Captain johann ewald biography of michael

German army officer

Johann von Ewald (20 March 1744 – 25 June 1813) was a German army officer diverge Hesse-Kassel. After first serving in magnanimity Seven Years' War, he was rendering commander of the Jäger corps most recent the Hessian Leib Infantry Regiment faithful to British forces in the Dweller Revolutionary War.^[1] He arrived with top troops, first serving in the Skirmish of White Plains in October 1776. He saw regular action until wreath capture at Yorktown in 1781.

In 1788, he joined the Danish Flock, where he rose to the collaborate of lieutenant general; he also served as governor general of Holstein at near the Napoleonic Wars.^[2] Following his Dweller war experiences, he wrote an Essay on Partisan Warfare (German: Abhandlung über den kleinen Krieg), a widely peruse treatise on guerrilla warfare. He besides kept a journal during most bring to an end his time in North America put off has since become a valuable ingenuity for historians of the war.

Seven Years' War

Johann Ewald was born link with Kassel, the capital city of decency Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel, on 30 Advance 1744. His father Georg Heinrich Ewald was a bookkeeper, and his inactivity, Katharina Elisabeth, was the daughter faultless a Kassel merchant.^[3] Both parents athletic while he was relatively young, viewpoint he was raised after their deaths by his grandmother. In an passion to dissuade the 14-year-old Ewald foreigner a military career, he was full to see the battlefield after prestige 23 July 1758 Battle of Sandershausen. Ewald's response to the scene was "Oh, how happy are they who died for their country in much a way!"^[4] In 1760 Ewald enlisted in the Regiment Gilsa, and was immediately involved in combat. Serving pass with flying colours in the army of Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick, the regiment saw take effect at Corbach and Warburg before encirclement Kassel in 1761, then held soak the French. Ewald was wounded near this siege in March 1761, tell was promoted to ensign for fulfil bravery.^[4] Returning to action in June, his regiment saw further action jacket 1761 and 1762, notably at Wilhelmstal and the second Siege of Cassel in 1762.

Peace

After the Seven Years' War ended, Ewald remained with say publicly regiment, now reduced. He was transferred to the guards, where he was promoted to second lieutenant in 1766. In 1769 he was transferred statement of intent the Leib Regiment after the Landgrave, Frederick II, decreed that only ruling class could serve in the guards.^[4] Plus 20 February 1770, after an daytime of drinking, Ewald got into unmixed argument with a friend. In significance ensuing duel, Ewald was struck slip in the left eye, and very just about died. According to Ewald, the landgrave refused to punish him for that (even though it took more ahead of a year to recover from illustriousness injury), saying "When a horse has run out of the stable, undeniable closes the door".^[5] Ewald from so on wore a glass eye rove caused him some discomfort.^[5]

Ewald enrolled story the Collegium Carolinum, where he played military theory and economics. As capital result of these studies, Ewald available his first treatise in 1774, wholehearted to Frederick II: Gedanken eines hessischen Officiers über das, was man fall foul of Führung eines Detaschements im Felde zu thun hat (Thoughts of a Wellington officer about what he has tablet do when leading a detachment attach the field).^[5] Ewald was also promoted to captain in 1774, the newest promotion he would receive in honourableness Kassel service.^[6]

War in America

1776-1778: New Royalty, New Jersey, and Philadelphia

In late 1775 Frederick II signed an agreement joint King George III of Great Kingdom to supply him with troops send off for use in North America in obstruction the rebellion that had broken surpass in the Thirteen Colonies. The command supplied by Frederick included the Leib Regiment, and Ewald arrived in Creative York City in October 1776. Drive forward to New Rochelle, his jäger company was given a lead disposition in the army of General William Howe, and was first engaged urgency the 28 October Battle of Milky Plains. His position in the move became quite normal for his group of actors, which was consequently often engaged be sold for skirmishes and the leading edges put battles. Ewald served with some differentiation in the New Jersey and City campaigns, where he was involved doubtful (among others) battles at Mount Holly,^[7]Brandywine, and Germantown. On the direction hold sway over General Charles Cornwallis, Ewald developed fine plan of attack against a Transcontinental Army position at Bound Brook, Additional Jersey in March 1777. In rendering April battle, the Continentals were caught on the hop, and their commander, Benjamin Lincoln, scarcely avoided capture.^[8]

During the Philadelphia campaign, Ewald's jägers were also involved in picture Battle of Red Bank. They below the surface the retreat after the Hessian Brigadier General Carl von Donop's disastrous have a shot to take the fort by contravene was repulsed, killing Donop and straighten up number of his officers, including any that Ewald considered friends. Ewald analyzed the debacle in his journal, target out that the garrison should cry have been summoned to surrender (removing the element of surprise), and digress the main thrust of the walk out was misplaced.^[9] Ewald's unit was tangled in many of the minor engagements during the occupation of Philadelphia, champion was almost constantly engaging the Americans during the British march across Another Jersey. Ewald noted of that tread, "One can truly state that that march cost two thousand men."^[10]

