In the northern provinces, active campaigning typically seized in late fall or early winter as the weather was turning cold. At that point, the armies went into winter quarters where they would remain until spring. For British and German officers, this tended to be a time of leisure and entertainment. Especially in urban areas, their calendars were filled with a variety of social events and activities, such as balls, gambling, plays, and concerts, which included members of the military as well as local inhabitants. This was certainly true for the British and German officers that spent the winter 1777/1778 in Philadelphia and the surrounding area.

In July 1777, more than 15,000 British and German troops along with officers, staff and servants, boarded transports at Staten Island that would take them to Philadelphia. They were under the command of General William Howe. In August, the fleet landed in Maryland, and from there the army made its way north toward Philadelphia. On September 26, they marched into the city. They would remain until June 1778, when the British withdrew the troops to New York.

The document featured with this post consists of a brief excerpt from a six-page letter by the Hessian officer von Wurmb. The recipient was his friend Friedrich Christian Arnold, Baron von Jungkenn (1732 – 1806). In 1778, Baron von Jungkenn was a major general and Lord High Chamberlain at the Hessian court in Kassel. 

Wurmb belonged to General Howe’s army that occupied Philadelphia. He wrote the letter in February 1778, when General Washington’s army was in winter quarters in nearby Valley Forge. The American troops were exhausted, poorly supplied, and cold. Although not all German and British officers were lodged comfortably, in general, their living conditions contrasted starkly with conditions in the American camp.

In his letter to Jungkenn, Wurmb covered a number of topics, including some of the problems related to the devaluation of paper money. In the section included with this post, he describes the pastimes of Hessian officers during the winter they spent in Philadelphia. Gambling was a popular activity. Every evening, German and British officers gathered at a casino set up by Captain August von Wreden of the Jäger corps. Wurmb claims that General Howe was a frequent participant. He also describes weekly schedules of comedies and balls – for pleasure and charity. Proceeds were intended for the widows and children of soldiers that had been killed. Finally, the Hessian officer points to the presence of a large number of women in the city. His reference to them as “Damen” (ladies) is meant to be ironic. He explains that most of them were the mistresses of English officers and reportedly “infected.” Although he does not explain further, Wurmb undoubtedly meant that they were infected with sexually transmitted diseases. His description reveals a contemptuous view of these women. He was not worried about the prevalence of infection, he claims, since he no longer made “use of these goods.”

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Philadelphia, February 7, 1778

To give you a report of our pastimes here, up to now they have consisted of entertainment. Every day we have meetings where Captain [August von] Wreden runs a casino, and where typically every evening 700 to 800 Guineas are won and lost. General [William] Howe himself joins in. On Mondays, there is comedy; the actors are English officers and the actresses are their mistresses. Everybody pays one pound admission; this is used for the widows and orphans of soldiers that were shot dead. On Thursdays, there is a ball. You can easily imagine that there is no shortage of ladies; we have captured a large number of them. To our greatest pleasure, the most recent fleet from New York, which brought us provisions, added another 1500, most of whom are mistresses of English officers. In the meantime, the physicians claim that there are not twenty women here in Philadelphia who are not infected. It does not matter to me since I no longer make use of these goods.

TRANSCRIPTION

Philadelphia, den 7^ten Feb 1778

Dier von unseren hiesigen Beschefftigungen einige Nachricht zu geben, so bestehen selbige noch bis hier hin auß Belustigungen, Wier haben alle dage assemblens wo rauf Bank von Cap [August von] Vreden gemacht wird und wo ortinär alle abend 7 bis 800 gines gewonnen und verlohren gehen Gl. Howe spielt selbsten mit, des Mondages ist Comedie, die acteurs sind Englische Officiers, und die actrisines ihre metressen, ein jeder bezahlt vor den Eingang 1 grosse lb dieses wird vor die Witven und Weisen derer tottgeschoßenen Soltaten angewendet, daß Donnerstages ist Ball Du kanst dier leichte vorstellen daß es hier an Damens nicht fehlt wier haben hier eine grose anzahl erbeutet, und zu unserem grösesten Vergnügen sind mit der letzten Flotte von Neu Yorck welche unß Leben Mittel brachde noch 1500 Stück die mehresten Metressen von Englischen officiers, da zu gekommen. Unter deßen behaubt die Meticenic daß keine 20 Weiber hier in Philatelpha sein sollen welche ohne angesteckt sein, vor mir ist es einer ley ich mache keinen Gebrauch mehr von dieser Wahre.

Citation: Friedrich Wilhelm von Wurmb to Friedrich Christian Arnold, Baron von Jungkenn, February 7, 1778, Freiherr von Jungkenn papers, Correspondence and Documents, Box 1 Folder 63, University of Michigan Clements Library. A finding aid for this collection is available online.

Featured Image: Detail from “The cotillion dance” (London, 1771), accessed at New York Public Library Digital Collections.