'■'fSSff'iiiiiii Class _J^12^ Book_^Pf3- POPP'S JOURNAL, 1777-1783. [In the city library at Bayreuth there is a manuscript with the for- midable title "History of the North American War, especially of the part taken in it by the two regiments from Bayreuth and Anspnch, described by one who served in the Bayreuth Regiment, named Stejihan Popp, from 1777-1783. I was twenty-two yeare of age when we marched to America." At the close of the Journal there follows a song in eight verses on the marching forth of the Bayreuth troops, and then a curious "Prayer on the Transfer of the Bayreuth-Anspach lands to Prussia." On the right hand is a column with the Lord's Prayer divided in an arbitrary fashion, on the left an address to King Frederick William the Second of Prussia. If that is read alone, he is praised ; but if the lines be read so as to include those of the Lord's Prayer, the whole meaning is changed into a bitter attack on the Prussian annexation. Then follow two entries, one dated August 9, 1795, the other May 2.5, 1796 ; so that the writer seems to have been alive at that time. Bound up with this manuscript are three maps in ])encil : one of the Hudson from Fort Constitution to Esopus, and a legend that it shows the opera- tions of General Clinton in September and October, 1777, when he seized Forts Constitution, Montgomery, and Clinton, and destroyed them, while General Vaughn seized and burnt Esojms and brought away 400 head of cattle and 400 sheep ; 100 rehels were killed and 300 captured, with 100 cannon, 12,236 pounds of powder, 1852 cartridges, much provision, and the chain stretched across the river ; the loss on the royal side included Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, 2 majors, the Polish Count of Grabowsky, Clinton's adjutant, 4 officers, and 41 privates ; 13 officers and 144 soldiers wounded and 20 missing. The second map is a plan of the landing of General Howe and his brother at the point where the Elk River fi\lls into the Chesapeake, and the advance of General Knyphauseu to Cecil Court-House, and another column under Lord Cornwallis to Head of Elk, the two corps joining at Pencader September 3. The Americans left their position near Wilmington, the English came through Newark and camped at Ho- kessen. General Washington left his camp and seized the heights of the Brandy wine. On September 11 the two armies met and the Ameri- cans retreated to Chester, then crossed the Schuylkill. The Americans lost 300 killed, 600 wounded, 400 prisoners, and 11 cannon. The 3 4 Popp's Joimml, 1777-1783. English lost 1 brigadier-general, 1 lieutenant-colonel, 3 captains, 5 lieutenants, 2 ensigns, 14 subalterns, and 183 soldiers killed ; 2 lieu- tenant-colonels, 1 major, 23 captains, 38 lieutenants, 15 ensigns, 64 subalterns, 6 drummers, and 790 soldiers wounded, and 1 captain and 19 soldiers missing ; altogether 1118 men. The map covers the territory from below Salem, on the Delaware, and Georgetown and Baltimore, on the Chesapeake, to Chester and Ephrata and Manheim and Lancaster and the Susquehanna, and has a small sketch of the positions of the Americans and English at the battle of the Brandywine, on September 11, 1777. The third map is a plan of Philadelphia and vicinity as far as Frankford, Germantown, Meriou, and Darby, and of the attack on Fort Eed Bank on October 22, and the works on Fort Island, with the following legend: "Philadelphia and neighborhood: 1. Philadel- phia, with the lines of the Americans surrounding it. 2. The position of General Washington's camp between Germantown and the Schuylkill. 3. Engagement of October 4, to the loss of the Americans. 4. Crossing of the Delaware by Colonel Donop at Cooper's Creek to dislodge the Americans from their entrenched position. 5. Fort Eed Bank, with the unsuccessful attack in which Colonol Donop and Lieutenant-Colonel Minnigeroda were wounded. 6. Fort Island. 