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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing) 10 2 Browse Search
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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), German mercenaries. (search)
th of allegiance to the British sovereign during their service, without its interfering with similar oaths to their respective rulers. Their chief commanders, when they sailed for America, were Generals Baron de Riedesel, Baron Knyphausen, and De Heister. The general name of Hessians was given to them by the Americans, and, because they were mercenaries, they were heartily detested by the colonists. When any brutal act of oppression or wrong was to be carried out, such as a plundering or burnkidnapper, which I cannot think a very honorable occupation. All Europe cried Shame! and Frederick the Great, of Prussia, took every opportunity to express his contempt for the scandalous man-traffic of his neighbors. Without these troops, the war would have been short. A part of them, under Riedesel, went to Canada (May, 1776); the remainder, under Knyphausen and De Heister, joined the British under Howe, before New York, and had their first encounter on Long Island, Aug. 27. See Hessians.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Long Island. (search)
merican force on the island did not exceed 8,000 men, and 2,500 of these were sent to guard the passes. On the 26th the British moved forward, under the chief command of Sir Henry Clinton and Lord Cornwallis, followed by the Germans, under General de Heister. The combined forces formed a thoroughly disciplined army. It was obvious that they intended to gain the rear of the Americans by the Bedford and Jamaica passes. At three o'clock on the morning of the 27th word reached Putnam that his pis followed by General Parsons with some Connecticut troops. Beyond Gowanus Creek, Stirling found himself confronted by overwhelming numbers under General Grant, with some of Howe's ships on his right flank. At the same time the Germans, under De Heister and Knyphausen, were moving to force their way at the pass farther eastward (now in Prospect Park); while Howe, with the main body of the British, under Clinton and Cornwallis, was pressing towards the Bedford and Jamaica passes to gain the rea
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), New Brunswick, skirmish at (search)
e firmly in check at and near New Brunswick, on the Raritan; and on June 20 the former, with his army at Middlebrook, learned that his antagonist was preparing to fall back to Amboy. Hoping to cut off his rearguard, Washington ordered (June 21) Maxwell to lie between New Brunswick and Amboy, and Sullivan to join Greene near the former place, while the main body should rest within supporting distance. These orders failed of execution On the morning of the 22d the column of Germans, under De Heister, began its march towards Amboy. The corps of Cornwallis moved more slowly, for it had to cross the Raritan over a narrow bridge, near the end of which stood Howe, on high ground, watching the movements Greene had a battery of three guns on a hill, but too far distant to be effective When more than one-half of Cornwallis's column had passed the bridge, his pickets were fiercely attacked by Morgan with his riflemen, and were driven back upon the main column. Howe instantly put himself at t
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), White Plains, battle of. (search)
ter a series of skirmishes, 1,600 men from Delaware and Maryland had taken post on Chatterton's Hill, a lofty eminence west of the Bronx River, and to these General McDougall led reinforcements, with two pieces of cannon under Capt. Alexander Hamilton, and took the chief command there. Washington, with the rest of the army, was on the lower ground just north of the village. The British army advanced to the attack in two divisions, the right led by Sir Henry Clinton and the left by Generals De Heister and Erskine. Howe was with the latter. He had moved with great caution since his landing. Inclining his army to the left, he planted almost twenty Chatterton's Hill, from the Railway Station. field-pieces on the slope south of the village, and under cover of these a bridge was constructed, and British and German troops passed the Bronx and attacked the Americans on Chatterton's Hill. Hamilton's little battery made them recoil at first, but, being reinforced, they drove the Amer