My Tin Soldier Collection - SYW Hessians

Horse - Prinz Wilhelm

2008-02-28T22:51:00.000-08:00

Inhaber
1714 Prinz Maximilian, 1753 Prinz Wilhelm, 1760 Erbprinz, 1774 Carabinier-Corps

Unit History
The regiment was formed in 1688. It was engaged at Hastenbeck, Rheinberg, Krefeld, Lutterberg, Sonderhausen, Bergen, Minden, Detmold, Raumberg, seige of Marburg, Fulda, Kloster Kamp, Duderstadt, Langenfalza, Scheidingen, Ziegenheim, Offendorf, Arensberg, Wilhelmstal, Gruningen, Rauheim, Burggenminden. A regular unit used extensively in the Western theatre 'Kleinkrieg'.
At Bergen, April 1759, the regiment was in the left column of the Anglo-Allied army. The infantry in the column were fed into the initial assaults on Bergen and beaten back while the cavalry protected their flank.
At Minden, August 1759, two squadrons fought on the left flank in the first line brigaded with Hammerstein Horse (Hanoverian), Lieb (Hessian), and Holstein Dragoons (Prussian). The brigade was under the command of Lieutenant-General Duke von Holstein.

The unit was also known as the 'Rote Dragoner' and is shown wearing a temporary field sign of oak leaves. The use of the field sign is due to the French cavalry having units with similar coat and facing colours. Was one of the parent regiments of the 1902 Hussar Regiment König Humbert von Italien (1st Kurhessisches Regiment) No.13.

Comments
This is one of my ‘Bergen’ units. The figures are Front Rank British/Hanoverian cavalry without a musician. Using the musician from the range is not possible as the GR monogram is far too noticeable to convert. A better figure for a musician would be the Prussian Cuirassier trumpeter. Unit painted in 2003.

Sources
Image: http://www.britishbattles.com/seven-years/kloster-kamp.htm
Tetx: Pengel & Hurt, German States in the Seven Years War 1740 to 1762, Imperial Press
K. Trenkle, Nix wie weg… die Hesse komme, Verlanganstalt Marburg

IR Prinz Wilhelm

2008-02-28T22:47:00.000-08:00

Inhaber
1680 Prinz Wilhelm, 1760 Erbprinz, 1783 Prinz Friedrich, 1785 Erbprinz

Unit History
In the Seven Years War, the regiment was present at Hastenbeck, Krefeld, Lutterberg, Düsseldorf, Landernhagen, Bergen, Minden, Kloster Kamp, Brücker Mühle, and Villinghausen.
At Hastenbeck, July 1757, the regiment initially fought in the first line of the center. Later during the battle, it stormed a French battery.
On May 26 1758, the regiment was part of Wangenheim's corps encamped at Dorsten. On May 31, this corps accompanied Ferdinand in his offensive on the west bank of the Rhine. On June 23, the regiment took part to the battle of Krefeld where it was deployed on the right wing under the command of the Erbprinz (hereditary prince) of Brunswick. On October 10 at Lutterberg, the regiment fought in the first line of the centre as part of the Diepenbroick Brigade.
At Bergen, April 1759, the unit, along with the Hanoverian regiments of Linztow (7B), Post (10A) and Fersen (13A), was part of Prinz Ysenburg's corps that led the assaults on the village of Bergen. After repeated attempts to storm the village, the Hanoverian and Hessian troops withdrew. Prinz Ysenburg was killed leading repeated assaults up a steep slope against abattis around the village. The attacks went in without artillery support; the artillery was still in the rear of the baggage train. The French units in Bergen were strengthened by a reserve formed from the regiments Piémont (No. 4), Alsace (No. 36), Rohan-Montbazon, Royal-Roussillon (No. 37), and Beauvoisis. These reserves blunted the repeated attacks.
At Minden, August 1759, the regiment was located in the centre in the second line, along with the Hessian Toll, Prinz Anhalt, Gilsa, Leibgarde zu Fuss, Prinz Karl and Mansbach regiments. All units were part of Lt.-Gen. von Wutginau's brigade that supported the surprise advance of von Spörcken's corps.
At Kloster Kamp, the regiment took the heaviest losses of all the Allied units that participated.
During the American War of Independence the regiment retained the name Erbprinz after its Inhaber at the time. The regiment fought at Fort Washington and remained stationed there until 1781 once the Fort was captured. Captured at Yorktown, the regiment returned to Hessen in 1783.
The regiment was disbanded in 1806.

Comments
The regiment could easily be confused with the Prussian IR Prinz v. Preußen (No. 18). The new Hessian GMB Flags are beautiful.