7. Fort Mud Island, where the Delaware is blockaded by a Spanish barrier and sunken ships." They are evidently the work of a good German military engineer. A copy of this manuscript with the maps is in a private collection in Philadelphia.] 1777. Janunri/ 26. — Lieut. Col. Sclilanmiersdorf [of the Guards] at 7 P.M. gave orders to Major von Seybothen' that all leaves should be recalled and all preparations com- pleted by working day and night, so a.s to be ready to move on a moment's notice. Febrtiarij 3. — Orders were issued that the Regiment should be ready to take the field in three weeks, — Col. von Voit ^ was assigned the command, and directed to fill the ranks ■ndth young men from all the villages in the neighborhood. This excited the laments of fathers, mothers and families, who came every day to l)id farewell to their sons, brothers ^ Franz Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Christian von Seybothen. ^ When Colonel August Valentin Voit von Saltzburg took command of the regiment it consisted of five companies, including one of light infantry, one of grenadiers, and one of artillery. Popp's Jotmwl, 1777-1783. 5 and friends. Some of the soldiers were glad, and I was of tlie number, for I had long wanted to see something of the world. Others were filled with grief and sorrow at leavino- home, and there was on their side sighing, while I and those of my way of thinking were enjoying the prospect of leaving our mother country for the new world. Fchru'irii 27. — At 6 P.M. we received our first English supplies and pay for five days in advance. Fcbrimry 28. — Reveille awakened us for our new service and the Generale was beaten to berin our march — that nieht the Regiment was quartered one half in Miiekendorf, the other half in Streiberg. Miirch 1. — Marched to Burgersdort. March ;?.— To Fiirth. March 3.— To Ketteldorf March 4- — To Anspach, where after inspection by the Prince, we were quartered on the citizens, remaining until — March 7 — when we marched to Birnheim. March 9. — To Ostenheim. March 10. — Put on board boats at Ochsenfurt, but so closely packed that manj' of the men both of the Anspach and Bayreuth regiments had to stand up all night. We sang hymns and had prayers. The next day we wave put on board ship and many of the men threatening to refuse, the non-commissioned ofhcers were ordered to use heavy whips to enforce obedience, and later to fire on the malcontents, so that some thirty men were wounded, — this so angered their comrades that they made a sharp attack on the Yagers and drove them off \vith the bayonet. Many men deserted from both Regiments, but six of them were recaptured and sent along to America. At last the Prince came on board and asked the men if they were not willing to go, — no one said no, — then he asked what they wanted, and there was a long string of requests, which the Prince said he would satisfy. Then we started on our voyage, in boats enough to make us comfortable, the Prince accompanying us. 6 Popfs Joimial, 1777-1783. March 1^. — At Haiiau we got on larger ships. March 15. — We reached the River Rhine. March 16. — We sailed down the Rhine. March 25. — We took the oath of allegiance to the British King after reaching Nymwegen. March 27. — Went on board the English ships. Mair-h 28. — Were supplied with bedding for onr sea voyage ; each man got two heavy blankets, 2 light blankets, 2 straw sacks, 3 pillows filled with hair, — after seeing us supplied and settled on board ship, the Prince bade us good bye and returned to his home. March 29. — Early in the morning we heard the sailors busy over our heads, but no soldier was allowed to go up on deck, — we were moved out to sea, and waited until March 31 — when the anchor was lifted, and we sailed for Portsmouth, England, — the sea grew rougher, the land dis- appeared, the men were suffering fi-om sea sickness, and many of them vowed to sin no more if they could only get safely on shore again. April 3. — We reached Portsmouth and stayed there five days, waiting for Hessian recruits. Ajml 7. — Our Fleet of 16 ships under escort of a 74 