Ludwig von Wurmb Ludwig von Wurmb ( 10 May 1736 – 5 April 1813 ) 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 . Life . Born into a noble family , he began military service during the Seven Years ' War , 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 " .