Sources
Pengel & Hurt, German States in the Seven Years War 1740 to 1762, Imperial Press K. Trenkle, Nix wie weg… die Hesse komme, Verlanganstalt Marburg

IR Mansbach

2008-02-28T22:38:00.000-08:00

Inhaber
1736 Waldenheim, 1744 Mansbach, 1763 Grafendorf, 1767 Prinz Sachsen-Gotha, 1776 Trümbach, 1778 Bose

Unit History
The regiment was formed in 1701 by von Schöpping. From 1746 to 1756, the regiment was loaned to Britain and located in Scotland fighting at Culloden. During the Seven Years War, the unit was present at Hastenbeck, Krefeld, Bergen, Minden, and Villinghausen.

At Bergen, April 1759, the regiment was part of the vanguard under Ferdinand of Brunswick. The regiment, along with the Brunswick Behr and Imhoff regiments supported by the Royal Horse Guards (3 squadrons), 3rd Dragoon Guards (2 squadrons), 2nd Royal North British Dragoons (2 squadrons), and Reusch Hussars (2 squadrons), advanced in support of the left flank attack on Bergen.
At Minden, August 1759, the regiment was located in the centre in the second line, along with the Hessian Prinz Karl regiment. Both units were part of Lt.-Gen. von Wutginau's brigade that supported the surprise advance of von Spörcken's corps.
During the American War of Independence the regiment was called by the name Trümbach after its Inhaber at the time. Was sent to North America in 1776 and later in 1778 the unit changed its name to von Bose. In North America, the unit was stationed in 1778 in Savannah, in 1780 in Charleston and was captured at Yorktown in 1781.
Was one of the parent regiments of the 1902 Imperial Army 83rd I.R.

Comments
The uniform changed in the 1750’s becoming more Prussian in appearance as blue trousers were replaced by white. I chose to paint the troops post 1760 because I can then use these troops as Hessians in the AWI. The troops can easily be confused with those from Hesse-Darmstadt. The only noticeable differences between the two troops are the red pom-poms and turnbacks. The new Hessian GMB Flags are beautiful. Unit painted in the spring of 2005.

Sources
Text: Pengel & Hurt, German States in the Seven Years War 1740 to 1762, Imperial Press
K. Trenkle, Nix wie weg… die Hesse komme, Verlanganstalt Marburg

IR Gilsa

2008-02-28T22:28:00.000-08:00

Inhaber
1734 Prinz Maxmilian, 1753 Furstenberg, 1759 Gilsa, 1765 Knyphausen

Unit History
Formed in 1684. From 1746 to 1756, the regiment was loaned to Britain and located in Scotland fighting at Culloden. During the Seven Years War, it was present at Hastenbeck, Sonderhausen, Lutterberg, Bergen, Minden and Vellinghausen.

In 1760, the unit was converted into a Fusilier regiment adopting the Prussian style fusilier helm as part of the reforms introduced by Friedrich II of Hessen-Cassel on his ascension to the Landgrafship. As part of the change to a fusilier regiment, the cuff and lapel colours changed from straw to black and the Prussian fusilier cap with a straw coloured bag was adopted. The flag shown is that after 1760 and was carried in the American War of Independence. During the SYW the unit was under the command of Lt.-Gen. Stein.
At Bergen, April 1759, the regiment was part of the right column under Lt.-Gen. Herzog Holstein. The regiment, along with the Erbprinz regiment and supported by the Finckenstein Dragoons, Holstein Dragoons, and Reusch Hussars, covered the right flank near Bad Vilbel clearing the wood of Saxons in support of the attack of the left flank on Bergen.
At Minden, August 1759, the regiment was located in the centre in the first line, along with the Brunswick Imhoff regiment. Both units were in Lt.-Gen. von Imhoff's brigade that supported the surprise advance of von Spörcken's corps. In addition, the battalion was brigaded with the Hessian Grenadiers and the Hessian regiment Prinz Wilhelm. The brigade was under the command of Major General von Einsiedl under the direction of Lieutenant General von Imhoff.
During the American War of Independence the regiment was known as von Knyphausen after its Inhaber at the time. Sent to North America in 1776 where most of the regiment was captured at Trenton in December 1776. Was one of the parent regiments of the 1902 Imperial Army 82nd I.R. or 2nd Kurhessisches.

Comments
This is one of only two fusilier regiments in the Hessian army. Given the ratio of fusiliers to regular infantry, I figured that I needed at least one in my Hessian force. This is the only Hessian fusilier unit at Bergen. As you might be able to see the uniform and flag is post 1760. The unit could easily be confused with the Prussian Füsilier-Regiment Herzog Karl v. Württemberg (No. 46). The new Hessian GMB Flags are beautiful. Unit painted in the spring of 2005.

