Some German-authored records include criticism of the way the British conducted the war against the American rebels. This included what appeared to the Germans to be surprisingly lax preparation even for major campaigns. The entry from the journal of the Hessian Feldjägercorps from August 1777 describes such an experience. At that time, the corps, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Ludwig Johann Adolph von Wurmb, belonged to the army under General William Howe that was on its way to Philadelphia. The army had sailed from New York, and in late August it debarked near Turkey Point on the Elk Neck peninsula in Maryland. You would think they would have brought a guide or packed a map. They did not. Here is how the journal of the Feldjägercorps describes the first couple of days after the army’s arrival in Maryland.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

August 28, 1777 – “The army departed from Turkey Point and marched to Elkton, which was deserted by all its inhabitants. We had no news from the enemy, nor any map of the interior of the country, and there was no one in the army who was familiar with this area. After we had passed the town, no one knew which way to go: Therefore, men were sent around in all directions until a Negro (“Negroe”) was found, according to whose directions the army had to march. This Negro (“Negroe”) did not know anything about the enemy army itself but said that a corps of it was nearby. Indeed, observation parties belonging to it could be seen by the Jäger Corps, which was the advance guard. The army set up camp in the woods, with the Jäger Corps on the left flank at the foot of a mountain, and the light infantry stationed on the mountain. We stayed here until September 3. During that time, we took several prisoners from the observation party that appeared quite often. They informed us that the enemy army was not nearby (as we had otherwise suspected), but rather, that a corps of 1,200 select troops was stationed at Iron Hill (which is the highest mountain from Chesapeake Bay to Philadelphia).

TRANSCRIPTION

1777 Aug 28 – „Die Armée brach von Turkey point auf und marchirte nach Elktoon, welcher Ort von allen Einwohnern verlaßen war. Vom Feind hatten wir keine Nachricht, auch keine Carte von dem innern des Landes und in der Armée war niemand der diese Gegend kannte. nachdem wir also die Stadt passirt, wuste nun weiter niemand einen Weg: Es wurde dahero aller Orten herum geschickt, bis sich nun ein Negroe fandte, nach deßen gegebenen Beschreibung die Armée marchiren muste. Dieser Negroe wuste zwar nichts von der feindlichen Armée selbst, sagte aber daß ein Corps derselben in der Nähe seye, von welchem sich auch Observations Partheyen vor dem Jäger Corps das die Avantgarde machte, sehen ließen. _ . Die Armée bezog ein Lager in denen Wäldern, das JägerCorps fur dem linken Flügel derselben an dem fus eines Berges, die leichte Infanterie [ill] auf selbigem postirt. Hier blieben wir bis zum 3.^t Sept. liegen und machten inzwischen einige Gefangene von der sich öfters zeigenden Observations Parthey, welche uns benachrichtigten, daß die feindliche Armée nicht in der Nähe seye : | wie wir sonst vermutheten | : wohl aber daß ein Corps von 1200 auserlesener Mannschaft zu Ironhill stehe : | dieses ist der höchste berg von der Cheasepeak bay bis Philadelphia | :

Citation: Tagebuch des Hessischen Feldjägercorps, 1777/1784, 4° Ms. Hass. 166, f. 8, Landesbibliothek und Murhardsche Bibliothek der Stadt Kassel.

Featured Image: “Progress of the army from their landing till taking possession of Philadelphia,” [1777?]. Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library.