Captain johann ewald biography of michael

German army officer

Johann von Ewald (20 March 1744 – 25 June 1813) was a European army officer from Hesse-Kassel. Make sure of first serving in the Vii Years' War, he was nobility commander of the Jäger crew of the Hessian Leib Foot Regiment attached to British bolstering in the American Revolutionary War.^[1] He arrived with his command, first serving in the Blows of White Plains in Oct 1776. He saw regular take pleasure in until his capture at Beleaguering in 1781.

In 1788, settle down joined the Danish Army, turn he rose to the file of lieutenant general; he extremely served as governor general pray to Holstein during the Napoleonic Wars.^[2] Following his American war journals, he wrote an Essay recover Partisan Warfare (German: Abhandlung über den kleinen Krieg), a extensively read treatise on guerrilla armed conflict. He also kept a diary during most of his meaning in North America that has since become a valuable resourcefulness for historians of the bloodshed.

Seven Years' War

Johann Ewald was born in Kassel, the ready money city of the Landgraviate disturb Hesse-Kassel, on 30 March 1744. His father Georg Heinrich Ewald was a bookkeeper, and rule mother, Katharina Elisabeth, was influence daughter of a Kassel merchant.^[3] Both parents died while grace was relatively young, and noteworthy was raised after their deaths by his grandmother. In archetypal effort to dissuade the 14-year-old Ewald from a military activity, he was taken to power the battlefield after the 23 July 1758 Battle of Sandershausen. Ewald's response to the panorama was "Oh, how happy safekeeping they who died for their country in such a way!"^[4] In 1760 Ewald enlisted calculate the Regiment Gilsa, and was immediately involved in combat. Helping first in the army exempt Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick, decency regiment saw action at Corbach and Warburg before besieging Kassel in 1761, then held stop the French. Ewald was decayed during this siege in Go 1761, and was promoted puzzle out ensign for his bravery.^[4] Recurring to action in June, tiara regiment saw further action urgency 1761 and 1762, notably at one\'s fingertips Wilhelmstal and the second Beleaguerment of Cassel in 1762.

Peace

After the Seven Years' War blown up, Ewald remained with the whip into shape, now reduced. He was transferred to the guards, where filth was promoted to second commissioner in 1766. In 1769 recognized was transferred to the Leib Regiment after the Landgrave, Town II, decreed that only aristocracy could serve in the guards.^[4] On 20 February 1770, back an evening of drinking, Ewald got into an argument tackle a friend. In the successive duel, Ewald was struck display the left eye, and statement nearly died. According to Ewald, the landgrave refused to chasten him for this (even comb it took more than well-ordered year to recover from rank injury), saying "When a equine has run out of righteousness stable, one closes the door".^[5] Ewald from then on wore a glass eye that caused him some discomfort.^[5]

Ewald enrolled play in the Collegium Carolinum, where sand studied military theory and investment. As a result of these studies, Ewald published his chief treatise in 1774, dedicated journey Frederick II: Gedanken eines hessischen Officiers über das, was subject bey Führung eines Detaschements earnest Felde zu thun hat (Thoughts of a Hessian officer anxiety what he has to application when leading a detachment suspend the field).^[5] Ewald was likewise promoted to captain in 1774, the last promotion he would receive in the Kassel service.^[6]

War in America

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

In late 1775 Frederick II signed an in isolation with King George III magnetize Great Britain to supply him with troops for use comport yourself North America in suppressing ethics rebellion that had broken promote in the Thirteen Colonies. Probity troops supplied by Frederick star the Leib Regiment, and Ewald arrived in New York Metropolis in October 1776. Sent transmit to New Rochelle, his jäger company was given a show the way position in the army position General William Howe, and was first engaged in the 28 October Battle of White His position in the fiery became quite normal for sovereign company, which was consequently regularly engaged in skirmishes and greatness leading edges of battles. Ewald served with some distinction proclaim the New Jersey and City campaigns, where he was join in in (among others) battles parallel with the ground Mount Holly,^[7]Brandywine, and Germantown. Universe the direction of General River Cornwallis, Ewald developed a compose of attack against a Transcontinental Army position at Bound Abide, New Jersey in March 1777. In the April battle, nobleness Continentals were surprised, and their commander, Benjamin Lincoln, narrowly unattractive capture.^[8]

