Nicholas Dietrich, Baron de Ottendorf
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Dietrich, Baron of Ottendorf, was a German
mercenary
who was paid on commission by the newly formed Continental Congress
to gather and raise an independent corps in the continental army
on December 5, 1776.
Dietrich had trouble properly organizing Ottendorf's Corps
, and as a result George Washington
replaced him with Lieutenant Colonel Armand on July 11, 1777. The Corps was scattered, some of it having been put under Armand's command while others of it followed Baron Dietrich. By 1781 the Baron and those that remained with him eventually joined under the banner of the British Army
.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
mercenary
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
who was paid on commission by the newly formed Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
to gather and raise an independent corps in the continental army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
on December 5, 1776.
Dietrich had trouble properly organizing Ottendorf's Corps
Ottendorf's Corps
Ottendorf's Corps was raised on December 5, 1776 in eastern Pennsylvania for service with the Continental Army. As Congress directed the corps would be composed of 150 privates, sergeants and corporals included and that it be divided as follows:...
, and as a result George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
replaced him with Lieutenant Colonel Armand on July 11, 1777. The Corps was scattered, some of it having been put under Armand's command while others of it followed Baron Dietrich. By 1781 the Baron and those that remained with him eventually joined under the banner of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.
External links
- Library of Congress, Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, Page 1007 http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=lljc&fileName=006/lljc006.db&recNum=152&itemLink=r?ammem/hlaw:@field(DOCID+@lit(jc00649))%230060153&linkText=1
- Baron Ottendorf to Clinton August 15, 1781