Carl Von Donop
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Count Carl Emil Ulrich von Donop (January 1, 1732Wilhelm Gottlieb Levin von Donop:
Des Obermarschalls und Drosten Wilhelm Gottlieb Levin von Donop zu Lüdershofen, Maspe Nachricht von dem Geschlecht der von Donop.
' Paderborn 1796
p. 21
/ref> – October 25, 1777) was a Hessian colonel who fought in the
American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...
. He died of wounds during the Battle of Red Bank.


Biography


Origins and ambitions

The son of a noble family of Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel), Donop was well connected in the European courts and served as personal adjutant to the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel. He served with distinction in the
Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War, 1756 to 1763, was a Great Power conflict fought primarily in Europe, with significant subsidiary campaigns in North America and South Asia. The protagonists were Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and Kingdom of Prus ...
. When the American Revolutionary War began, Donop asked for leave to fight against the revolutionaries. The Landgrave appointed him to command four battalions of grenadiers and the prestigious Jäger Corps. A highly ambitious officer, Donop hoped to remain in North America after the war, to pursue dreams of power and glory. Wearing a veneer of civility, and deferential to his superiors, Donop was an able officer but was not well liked by his subordinates. To his inferiors he was short-tempered and harsh, and he had a take-no-prisoners policy that was enforced by severe beatings.


Early battles

Donop's troops took part in the initial British landing on
Long Island Long Island is a densely populated continental island in southeastern New York (state), New York state, extending into the Atlantic Ocean. It constitutes a significant share of the New York metropolitan area in both population and land are ...
, New York, on August 22, 1776, and in the ensuing
Battle of Long Island The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn and the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, was an action of the American Revolutionary War fought on August 27, 1776, at and near the western edge of Long Island in present-day Brooklyn ...
on August 27. They also participated in the
landing at Kip's Bay The Landing at Kip's Bay was a British amphibious landing during the New York campaign in the American Revolutionary War on September 15, 1776. It occurred on the East River shore of Manhattan north of what then constituted New York City. Heavy ...
on
Manhattan Island Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the smallest county by area in the U.S. state of New York. Located almost entire ...
on the night of September 14. Donop distinguished himself at the Battle of Harlem Heights, going to the aid of the British troops involved.


Retreat after Battle of Trenton

Donop was the senior officer present in southern
New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
in late 1776, and commanded the garrisons in Trenton, Burlington, and Bordentown, which consisted of several Hessian battalions, the 42nd (Highland) Regiment of Foot (commanded by Colonel Stirling), and Jäger detachments. His main camp was at Bordentown prior to the
Battle of Trenton The Battle of Trenton was a small but pivotal American Revolutionary War battle on the morning of December 26, 1776, in Trenton, New Jersey. After General George Washington's George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River, crossing of the ...
, with one battalion occupying the town and the rest billeted along the country roads in Slabtown acksonvilleBlack Horse olumbusBurlington City and White Hill (the Mary Field Plantation). His overall commander was Major General James Grant. Donop wanted to absorb Colonel
Johann Rall Johann Gottlieb Rall (also spelled Rahl) ( – December 27, 1776) was a German colonel best known for his command of Hessian troops at the Battle of Trenton during the American Revolutionary War. Early life and education Rall was born as a so-ca ...
's brigade into his garrison to fortify Trenton, but William Howe was persuaded to let Rall hold command on his own in Trenton. Warned by local
Loyalists Loyalism, in the United Kingdom, its overseas territories and its former colonies, refers to the allegiance to the British crown or the United Kingdom. In North America, the most common usage of the term refers to loyalty to the British Cr ...
of impending attack, Donop warned Grant, who dismissed these cautions. On December 22, 1776, Colonial militia under the command of Colonel
Samuel Griffin Samuel Griffin (April 20, 1746November 23, 1810) was an American lawyer, soldier and politician from Virginia. Following his service during the American Revolutionary War as a Continental Army officer, Griffin served as mayor of Williamsburg, ...
attacked Donop's southern outposts at Slabtown. This force of colonials was sent from Philadelphia by General
Israel Putnam Israel Putnam (January 7, 1718 – May 29, 1790), popularly known as "Old Put", was an American military officer and landowner who fought with distinction at the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783). He als ...
as a deterrent to further encroachment on the river crossings opposite the colonial capitol at Philadelphia. The colonials numbered about 900 local militia and a few regulars, while Donop commanded over two thousand veterans. In response to this attack, Donop moved his entire force south, pushing the colonials through Mount Holly at the
Battle of Iron Works Hill The Battle of Iron Works Hill, also known as the Battle of Mount Holly, was a series of minor skirmishes that took place on December 22 and 23, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War. The fighting took place in Mount Holly, New J ...
and onto the opposite side of the Rancocas Creek. On Christmas Eve, the colonials retreated a few miles to Moorestown. Donop's officers wanted him to return to Bordentown, within easy supporting distance for Rall. Donop had nothing but contempt for Rall and decided to spend Christmas in the company of "a beautiful young widow" - as reported by his Captain of Jägers,
Johann Ewald Johann von Ewald (20 March 1744 – 25 June 1813) was a German army officer from Hesse-Kassel. After first serving in the Seven Years' War, he was the commander of the Jäger corps of the Hessian Leib Infantry Regiment attached to British forc ...
. There is some speculation, but no proof, that the "beautiful young widow" was
Betsy Ross Elizabeth Griscom Ross (née Griscom;Addie Guthrie Weaver, ''"The Story of Our Flag..."'', 2nd Edition, A. G. Weaver, publ., 1898, p. 73 January 1, 1752 – January 30, 1836), also known by her second and third married names, Ashburn a ...
. A rider brought news of the disaster at Trenton about mid-day on December 26. Out of position, and fearing he would be cut off from the remaining Royal Forces, Donop ordered his corps to move through Crosswicks to Princeton. He left a rear guard and allowed for baggage wagons, wounded and such to be brought along. He abandoned a good bit of plunder in his excitement and urgency. The victory at Trenton was won by Washington, but some credit should be given to the young widow who held Donop out of position a day too long to be of help to Rall.