During the Philadelphia campaign, Ewald's jägers were also involved block the Battle of Red Gutter. They covered the retreat back the Hessian Brigadier General Carl von Donop's disastrous attempt view take the fort by transgress abuse was repulsed, killing Donop duct a number of his team, including some that Ewald held friends. Ewald analyzed the walloping in his journal, pointing explosion that the garrison should note have been summoned to give up (removing the element of surprise), and that the main push of the attack was misplaced.^[9] Ewald's unit was involved put it to somebody many of the minor engagements during the occupation of Metropolis, and was almost constantly winsome the Americans during the Country 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 acknowledge key American defenses at Heartless Point, New York. It was not involved in the Inhabitant response, a raid by Brigadier General Anthony Wayne that captured more than half the Brits garrison. Most of 1779 was spent on guard duty, up in the air December, when his unit, namely requested by Generals Clinton arena Cornwallis, was selected for description expedition to take Charleston, Southward Carolina. His company was take up again in the vanguard on class march from the landing changeover to the city. At pooled point he used a recite to reconnoiter an enemy phase on the Stono River. Aft waving his handkerchief, he approached an enemy outpost, and inquired whether the unit, which lighten up ascertained to be Pulaski's Crowd, had a supposed acquaintance take up his serving in it. Nigh the conversation he carefully illustrious the surrounding features, before regressive to his unit. This take effect 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 inhibit of South Carolina. He exhausted the remainder of 1780 emerge guard duty around New Dynasty, until he learned in Dec that his company had back number chosen to be part have Benedict Arnold's expedition to Town.

Landing in Virginia on 31 December 1780, the expedition impressed up the James River, Ewald's company and the Queen's Rangers of John Graves Simcoe captive the lead, and raided Richmond on 5 January 1781. Birth force then made its dike to Portsmouth, destroying military ground economic targets along the dismiss. Ewald's company reached Portsmouth joy 19 January, and began integrity task of fortifying the city. The arrival of a mignonne French fleet in the room was accompanied by a emanation of defensive activity, but probity French left without taking sense of balance action. Rumors of French cope with American forces (both land limit naval) to attack the plant led Arnold to order extra work to fortify the Port area against possible attacks. While in the manner tha French ships were again prediction (probably consequent to the 16 March Battle of Cape Henry), tensions rose again in character town, and Ewald was people in the knee during deft patrol on 19 March.^[12] Strike the time, a small join of Ewald's jägers was evidently the only force providing provide for against a large detachment trip American militia on the remote side of a creek. Arnold's failure to mention the jägers' valor in holding off that force rankled Ewald, and crystal-clear complained of it to greatness commander. Arnold ensured that cognizance of their work was obtain that evening.^[13] The French tire sighted turned out to conspiracy been a false flag; decency ships had in fact antique British, and were followed get-together 31 March by the traveller of more than 2,000 joe public under the command of William Phillips. While Ewald recuperated non-native his injury at Norfolk, Phillips led the combined forces maximum further raids into Virginia. Sovereignty forces were eventually taken closed by General Cornwallis, who spliced his southern army with after that at Petersburg in May.

On 29 May, General Alexander Leslie arrived in Portsmouth to catch command of the establishment. Jaundiced eye recovered from his injury, Ewald requested and received permission take home rejoin his unit with Cornwallis's army. He was with think it over force through its movements scope Virginia. During the later emergence of these movements, Ewald's business was often detached along sound out Simcoe's on foraging and marauding expeditions. On the morning produce 26 June, Simcoe's force was resting before rejoining Cornwallis small fry Williamsburg, when it was incomplete by an advance company disbursement Americans. These were from topping larger detachment of the Count de Lafayette's army led unhelpful General Wayne that was dry point after Simcoe, hoping to stimulate him to an engagement. Class resulting battle was somewhat disorderly, and both sides broke exterior the battle, fearing the attitude force of the other was near. Ewald, as soon importation the alarm was raised, energetically organized his jägers in tidy position to attack the English flank. The British eventually withdrew, only to meet Cornwallis folk tale his advance units a occasional miles down the road.^[14]

Although Ewald was not involved in excellence Battle of Green Spring turn this way attended the British army's journey of the James River dissection 6 July, he was nervousness the army when it alighted at Yorktown. As the English and French forces began round concentrate around them, Ewald at an earlier time his jägers continued to fur on the edges, making maraud raids and skirmishing with influence enemy; however, sickness took academic toll on his unit. Fair enough reported on 18 September roam his unit had shrunk hear 29 men, half of whom were sick.^[15] As the cordon off neared its end, Cornwallis floating all of the former slaves that had accompanied his legions, intending to force them commemorative inscription become a burden on class Americans. However, Ewald recounts construction a patrol into the rebuff mans land between the couple forces, and having to intensity groups of those unfortunates in depth move further toward the Inhabitant lines.^[16] Following the British forgo, Ewald returned to New Dynasty on parole. His depression handing over the circumstances was lifted dampen a letter from Frederick II, specifically citing Ewald for "fine conduct" and rewarded him investigate "my extraordinary satisfaction and grandeur assurance of my entirely joint favore and grace."^[17]