gun ship sailed on signal. May 2. — "We reached the Azores. June 3. — We reached the harbor of New York, after much stormy weather on the voyage. June 4- — The birthday of King George the 3'''' was cele- brated by guns fired on all the men of war and ships in the harbor, — over 300 in all. - June 7. — We landed on Staaten Island and went into Camp. Hardly had we settled for our first night on shore, before there was heavy firing, but nothing came of it. June 11. — We marched to Amboy and joined the army of Gen' Howe, meeting many German and English regi- ments on the way. June 12. — Made camp in Amboy, all looking hopelessly wasted and neglected. Popp's Journal, 1777-1783. • June i^.— The Hessiaa Yagers joined us. June £9.— The English army returned from Bruns\vick, which they had burned down, and we marched back to Staaten Island. July £3.— Alarm of an attack by the Rebels— they lost 300 prisoners and many wountled and killed, many too were drowned in crossing the river. August ;g^.— The Prisoners of War were taken to New York. September 4..— A captain and 30 men deserted from the Rebels and enlisted in the British Army. September 11.— The Grenadiers made a foray in Jersey and brought back many head of cattle and negroes. September i9.— Six of our deserters were brought from Germany and rejoined vis. October 11.— The rebel Fort Montgomery was captured, —our Grenadiers lost Capt. von Eckert, who was buried in the German Evangelical Church in New York. Oetober IS.— Went on board ship to sail up the Noith River to Albany to help Gen' Burgoyne, who is besieged near there. October 17.— Re was obliged to surrender, having no sup- plies and no prospect of succor. October 2^. — We returned to New York. October 26. — Again embarked, part of a fleet of 40 sail under cover of 2 Frigates. October 29. — Sailed from Sandy Hook. November S».— Reached the River Delaware. Norember ii2.— Sailed up to Fort Billings [BilUngsport] which was cannonaded by six English men of war for three days and nights, until it surrendered. November 18. — Landed on the Jersey shore. November ^i.— Marched into the country, seizing many liead of cattle, but not venturing too far on account of the Rebels. Nocember ^5.— Moved near Fort Redbank, which had been lost by Col. Donop, owing to his attempt to take it 8 Po2yj)'s Journal, 1777-1783. against too large a force,— he lost 180 men and 23 officers of the Hessian Regiments. We were 6000 strong with many ships in the River. The Rebels burned their ships and abandoned the Fort, so we were ferried over the river, and witli flags fljdng and bands playing marched through Philadelphia, but saw few people except negroes. December 4.— Geia' Howe with a force of from 12 to 13000 men moved out to Germantown. December 5.—W& moved into the Camp of the English troops. December ,?.— Gen' Howe returned ^^^th a large supply of cattle, provisions and cannon captured from the Rebels. December IS.— We were cpiartered in old empty houses on Front St., the rooms were large, well papered, but very cold, ha\nng no stoves to heat them. December ^;?.— Moved across the Schuylldll in very cold weather,— lay all night in the open, although it was snowing, and our suppUes of food were very scanty. Deceinber ^6".- Returned to our old quarters in the city. 1778. January ii?.— The English Major Zeidharss 0. Terwey took command [ ? ] . February ^.— A Rebel Picquet of 30 men were taken prisoners and ^^^th 30 captured officers brought into the city fi-om the outposts. March 28.—Go\. von Eyb of the Anspach Reg' came fi-om ISTew York with recruits fi-om New York. Ajyril 16.—Ma]ov v. Seyboth was made Colonel, and my Captain v. Beust' Major of the Reg'. April 16.— Gen' Clinton came from New York and took command of the entire English army. 3fay 11.— Col V. Eyb and Lt. Sicliart lefl for Germany. May iP.— Marched to Germantown and joined the Eng- lish force there after 4J hours of heat and dust which ex- hausted our men,— Germantown is half an hour long and fiill of Germans. > Ernst Friedrich Carl von Beust, who was captured with the regiment at Yorktown. Popp's Jowmil, 1777-1783. 