Ludwig von Wurmb
Encyclopedia
Ludwig von Wurmb was a lieutenant general in the army of Hesse-Kassel
during the Napoleonic Wars
. In the English-speaking world he is probably best known for his service for the British in North America during the War of American Independence, when, as a lieutenant colonel, he commanded the Hessian Jäger
corps in campaigns throughout the war. His military service career spanned more than 50 years.
, rising to the rank of captain at age 23. Serving first in the Regiment von Ysenburg, he fought at Hastenbeck
, Sandersburg, and Lutterberg
before transferring to the
Jäger corps. With the Jägers he fought at Bergen
and was wounded in an assault on Lübeck
in July 1760. Joining the Leib Regiment in 1762, he was captured after his 50-man position at Ullrichstein Castle was assaulted by two French brigades. In 1766 he was promoted major of the Leib Fusiliers, a position he held until his service in North America.
In February 1777 he was given a promotion to lieutenant colonel, backdated to 25 January. In September 1777 he had his first combat on American soil, defeating an advance guard of militiamen in the Battle of Cooch's Bridge
. In October of that year he took over command of the entire Jäger corps after its leader, Carl von Donop
, was killed in the Battle of Red Bank
. His corps performed with distinction in the Battle of Germantown
, and guarded the rear of the British move from Philadelphia to New York City
in 1778. Wurmb was then involved in the southern campaigns. In 1782 he was promoted colonel, retroactive to 1778. When the war ended, the Jägers returned to Kassel in 1784. For his performance in North America he was awarded the Hessian Pour la vertu militaire. In 1784 the Jäger corps was disbanded, and Wurmb was assigned to the Regiment von Knyphausen, which he took command of in 1787. The following year he took command of the Leib-Grenadier Regiment, and in 1789 he was named Adjutant General of the Hessian army.
With the outbreak of the War of the First Coalition in 1792, William I
, the landgrave
provided troops for the coalition, which were led by von Wurmb. In early 1794 von Wurmb was promoted to major general. In May of that year his division was in the Battle of Tourcoing, where his Hessians were in the middle of the action. Von Wurmb was wounded in the leg and carried from the field. After seeing further action in 1795, he returned to Hesse, where he took command of the Leib Infantry Regiment. In 1800 he was promoted to lieutenant general; he also later served on the landgrave's board of war and was governor of Kassel.
In 1805, under threat from Napoleon's armies, the elector again mobilized his forces, concentrating them under von Wurmb's command in Kassel. Faced with overwhelming force in 1806, the elector fled, and Napoleon installed his brother Jérome
as the new King of Westphalia
. Von Wurmb reluctantly entered the service of the new kingdom, and continued to distinguish himself. Jérome gave him command of the official residence, promoted him to division-general in 1807, and awarded him the Order of the Westphalian Crown in 1810.
Von Wurmb died in 1813. He never married and had no children. Several of his brothers also rose to high rank in the Hessian military; he was distinguished from them as the "bitter Wurmb".
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...
during the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
. In the English-speaking world he is probably best known for his service for the British in North America during the War of American Independence, when, as a lieutenant colonel, he commanded the Hessian Jäger
Jäger (military)
Jäger is a term that was adopted in the Enlightenment era in German-speaking states and others influenced by German military practice to describe a kind of light infantry, and it has continued in that use since then....
corps in campaigns throughout the war. His military service career spanned more than 50 years.
Life
Born into a noble family, he began military service during the Seven Years' WarSeven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
, rising to the rank of captain at age 23. Serving first in the Regiment von Ysenburg, he fought at Hastenbeck
Battle of Hastenbeck
The Battle of Hastenbeck was fought as part of the Invasion of Hanover during the Seven Year's War between the allied forces of Hanover, Hesse-Kassel and Brunswick and the French...
, Sandersburg, and Lutterberg
Battle of Lutterberg (1758)
The Battle of Lutterberg took place on 10 October 1758 during the Seven Years War between a French force of 42,000 commanded by Charles, Prince of Soubise and a much smaller Anglo-German force commanded by General Christoph Ludwig von Oberg....
before transferring to the
Jäger corps. With the Jägers he fought at Bergen
Battle of Bergen
There has been more than one Battle of Bergen. You may be looking for:* Battle of Bergen * Battle of Bergen * Battle of Bergen...
and was wounded in an assault on Lübeck
Lübeck
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
in July 1760. Joining the Leib Regiment in 1762, he was captured after his 50-man position at Ullrichstein Castle was assaulted by two French brigades. In 1766 he was promoted major of the Leib Fusiliers, a position he held until his service in North America.
In February 1777 he was given a promotion to lieutenant colonel, backdated to 25 January. In September 1777 he had his first combat on American soil, defeating an advance guard of militiamen in the Battle of Cooch's Bridge
Battle of Cooch's Bridge
The Battle of Cooch's Bridge, also known as the Battle of Iron Hill, was a skirmish fought on September 3, 1777, between American militia and primarily German soldiers serving alongside the British Army during the American Revolutionary War...
. In October of that year he took over command of the entire Jäger corps after its leader, Carl von Donop
Carl von Donop
Count Carl Emilius von Donop was a Hessian colonel who fought in the American Revolutionary War.-Origins and ambitions:...
, was killed in the Battle of Red Bank
Battle of Red Bank
The Battle of Red Bank was a battle of the American Revolutionary War in which a Hessian force was sent to take Fort Mercer on the left bank of the Delaware River just south of Philadelphia, but was decisively defeated by a far inferior force of Colonial defenders...
. His corps performed with distinction in the Battle of Germantown
Battle of Germantown
The Battle of Germantown, a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War, was fought on October 4, 1777, at Germantown, Pennsylvania between the British army led by Sir William Howe and the American army under George Washington...
, and guarded the rear of the British move from Philadelphia to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1778. Wurmb was then involved in the southern campaigns. In 1782 he was promoted colonel, retroactive to 1778. When the war ended, the Jägers returned to Kassel in 1784. For his performance in North America he was awarded the Hessian Pour la vertu militaire. In 1784 the Jäger corps was disbanded, and Wurmb was assigned to the Regiment von Knyphausen, which he took command of in 1787. The following year he took command of the Leib-Grenadier Regiment, and in 1789 he was named Adjutant General of the Hessian army.
With the outbreak of the War of the First Coalition in 1792, William I
William I, Elector of Hesse
William I, Elector of Hesse was the eldest surviving son of Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and Princess Mary of Great Britain, the daughter of George II.-Early life:...
, the landgrave
Landgrave
Landgrave was a title used in the Holy Roman Empire and later on by its former territories. The title refers to a count who had feudal duty directly to the Holy Roman Emperor...
provided troops for the coalition, which were led by von Wurmb. In early 1794 von Wurmb was promoted to major general. In May of that year his division was in the Battle of Tourcoing, where his Hessians were in the middle of the action. Von Wurmb was wounded in the leg and carried from the field. After seeing further action in 1795, he returned to Hesse, where he took command of the Leib Infantry Regiment. In 1800 he was promoted to lieutenant general; he also later served on the landgrave's board of war and was governor of Kassel.
In 1805, under threat from Napoleon's armies, the elector again mobilized his forces, concentrating them under von Wurmb's command in Kassel. Faced with overwhelming force in 1806, the elector fled, and Napoleon installed his brother Jérome
Jérôme Bonaparte
Jérôme-Napoléon Bonaparte, French Prince, King of Westphalia, 1st Prince of Montfort was the youngest brother of Napoleon, who made him king of Westphalia...
as the new King of Westphalia
Kingdom of Westphalia
The Kingdom of Westphalia was a new country of 2.6 million Germans that existed from 1807-1813. It included of territory in Hesse and other parts of present-day Germany. While formally independent, it was a vassal state of the First French Empire, ruled by Napoleon's brother Jérôme Bonaparte...
. Von Wurmb reluctantly entered the service of the new kingdom, and continued to distinguish himself. Jérome gave him command of the official residence, promoted him to division-general in 1807, and awarded him the Order of the Westphalian Crown in 1810.
Von Wurmb died in 1813. He never married and had no children. Several of his brothers also rose to high rank in the Hessian military; he was distinguished from them as the "bitter Wurmb".