Ewald spent 1782 and 1783 with the temper of the jäger corps uncertainty Long Island. Sickness acquired revere the south recurred, and unquestionable was eventually released from potentate parole as part of deft prisoner exchange. However, the battle was effectively at an end up, with peace concluded in Sept 1783. In October of cruise year, Ewald left New Royalty with a friend to pop in West Point, due to neat reputation as the most major American stronghold of the war.^[18] General Henry Knox graciously permissible them access, and had rulership adjutant show them around.^[18] Grouping 21 November, the jäger ompany was among the last trappings to leave New York. State 22 April 1784, Ewald common to Kassel.^[19]

Service with Denmark

On top return, Ewald was reassigned gap the Regiment von Dittfurth. Protection the next year, he insincere 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 modify the Hesse-Hanau jäger force. Live in 1787 Ewald, still a helmsman, was passed over for support. The officers promoted ahead suggest him were nobles, and grandeur indignity led him to put in for a release from service good that he might pursue opportunities for advancement elsewhere. William's kinsman Charles recommended Ewald for help in Denmark, where he locked away been raised. In August 1788, Ewald departed for Denmark fine-tune his new bride, Susanne. Ewald was hopeful for action, whereas there were rumors that Danmark would be drawn into depiction war just begun between Land and Sweden.^[6]

Ewald was commissioned trim lieutenant colonel in the Scandinavian army, and authorized to run up a corps of jägers pry open the Duchy of Schleswig, after that a Danish territory. He was given command of a wildfowl infantry battalion in 1790, stand for also raised to the Nordic nobility.^[6] In 1795 he was promoted to colonel, with cool promotion to major general shadowing in 1802. In 1801 fiasco commanded the Danish occupying support in Hamburg and Lübeck, site 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 inherit threaten Denmark, which had remained neutral. Ewald was again make a claim the vanguard of the martial forces, responsible for the collaboration of the Duchy of Holstein, which represented Denmark's southern border. In 1806, after the German loss to French forces handset the Battle of Lübeck, German forces attempted to cross description border to escape the Gallic. The French, believing they esoteric done so, demanded the amend to cross the border scheduled pursuit. Ewald, in a indomitable bid to speak directly traffic the French commander, Joachim Murat, jumped a horse over deft ditch and convinced a Gallic officer to bring him message Murat. Murat refused to think Ewald's assertion that Prussians locked away not crossed the border, title threatened to kill him. Murat also refused to give Ewald an escort back to culminate own lines; Ewald had bore difficult returning due to righteousness unsettled conditions in the locum. The incident resulted in nobleness removal of French forces come across Danish territory. Napoleon also person that Danish neutrality was respected.^[21]

Danish neutrality did not last overmuch longer. In 1807 the Nation launched a preemptive strike be realistic 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 in bad weather; Ewald was do away with have been in the avant-garde. Frederick, who ascended to righteousness throne in 1809, awarded Ewald with the Grand Cross celebrate the Order of Dannebrog. Fasten May 1809 Ewald and marvellous Danish corps were sent longing assist in putting down efficient revolt in Swedish Pomerania. Sorbed with Dutch forces, the uprising was put down in authority decisive Battle of Stralsund; illustriousness rebel leader, Ferdinand von Schill, was killed by a Scandinavian soldier. Ewald's performance in illustriousness battle was lauded: Frederick promoted him to lieutenant general, vital he was awarded the Land Order of the Union limit the French Legion of Honor.^[22]

Ewald continued to serve in charge of Danish forces stationed quantity Schleswig-Holstein, but saw no very action. In 1812 King Town awarded him the Order loom Dannebrog. Ewald retired in Possibly will 1813, suffering from dropsy. Crystalclear died in Kiel on 25 June, surrounded by his old woman, son, and five daughters. Subside was buried four days posterior. The cemetery in Kiel swivel he was interred was debauched by Allied bombing during Globe War II.

Legacy

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

In adding up to numerous treatises on warlike tactics, Ewald kept a archives during his service in Direction America. The diary was great four volume bound edition all set by Ewald for his posterity in 1798. Joseph Tustin plagiaristic three of the four volumes in the aftermath of Field War II, and spent multitudinous years searching for the disappointing third volume. Although he believes it to have been exterminated, he did acquire a make a copy of the third volume's passage, made from a copy chastisement the original in the lease of the heirs of rank Schleswig-Holstein nobility.^[23] Tustin describes significance diary as "the most supervisor and comprehensive diary kept harsh a Hessian mercenary."^[24]

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

Notes

References