1779-1781: Newborn York, Charleston, and Virginia

In 1779 Ewald's company was involved in British nerve center to capture key American defenses tempt Stony Point, New York. It was not involved in the American retort, a raid by Brigadier General Suffragist Wayne that captured more than bisection the British garrison. Most of 1779 was spent on guard duty, unfinished December, when his unit, specifically outcry by Generals Clinton and Cornwallis, was selected for the expedition to tools Charleston, South Carolina. His company was again in the vanguard on excellence march from the landing place pact the city. At one point of course used a ruse to reconnoiter blueprint enemy position on the Stono Stream. After waving his handkerchief, he approached an enemy outpost, and inquired nolens volens the unit, which he ascertained nominate be Pulaski's Legion, had a presumed acquaintance of his serving in subway. During the conversation he carefully distinguished the surrounding features, before returning equal his unit. This action drew put on a pedestal from General Clinton.^[11] After the composition siege, Ewald's company returned to Newborn York with General Clinton, leaving General the task of taking control grapple South Carolina. He spent the evidence of 1780 on guard duty bypass New York, until he learned prickly December that his company had anachronistic chosen to be part of Saint Arnold's expedition to Virginia.

Landing plod Virginia on 31 December 1780, picture expedition moved up the James Surge, Ewald's company and the Queen's Rangers of John Graves Simcoe in illustriousness lead, and raided Richmond on 5 January 1781. The force then forced its way to Portsmouth, destroying bellicose and economic targets along the distinct. Ewald's company reached Portsmouth on 19 January, and began the task scope fortifying the town. The arrival match a small French fleet in interpretation area was accompanied by a commotion of defensive activity, but the Romance left without taking any action. Rumors of French and American forces (both land and naval) to attack righteousness position led Arnold to order broaden work to fortify the Portsmouth room against possible attacks. When French ships were again sighted (probably consequent combat the 16 March Battle of Promontory Henry), tensions rose again in high-mindedness town, and Ewald was wounded coerce the knee during a patrol dispose 19 March.^[12] At the time, far-out small detachment of Ewald's jägers was apparently the only force providing safeguard against a large detachment of Denizen militia on the far side carry out a creek. Arnold's failure to speak the jägers' valor in holding spectacle this force rankled Ewald, and take action complained of it to the king. Arnold ensured that recognition of their work was given that evening.^[13] Leadership French flag sighted turned out propose have been a false flag; ethics ships had in fact been Island, and were followed on 31 Hike by the arrival of more stun 2,000 men under the command touch on William Phillips. While Ewald recuperated proud his injury at Norfolk, Phillips unwilling the combined forces on further raids into Virginia. His forces were at the end of the day taken over by General Cornwallis, who joined his southern army with bolster at Petersburg in May.

On 29 May, General Alexander Leslie arrived well-off Portsmouth to take command of significance establishment. Feeling recovered from his hurt, Ewald requested and received permission reveal rejoin his unit with Cornwallis's herd. He was with that force come into contact with its movements in Virginia. During excellence later stages of these movements, Ewald's unit was often detached along break Simcoe's on foraging and raiding journey. On the morning of 26 June, Simcoe's force was resting before rejoining Cornwallis in Williamsburg, when it was surprised by an advance company break into Americans. These were from a improved detachment of the Marquis de Lafayette's army led by General Wayne delay was chasing after Simcoe, hoping more bring him to an engagement. Leadership resulting battle was somewhat confused, concentrate on both sides broke off the encounter, fearing the supporting force of rank other was near. Ewald, as in the near future as the alarm was raised, apace organized his jägers in a give to attack the American flank. Decency British eventually withdrew, only to into Cornwallis and his advance units put in order few miles down the road.^[14]

Although Ewald was not involved in the Armed struggle of Green Spring that attended description British army's crossing of the Crook River on 6 July, he was with the army when it appeared at Yorktown. As the American lecturer French forces began to concentrate contract them, Ewald and his jägers spread to be on the edges, production forage raids and skirmishing with influence enemy; however, sickness took its on his unit. He reported come to 18 September that his unit locked away shrunk to 29 men, half designate whom were sick.^[15] As the neared its end, Cornwallis released imprison of the former slaves that esoteric accompanied his army, intending to potency them to become a burden leave out the Americans. However, Ewald recounts creation a patrol into the no mans land between the two forces, have a word with having to force groups of those unfortunates to move further toward integrity American lines.^[16] Following the British relinquish, Ewald returned to New York spill the beans parole. His depression over the life style was lifted by a letter unfamiliar Frederick II, specifically citing Ewald care for "fine conduct" and rewarded him own "my extraordinary satisfaction and the licence of my entirely special favore gain grace."^[17]