Sources
Pengel & Hurt, German States in the Seven Years War 1740 to 1762, Imperial Press
K. Trenkle, Nix wie weg… die Hesse komme, Verlanganstalt Marburg

IR Kanitz

2008-02-27T07:56:00.000-08:00

Inhaber
1753 Kanitz, 1759 Malsburg, 1766 Ditfurth, 1789 Hanstein

Unit History
The regiment was formed in 1753. The unit was present at Sanderhausen, Lutterberg, Bergen, Dransfeld, Wetter, Korbach, Klosterkamp, Brandelear, and Wilhelmstal.

At Sanderhausen, July 1758, Prinz Ysenburg was forced to draw his converged grenadiers and this unit, Kanitz, from his centre to reinforce a crumbling left flank; leaving only the Hessian militia in the centre. The French commander, Duc de Broglie, seeing this, ordered the regiments Rohan-Montbazon (No. 32), Beauvoisis (No. 41), Royal-Bavarie (No. 86) and Royal-Deux-Ponts (No. 92), all of which had exhausted their powder, to bayonet charge the centre. These regiments managed to collapse the Hessian militia troops, forcing the Allies to withdraw.
At Bergen, April 1759, the unit, along with the Hanoverian regiments of Linztow (7B), Post (10A) and Fersen (13A), was part of Prinz Isenburg's corps that led the assaults on the village of Bergen. After repeated attempts to storm the village, the Hanoverian and Hessian troops withdrew. The Prinz was killed leading repeated assaults up a steep slope against abattis around the village without artillery support; the artillery was still in the rear of the baggage train. The French units in Bergen were strengthened by a reserve formed from the regiments Piedmont (No. 4), Alsace (No. 36), Rohan-Montbazon, Royal-Roussillon (No. 37), and Beauvoisis. These reserves blunted the repeated attacks.
Shipped to North America in 1776 and fought at Fort Washington, White Plains and Newport. A regular unit disbanded in 1797.

Comments
The uniform is very similar to the Prussian so they are often used in my games as additional Prussian troops. The buff/pale orange facings make the unit unlike any Prussian unit that served at the time. The closest match is interestingly the same named I.R. Kanitz (No. 2). That regiment also has orange facings but straw vest and trousers instead of the white worn by the Hessians. GMB Flags now have updated flags for the unit which are beautiful. Unit painted in the spring of 2005.

Sources
Pengel & Hurt, German States in the Seven Years War 1740 to 1762, Imperial Press
D. Cookman, Sandershausen 1758, Battlefields Vol. 1 Issue 6
K. Trenkle, Nix wie weg… die Hesse komme, Verlanganstalt Marburg

Artillery

2008-02-27T07:52:00.000-08:00

Inhaber
1758 Oberst Schluter & Huth, 1761 Oberst v. Gohr, 1762 Major Lempe

Unit History
The regiment was formed in 1610. The artillery took part at Minden, the siege of Munster, Warburg, Villinghausen, and Kassel. The unit later served as the 1st Kurhessisches Feldartillerieregiment No. 11.
With the opening of the Seven Years War, the Hessian battalions each had two 3-pounder cannon with three horses per cannon and an accompanying 3-horse ammunition carriage. Each guns was served by 11 artillerymen, had a well-staffed artillery headquarters and support train. With the infantry reorganization of 1760, nothing changed except that the heavy artillery park grew from about 20 guns to 36.

Comments
The uniform is very similar to the Prussian so they are often used in my games as an additional Prussian battery. The only differences are that the Hessians are in blue trousers and waistcoat while the Prussians are generally in white. The Gabons are from the plastic Revell kit for Napoleonic Siege equipment. Unit painted in the spring of 2005.

Sources
Text: Pengel & Hurt, German States in the Seven Years War 1740 to 1762, Imperial Press
K. Trenkle, Nix wie weg… die Hesse komme, Verlanganstalt Marburg

Freicorps Gerlach

2008-02-27T06:08:00.000-08:00

Inhaber

1756 Gerlach

Unit History
The Freicorp was supposedly raised in 1756 by its Inhaber, Gerlach. If it existed, it would have been used extensively in the Kleinkrieg by the Hessians. It was disbanded at the end of the Seven Years War.

Comments
The figures used are Austrian Front Rank. The contrast between the mid-blue and green is striking. The troops are definitely not Jägers in their appearance. The existence of the unit is questionable because there are no specific primary references to the unit. The only reference is the Sturm card image.

Sources
Text: Pengel & Hurt, German States in the Seven Years War 1740 to 1762, Imperial Press

“Germany fears all; Austria risks all; Bavaria hopes for all; Prussia attempts all; Mayence sells all; Portugal watches all; England wants to do all; Spain confuses all; Savoy distrusts all; Mercury mixes with all; France buys all; The Jesuites are into all; Rome blesses all; If God does not provide for all, The devil will take it all away."
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