Friedrich Adolf Riedesel Friedrich Adolf Riedesel , Freiherr zu Eisenbach ( June 3 , 1738 , Lauterbach , Hesse – January 6 , 1800 ) was the commander of a regiment of soldiers from the Duchy of Brunswick ( Braunschweig - Wolfenbüttel ) among the German units hired by the British during the American War of Independence . They are mistakenly referred to as " Hessians " by some Americans , but were correctly identified as Brunswickers by their contemporaries . Beginning with memoirs published by one of his sons - in - law , the General came to be referred to as " von Riedesel " in American historical writing , but this is historically incorrect . From its earliest known members in the 13th century down to the present , family members rarely used the predicate " von " in their name . The patent from Emperor Leopold I in 1680 which raised them to the status of Barons ( " Freiherren " ) did not designate them as " von . " Biography . Early career . Friedrich Adolf was born in Lauterbach , Hesse , into a family of the minor German nobility ( Riedesel ) , the second son of Johann Wilhelm Riedesel , Freiherr zu Eisenbach ( 1705 - 1782 ) and Sophia von Borcke ( 1705 - 1769 ) . His birth on June 3 , 1738 and early education both took place in Lauterbach . The title of " Freiherr " was carried by all men of his lineage who reached majority , so neither the General nor his father was " the baron . " His parents disagreed about his education ; his mother wanted him prepared for a religious career , while his father sought a legal education and diplomatic service . Either of these was a proper career for a younger son . Bowing to his father ' s wishes , when 15 years old , he left for the study of law at the University of Marburg . Riedesel was an indifferent student , but spent time watching the Landgrave of Hesse ' s troops drill . An officer who had seen his interest befriended him , and later tricked him into enlisting . He was told that his father had consented to his enlistment , so at 17 he joined the Marburg battalion , only to have his allowance cut off when his angry father learned of it . The two were later reconciled , and Ensign Riedesel was granted an allowance from his father to help meet his expenses . Seven Years War . Ensign Riedesel ' s first assignment was near London . Riedesel knew no French nor English , but learned both while in England , and made friends with several English officers that he would later meet in the Americas . The unit was recalled to the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation in 1756 , for what would become the Seven Years ' War . Friedrich was attached to the personal staff of Ferdinand , Duke of Brunswick and distinguished himself at the Battle of Minden in 1759 . Riedesel also gained the attention of Frederick the Great , King of Prussia , and by 1761 , he was in command of two Brunswicker regiments as their Colonel . In August 1762 , he was wounded in battle against the French , and sent back to Minden to recover . There he was cared for by the von Massow family and nursed by their daughter Charlotte . In December the couple wed at Paderborn and settled in Wolfenbüttel , where they lived quietly for several years . During these years , Riedesel commuted to Brunswick , where he was adjutant to the duke . He also fathered three daughters : Gustava ( 1771 - 1805 ) , Frederica ( 1774 - 1854 ) , and Caroline ( 1776 - 1861 ) . American War of Independence . In 1776 , the British government began to " rent " units to fight in the American War of Independence from various German princes . The Duke of Brunswick signed a treaty to provide 4 , 000 foot soldiers and 350 heavy dragoons . On March 18 , they sailed from Stade with the newly promoted Major General Riedesel as their commander . After a stop over in England , they arrived in Quebec City on June 1 . They supported the final expulsion from Canada of the American forces during the invasion of Canada . They were then distributed for the winter through various posts in Canada . General Riedesel was put in command of all German and American Indian forces during the Saratoga campaign of 1777 . His letters to the Duke of Brunswick reveal discontent with British Generals Burgoyne and Howe . One example of this Riedesel ' s disagreements with Burgoyne came after his victory at the Battle of Hubbardton , when rebels under Seth Warner gathered to attack loyalists under Philip Skene at Castle Town , Vermont . General Riedesel had promised protection to the loyalists , and wanted to attack the rebels at once . Burgoyne stalled , however , and ordered Riedesel to continue his advance instead of stopping to fight Warner ' s militia . General Riedesel warned the Duke of Brunswick that even if the campaign went well , they could not hope to be back to Germany in 1778 . During the campaign , Riedesel showed an ability to adapt to combat in the American wilderness . He issued new orders to his army to attack in open order from cover of trees , and when forced to fight in the open , to close order and immediately charge with the bayonet . Riedesel and his wife were captured when General John Burgoyne surrendered after the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 . He was imprisoned with the Convention Army in Charlottesville , Virginia at the Albemarle Barracks . They transferred to New York , where General Riedesel spent a year on parole , before being exchanged for American General Benjamin Lincoln . The Baron commanded troops on Long Island in Winter 1780 - 81 . In 1781 , Quebec governor Frederick Haldimand named Riedesel officer in charge of the Sorel District , where he and his family stayed until his departure from North America at the end of Summer 1784 . A detailed account of his work in Sorel and in the main places along the Richelieu River can be found in the Haldimand Collection in the National Archives of Canada ( mainly in the series 136 to 139 ) . Return to Europe . General Riedesel returned to Europe in late 1783 , sailing first to England . He led the remainder of his Brunswick troops to a review by Charles William Ferdinand , Duke of Brunswick , who had become duke of Brunswick - Wolfenbüttel in 1780 , while the army was being held captive in the United States . Riedesel was promoted to Lieutenant - General in 1787 , and given command of the Brunswick troops in the southern provinces of Holland . He retired in 1793 , but was named Commandant of the city of Braunschweig . General Riedesel died there in 1800 . References . Notes . < / div >