Battle of Red Bank

When Howe's forces captured
Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
in 1777, he then acted to open the
Delaware River The Delaware River is a major river in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is the longest free-flowing (undammed) river in the Eastern United States. From the meeting of its branches in Hancock, New York, the river flows for a ...
to the British navy. The effort was directed at the forts on either side of the river. The
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
on the Delaware River, under the command of Admiral Francis Reynolds, attacked
Fort Mifflin Fort Mifflin, originally called Fort Island Battery and also known as Mud Island Fort, was commissioned in 1771 and sits on Mud Island (or Deep Water Island) on the Delaware River below Philadelphia, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia International ...
in
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
. In an attempt to recoup his tarnished reputation from his defeat at Trenton, Donop volunteered to attempt the capture of
Fort Mercer Fort Mercer was an earthen fort on the eastern shores of the Delaware River in New Jersey that was constructed by the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The fort was built in 1777 by Polish engineer Thaddeus Kosciuszko und ...
at Red Bank in what is now
National Park, New Jersey National Park is a borough in Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 3,026, a decrease of 10 (−0.3%) from the 2010 census count of 3,036, which in turn reflecte ...
. General Howe agreed, if it could be done easily, and gave Donop command of 2,000 Hessian mercenary troops, with which he crossed the Delaware River on October 22. That afternoon, Donop surrounded the fort and demanded surrender from Colonel
Christopher Greene Christopher Greene (May 12, 1737May 14, 1781) was an American legislator and soldier. He led the spirited defense of Fort Mercer in the 1777 Battle of Red Bank, and for leading the African American 1st Rhode Island Regiment during the American Re ...
with the threat of invasion and no quarter. Greene, in a strong position with 400
Rhode Island Rhode Island ( ) is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Connecticut to its west; Massachusetts to its north and east; and the Atlantic Ocean to its south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Is ...
ers and in possession of plentiful cannon, grapeshot, and powder, rejected the demand. Donop led 1,200 Hessians in three attacks on the fort, all of which were beaten back, resulting in nearly 400 Hessian casualties, including Donop himself. Fatally wounded in what would be known as the Battle of Red Bank, Donop died two days later on October 25, 1777. He said to a brother officer before he died: “It is finishing a noble career early; but I die the victim of my ambition, and of the avarice of my sovereign.” He was buried on
Red Bank Battlefield The Red Bank Battlefield is located along the Delaware River in National Park, Gloucester County, New Jersey. It was the location of the Battle of Red Bank in the American Revolutionary War on October 22, 1777. Fort Mercer and its sister, Fort Mi ...
.Find A Grave
/ref>


References


Sources

* * Philip R. N. Katcher, ''Encyclopedia of British, Provincial and German Army Units 1775-1783'' (Harrisburg, Penna.: Stackpole Books, 1973). * Rodney Atwood, ''The Hessians'' (Cambridge, 1980). {{DEFAULTSORT:Donop, Carl Von 1732 births 1777 deaths Hessian military personnel of the American Revolutionary War Military personnel killed in the American Revolutionary War German military personnel of the Seven Years' War