Musketeer Regiment Prinz Carl
Encyclopedia
The Musketeer Regiment Prinz Carl was a regiment of Hessian troops that served Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War
.
According to German military records, the regiment was raised in Bad Hersfeld
, Hesse-Kassel
(or Hesse-Cassel), Germany
. On January 21, 1776 the Regiment marched from Hersfeld, embarking in Carlstadt at Bremerlehe on March, 23. They sailed for America on April 17, 1776, and landed at Staten Island
, New York
on August 15. They fought in the Battle of White Plains
on October 28, 1776 and participated in the capture of Newport, Rhode Island
July 29 to August 31, 1778 as well as other minor actions. On November 12, 1783 the Regiment sailed from New York for Bremerlehe, returning to the garrison at Hersfeld on May 28, 1784.
Although the official history of the unit does not give precise details of its movements, there are indications of other operations:
According to a Sep. 23, 1777 letter from Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton, to Gen. Sir William Howe
, the Regiment participated in an incursion into New Jersey
from the 12th to the 16th of September, 1777.
Also, a report of a Hessian deserter from 28 August,1782, found in George Washington's
papers, indicates this regiment, along with "the Regt. of Wesebach & Angenella together with Fanning's Corps., & 7th British Reg., came lately from Savannah
& are now on Long Island, very weak in number and very sickly." In this report, "7th British Regt. is likely the "7th Regiment of Foot (Royal Fuzileers)" under Lt. Gen. Richard Prescott, who had been ordered to Savannah on 22 December, 1781. "Fanning's Corps." is probably the loyalist
"King's American Regiment
" "Angenella" is probably the "Grenadier Regt. von d'Angelelli." And, the "Regt. of Wesebach" likely refers to the Hessian "Regt. von Wissenbach", although von Knoblauch had taken command by that time. The British forces evacuated Savannah on July 11, 1782.
Kompanie 2
Kompanie 3
Kompanie 4
Kompanie 5
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
According to German military records, the regiment was raised in Bad Hersfeld
Bad Hersfeld
The festival and spa town of Bad Hersfeld is the district seat of Hersfeld-Rotenburg district in northeastern Hesse, Germany, roughly 50 km southeast of Kassel....
, Hesse-Kassel
Hesse-Kassel
The Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel or Hesse-Cassel was a state in the Holy Roman Empire under Imperial immediacy that came into existence when the Landgraviate of Hesse was divided in 1567 upon the death of Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse. His eldest son William IV inherited the northern half and the...
(or Hesse-Cassel), Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. On January 21, 1776 the Regiment marched from Hersfeld, embarking in Carlstadt at Bremerlehe on March, 23. They sailed for America on April 17, 1776, and landed at Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on August 15. They fought in the Battle of White Plains
Battle of White Plains
The Battle of White Plains was a battle in the New York and New Jersey campaign of the American Revolutionary War fought on October 28, 1776, near White Plains, New York. Following the retreat of George Washington's Continental Army northward from New York City, British General William Howe landed...
on October 28, 1776 and participated in the capture of Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
July 29 to August 31, 1778 as well as other minor actions. On November 12, 1783 the Regiment sailed from New York for Bremerlehe, returning to the garrison at Hersfeld on May 28, 1784.
Although the official history of the unit does not give precise details of its movements, there are indications of other operations:
According to a Sep. 23, 1777 letter from Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton, to Gen. Sir William Howe
William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe
William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe, KB, PC was a British army officer who rose to become Commander-in-Chief of British forces during the American War of Independence...
, the Regiment participated in an incursion into New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
from the 12th to the 16th of September, 1777.
Also, a report of a Hessian deserter from 28 August,1782, found in George Washington's
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
papers, indicates this regiment, along with "the Regt. of Wesebach & Angenella together with Fanning's Corps., & 7th British Reg., came lately from Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
& are now on Long Island, very weak in number and very sickly." In this report, "7th British Regt. is likely the "7th Regiment of Foot (Royal Fuzileers)" under Lt. Gen. Richard Prescott, who had been ordered to Savannah on 22 December, 1781. "Fanning's Corps." is probably the loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
"King's American Regiment
King's American Regiment
The King's American Regiment was a British provincial regiment which was raised and served in the American Revolutionary War.It was raised in New York in December, 1776 by Colonel Edmund Fanning as the Associated Refugees. It served in the attacks on Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery...
" "Angenella" is probably the "Grenadier Regt. von d'Angelelli." And, the "Regt. of Wesebach" likely refers to the Hessian "Regt. von Wissenbach", although von Knoblauch had taken command by that time. The British forces evacuated Savannah on July 11, 1782.
Officers
LeibkompanieKompanie 2
- (1775-80) Generalmajor Martin Konrad Schmitt
- (1780-84) Generalmajor Ephraim v. Gose
Kompanie 3
- (1775) Obrist (Colonel) Ephraim v. Gose
- (1776-84) Obrist George Emanuel v. Lengerke
Kompanie 4
- (1775-84) Obristleutnant Johann Wilhelm Schreiber (promoted to Obrist)
Kompanie 5
- (1775-84) Major Wilhelm v. Loewenstein (promoted to Obristleutnant, then Obrist)