9 Jane 8. — Marched outside the city to he re\aewedhy Lord Cornwalhti. June 10. — At 2 A.M. left Thihidelphia and emharked on a sloop the Betsy. June 11. — Passed Newcastle. June 18. — Arrived in the Hudson River, passing Staaten Island, anchored oflf New York, lay there until the 20"', — then moved through the East River to Long Island, — which supplies New York with food, for it is a fruitful country, rich in harvests of grain, fruit, cattle. The people are mostly Hollanders, loyal to the Crown and neutral in the War. "We lay near Hell Gate where Capt. v. Molitor's ^ servant fell overboard and was dro\\'iied. We were well fed and had beer every day, but the musquitoes were dreadful. Julti 9. — Sailed through Long Island Sound to Newport, in Rhode Island, where we landed. July 15. — Marched through the city and went into camp just beyond. The country is poor, but the fishing is the great industry. There are many wealthy people, and the women very handsome. July W. — Crossed over to Connanicut Island. July 29. — Returned to the mainland, on the report of a French fleet in sight, — all the batteries were fully manned. July SO. — The French fleet came into the harbor. August 5. — Many ships sunk in the harbor to keep out the French, — 3 Frigates were burned. August 8. — 8 French men of war engaged in a heavy cannonade ^\"ith the British ships and forts. Our fleet was busy signalling and many Rebels crossed at Bristol. August 10. — The French fleet left the harbor under heavy fire and sailed away. August 11. — Encamped on Tammany Hill ^ and made a strong position. Many of the Anspach Regiment deserted, ' Christian Theodor Sigismund von Molitor, who surrendered at Yorktown. ^ Tammany Hill covered the left flank of the British line. 10 Popfs Journal, 1777-1783. rather than work hard, but we exchanged shots with the Rebels who were also strengthening their position. Amjuf-t 14- — Had a \nolent storm of rain and wind for forty-eight hours, the worst in all my cami/iaigns. Ai((jusl 17.— The Rebels, 20,000 strong, under Gen' Sul- livan were in full view. August 19. — Moved to the rear of Tammany Hill to es- cape the heavy fire of the Rebel guns. August 20. — The French fleet returned, August 22 — ^but sailed away again in the night. August 29. — A sharp engagement with tlie Rebels, at 7 A.M. Adjutant General Lt. Milzenburg gave us orders to march, and \re soon came in view of the enemy, protected by stone walls, — we exchanged musketry fire until the cannon were in position and opened on them, — the enemy fell V)ack and we drove them to Windmill Hill, inflicting a heavy loss on them. August 30. — The enemy left the island, although we had only 6000 men, far less than their force. September 1. — Gen' Clinton came \ni\\ a fleet and troops to strengthen the British force, but as usual too late. September 3. — He sailed away again with ships and men. September 6. — Corporal Lindemeyer ' of Capt. v. Beust's Company was made 2°'' Lieutenant. September 19. — Admiral Byron arrived with a fleet of 10 men of war, 7 Frigates and some small Galliots, — I Avas on board the Admiral's ship witli the Band of our Regiment. October 11. — 300 Recruits joined with 20 otficers, among them Lt. Frederic Nagler and C'haplain Erb - and Captain von Dieskau. October 18. — The chaplain preached from the 37"" Psalm. Octobef)' 29. — Went into winter quarters in Newport, in old empty houses, very badly suited, and the food worse, — little bread and that made of rice and Indian corn meal, — instead of meat bad flsh, and of that not enough to thrive on and too ' Joliann Hermann Lindemeyer. '' Chaplain Johann Georg Philip Erb. C^5i OPERATIONS OF HOWE'S ARMY FROM D OF ELK TO THE BRANDYWINE, ^,v^a^ ■';:^-^r'^^^:a^,.,:^ t6>. e>s.-^t i'^yu^ je^ Oyy.^ 'ik^, «^ 4, PLAN OF PHILADEL Au^MLo^ AA«^i>-«^^j»v»n- ^majMS,, Tvtr^^ ''*r Giritte. ^iiytop, n^i^t cU^ ■^ ji^e4j^na^Kt: