The Voyage of The First Hessian Army from Portsmouth to New York, 1776

The Voyage of The First Hessian Army from Portsmouth to New York, 1776

[7]The following Historical Sketch is a translation from the German of A. Pfister. It was published some fifty years ago in a German periodical and is interesting enough to be reprinted in English as it contains hitherto very little known details of this voyage. At the end will be found an Extract from the Diary of the German Poet and Adventurer, J.G. Seume, a Hessian Soldier and Participator on the Voyage. [9]The troops belonging to the first Hessian Division had as yet not all been assembled in the harbor of Portsmouth, for, on account of the lack of transport ships, General von Mirbach with his regiment and that of Commander Rall, a Knyphausen Company, and a part of the Commissariat still remained at Bremerlehe, when the fleet was ready and the wind often long in coming, was just then very favorable to leave the channel. Then a rather peculiar circumstance occurred to prevent the start. Heister, the Hessian Commander-in-Chief, refused to start, feeling bound by the land graves express orders to keep all his divisions together. The king became exceedingly impatient, for the delay set an incalculable amount at stakeat last the Hessian minister at London, General von Schlieffen, took upon himself the responsibility of this urgent matter, and Heister, with a spirit of true faithfulness to service, went over with his Hessian troop ships to the remaining squadron at anchor at St. Hellens in the immediate vicinity. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 27230
Author: Pfister, Albert
Release Date: Nov 10, 2008
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Contributor (Author): Seume, Johann Gottfried, 1763-1810