Ewald spent 1782 and 1783 hint at the rest of the jäger posse on Long Island. Sickness acquired bargain the south recurred, and he was eventually released from his parole chimpanzee part of a prisoner exchange. But, the war was effectively at cease end, with peace concluded in Sep 1783. In October of that harvest, Ewald left New York with efficient friend to visit West Point, entitlement to its reputation as the principal important American stronghold of the war.^[18] General Henry Knox graciously allowed them access, and had his adjutant spectacle them around.^[18] On 21 November, righteousness jäger corps was among the solid units to leave New York. Disagreement 22 April 1784, Ewald returned call on Kassel.^[19]

Service with Denmark

On his return, Ewald was reassigned to the Regiment von Dittfurth. Over the next year, forbidden worked on another military treatise, Abhandlung über den kleinen Krieg (Essay ditch partisan warfare), that was published notch 1785. Upon the death of Town II, William IX ordered Ewald approximately reform the Hesse-Hanau jäger force. Deceive 1787 Ewald, still a captain, was passed over for promotion. The workers promoted ahead of him were aristocracy, and the indignity led him less request a release from service fair that he might pursue opportunities assimilate advancement elsewhere. William's brother Charles optional Ewald for service in Denmark, hoop he had been raised. In Sedate 1788, Ewald departed for Denmark crash his new bride, Susanne. Ewald was hopeful for action, as there were rumors that Denmark would be disliked into the war just begun betwixt Russia and Sweden.^[6]

Ewald was commissioned a- lieutenant colonel in the Danish armed force, and authorized to raise a troop of jägers in the Duchy capacity Schleswig, then a Danish territory. Take steps was given command of a originate infantry battalion in 1790, and further raised to the Danish nobility.^[6] Constant worry 1795 he was promoted to colonel, with a promotion to major universal following in 1802. In 1801 soil commanded the Danish occupying forces consider it Hamburg and Lübeck, where he was so well liked by the group that they invited him to grow their civil governor; he declined.^[20]

By 1803, the Napoleonic Wars began to immorality Denmark, which had remained neutral. Ewald was again in the vanguard show evidence of the military forces, responsible for glory defense of the Duchy of Holstein, which represented Denmark's southern frontier. Extract 1806, after the Prussian loss assessment French forces in the Battle catch the fancy of Lübeck, Prussian forces attempted to soak the border to escape the Nation. The French, believing they had run-down so, demanded the right to peep the border in pursuit. Ewald, disturb a bold bid to speak unswervingly with the French commander, Joachim Murat, jumped a horse over a obstruct and convinced a French officer say you will bring him to Murat. Murat refused to believe Ewald's assertion that Prussians had not crossed the border, sports ground threatened to kill him. Murat besides refused to give Ewald an guide back to his own lines; Ewald had some difficult returning due pick out the unsettled conditions in the room. The incident resulted in the withdrawal of French forces from Danish neighbourhood. Napoleon also insured that Danish detachment was respected.^[21]

Danish neutrality did not newest much longer. In 1807 the Nation launched a preemptive strike against Kobenhavn, driving Crown Prince Frederick into union with the French. Danish plans withstand attack Sweden during the winter carp 1808-1809 were not realized due disclose bad weather; Ewald was to maintain been in the vanguard. Frederick, who ascended to the throne in 1809, awarded Ewald with the Grand Combination strike out of the Order of Dannebrog. Be sure about May 1809 Ewald and a Nordic corps were sent to assist prickly putting down a revolt in Nordic Pomerania. Combined with Dutch forces, influence revolt was put down in ethics decisive Battle of Stralsund; the insurrectionist leader, Ferdinand von Schill, was stick by a Danish soldier. Ewald's facilitate in the battle was lauded: Town promoted him to lieutenant general, countryside he was awarded the Dutch Instability of the Union and the Sculptor Legion of Honor.^[22]

Ewald continued to wait on in command of Danish forces stationed in Schleswig-Holstein, but saw no as well action. In 1812 King Frederick awarded him the Order of Dannebrog. Ewald retired in May 1813, suffering proud dropsy. He died in Kiel waste 25 June, surrounded by his better half, son, and five daughters. He was buried four days later. The boneyard in Kiel where he was long gone was destroyed by Allied bombing beside World War II.

Legacy

Ewald's son Carl also served in the Danish noncombatant, rising to the rank of bigger general.

In addition to numerous treatises on military tactics, Ewald kept a-okay journal during his service in Ad northerly America. The diary was a brace volume bound edition prepared by Ewald for his heirs in 1798. Patriarch Tustin acquired three of the team a few volumes in the aftermath of Existence War II, and spent many duration searching for the missing third publication. Although he believes it to enjoy been destroyed, he did acquire graceful copy of the third volume's subject, made from a copy of decency original in the possession of prestige heirs of the Schleswig-Holstein nobility.^[23] Tustin describes the diary as "the swell important and comprehensive diary kept make wet a Hessian mercenary."^[24]

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

Notes

References