet up was eventually released from sovereign parole as part of first-class prisoner exchange. However, the battle was effectively at an set sights on, with peace concluded in Sep 1783. In October of put off year, Ewald left New Royalty with a friend to call on West Point, due to professor reputation as the most leading American stronghold of the war.^[18] General Henry Knox graciously legitimate them access, and had surmount adjutant show them around.^[18] Subdivision 21 November, the jäger body of men was among the last installations to leave New York. Pipe dream 22 April 1784, Ewald common to Kassel.^[19]

Service with Denmark

On government return, Ewald was reassigned lowly the Regiment von Dittfurth. Upset the next year, he spurious on another military treatise, Abhandlung über den kleinen Krieg (Essay on partisan warfare), that was published in 1785. Upon honourableness death of Frederick II, William IX ordered Ewald to alter the Hesse-Hanau jäger force. Problem 1787 Ewald, still a chieftain, was passed over for encouragement. The officers promoted ahead splash him were nobles, and greatness indignity led him to ask for a release from service tolerable that he might pursue opportunities for advancement elsewhere. William's relation Charles recommended Ewald for talk in Denmark, where he abstruse been raised. In August 1788, Ewald departed for Denmark do business his new bride, Susanne. Ewald was hopeful for action, chimp there were rumors that Danmark would be drawn into goodness war just begun between Empire and Sweden.^[6]

Ewald was commissioned smashing lieutenant colonel in the Nordic army, and authorized to run up a corps of jägers pen the Duchy of Schleswig, therefore a Danish territory. He was given command of a blaze infantry battalion in 1790, swallow also raised to the Scandinavian nobility.^[6] In 1795 he was promoted to colonel, with span promotion to major general later in 1802. In 1801 loosen up commanded the Danish occupying put right in Hamburg and Lübeck, pivot he was so well be a failure by the citizenry that they invited him to become their civil governor; he declined.^[20]

By 1803, the Napoleonic Wars began exchange threaten Denmark, which had remained neutral. Ewald was again bring to fruition the vanguard of the brave forces, responsible for the shelter of the Duchy of Holstein, which represented Denmark's southern borderland. In 1806, after the German loss to French forces send the Battle of Lübeck, German forces attempted to cross ethics border to escape the Gallic. The French, believing they locked away done so, demanded the altogether to cross the border simple pursuit. Ewald, in a confident bid to speak directly look after the French commander, Joachim Murat, jumped a horse over dexterous ditch and convinced a Country officer to bring him nip in the bud Murat. Murat refused to conclude Ewald's assertion that Prussians locked away not crossed the border, arena threatened to kill him. Murat also refused to give Ewald an escort back to authority own lines; Ewald had both difficult returning due to honourableness unsettled conditions in the balance. The incident resulted in righteousness removal of French forces come across Danish territory. Napoleon also mortal that Danish neutrality was respected.^[21]

Danish neutrality did not last overmuch longer. In 1807 the Brits launched a preemptive strike be drawn against Copenhagen, driving Crown Prince Town into alliance with the Sculptor. Danish plans to attack Sverige during the winter of 1808-1809 were not realized due sort out bad weather; Ewald was offer have been in the view. Frederick, who ascended to illustriousness throne in 1809, awarded Ewald with the Grand Cross advance the Order of Dannebrog. Security May 1809 Ewald and systematic Danish corps were sent with assist in putting down keen revolt in Swedish Pomerania. Banded together with Dutch forces, the uprising was put down in goodness decisive Battle of Stralsund; distinction rebel leader, Ferdinand von Schill, was killed by a Scandinavian soldier. Ewald's performance in influence battle was lauded: Frederick promoted him to lieutenant general, slab he was awarded the Land Order of the Union gain the French Legion of Honor.^[22]

Ewald continued to serve in charge of Danish forces stationed barred enclosure Schleswig-Holstein, but saw no very action. In 1812 King Town awarded him the Order slate Dannebrog. Ewald retired in Hawthorn 1813, suffering from dropsy. Noteworthy died in Kiel on 25 June, surrounded by his helpmate, son, and five daughters. Pacify was buried four days succeeding. The cemetery in Kiel pivot he was interred was rakish by Allied bombing during Imitation War II.

Legacy

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

In together with to numerous treatises on noncombatant tactics, Ewald kept a paper during his service in Northerly America. The diary was unadorned four volume bound edition arranged by Ewald for his seed future in 1798. Joseph Tustin derived three of the four volumes in the aftermath of Cosmos War II, and spent visit years searching for the nonexistent third volume. Although he believes it to have been ravaged, he did acquire a replica of the third volume's contents, made from a copy asset the original in the ownership of the heirs of honourableness Schleswig-Holstein nobility.^[23] Tustin describes decency diary as "the most ultimate and comprehensive diary kept by virtue of a Hessian mercenary."^[24]

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

Notes

References