A Chronology of the

Appointments & Commands

of
Captain Antoni Selin
and His Association with
the Independent Corps of
Captain John Paul Schott,

Major Nicholas de Ottendorf and
Col. Charles Armand

and their Affiliated Units and Officers
 During the Revolutionary War.

 

A compilation of information with
annotations and observations

by

 

Jim W. Filipski

&

Steve Collward

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

 

            In our research into the military career of Captain Antoni Selin a number of people stand out by association with him that help shape the time period of his service in the Continental Army. Some of the associations being positive and others negative, we try to piece them all together here by using only contemporary sources from the time he saw service in America.     

            In our attempt to document the company or companies commanded by Captain Antoni Selin throughout the American War of Independence we are faced with a complicated and at times, confusing amount of data that has survived over the years.

            We found that it was virtually impossible to document his commands without doing associated research of people that were directly affiliated with him during this time. Thus a good portion of the research has also to deal with Major Ottendorf, to whose Corps he was apparently first attached, followed by Charles Armand who was appointed commander of Ottendorf's Corps following the disappearance of Ottendorf. Later to be affiliated or under command of Armand during the founding and transition of Armand's own  Independent Corps of Cavalry and Chaseussers.

            Again this "chronology of events" represents our findings which have been taken primarily from contemporary documents, records and personal letters. We felt this was the only way to cut through some of the puzzling and at times contradictory information that has been presented by some of the previous researchers of the past.

            Captain Selin's affiliation with Captain John Paul Schott appears to be more complex than what previous documentation has found. From the new research it appears that Schott was recruiting and in command of his own Independent Company ( associated with the 16 additional regiment that George Washington was given the power to form) just before or during the formation of Ottendorf's Corp. Capt. Selin upon Ottendorff's Corps formation was placed in command of Company No. 2. Supposedly Schott was in command of Company No. 3 but the newest documentation seems to show that Schott, with his own Independent Company, was attached to Ottendorf's Corps later in April of 1777.

            In some of the existing records, we have found mistakes and some suppositions that can lead to errors for future researchers. The one most prominent error is that of

Fitzpatrick in the Varrick transcripts of the Letters of George Washington. In his notations there are constant references to Selin as belonging to Moses Hazen's 2nd Canadian Regiment even in transcripts whose dates are before his true attachment to Hazen's Regiment. He was with Hazen near the end of the Revolution, 1781 to 1784, but many times when Selin is mentioned earlier in those transcripts this notation is made, leading the uninitiated to believe that is where he had his command during the war. We also noted that some officers and men in Captain Selin's Company during the early war have these similar erroneous footnotes. This affiliation  with Hazen's Regiment occurred from 1781 to 1784  so the first 4 years of his service to the United States is ignored.  In the national archives there is a list of the soldiers that served with Captain Selin apparently during the attachment with Hazen. After reviewing this I feel that this was compiled at a later date after the war because this list shows the soldiers that were  attached to Selin during the entire war. This list is still a puzzle to me and could be the reason that it was taken for granted that Captain Selin was always with the 2nd Canadian Regt. If this be the case, then the mistakes were made because of limited research by earlier authors.                                

            Great care must be taken when researching documentation to weed out these latter day induced errors. Many texts which are considered noteworthy contain errors when additional new researchers probe deeper into first hand accounts.

 

           

            For instance; Boatner's "Encyclopedia of the American Revolution" for one, contains errors when it comes to Charles Armand; some of the sources appear flawed. His quoted text of Lasseray and Heitman appear to have errors or have been mistranslated after researching Armand's personal letters to Washington and others during this time period. Placing Armand with Pulaski's Legion in May of 1777 is incorrect.

            Those who are also interested in the Military careers of John Paul Schott as well as Charles Armand may also find this manuscript helpful. I also feel it will be a help for those researching some of the lesser known officers associated with these units. I feel comfortable knowing that what we present in this paper, is an accurate account of what was taking place in this time period. Of course there are some of our own personal comments ( based on the facts) that may or may not be fully correct. These are listed separately so they are not confused with the contemporary documentation.

            Have we found the answers? Well, some, but I feel the new research has opened new questions and new avenues of research possibilities. Sometimes a small piece of evidence can change a whole way of thinking.  I feel we will be updating this information from time to time.

                                                                                                            J.W.Filipski     Jan. 19, 2003

                                                                                                             (with revision November 16, 2007)

                                                                                                                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special Thanks

            We graciously offer a word of special thanks to: Steve Gilbert, Bob McDonald,

John K. Robertson, John Rees, Thaddeus Weaver and Joseph Lee Boyle for their assistance, comments and provide guidance in our research. They are without a doubt, some of the finest modern researchers of the American War of Independnce.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preface

What we now know of Antoni Selin's military service in the American army during the
American War for Independence: 

 

            Antoni Selin was most likely the first officer to be recruited and commissioned in Ottendorf's Corps. Congress empowered Ottendorf to raise his Corps along with commissioning Antoni Selin as a Captain. Selin is to command a Company of 45 men of what could be concidered "American J”gers". It is quite possible that Ottendorf and Selin were friends or acquaintances  before the Corps was formed. Both Ottendorf and Selin petitioned Congress for money to raise Ottendorf's Corps. These funds were charged to Ottendorf's account. We have found no other mention of  any additional officers of this Corps requesting such. We feel Selin's Company was in Bound Brook, NJ by April 10th 1777, possibly because his Company of Ottendorf's Corps was fully recruited by then. He and his Company left Philadelphia on April 5th headed for Boundbook at the orders of General Washington. We know for the accounts of  the German Captain Johann Ewald, that by the 10th of April  1777 Ottendorf's Corps had arrived in Boundbrook. However Major Ottendorf with his Company of Light Infantry was still waiting in Philadelphia due to low numbers in his ranks as of April 24, 1777 There by orders of General Schyler, John Paul Schotts Independnt Company was joined to Ottendorf's Corps. Early in 1777 Washington had givin Schott the authorthy to raise soldiers for his own Independent Company as part of the "16 Additional Regiments" which Washington was empowered to raise by order of Congress.) Apparently when those companies gathered in Philadelphia in April of 1777 to be outfited and sent to the field, neither Ottendorf's own Company or Schott's Company was fully recruited. Since Major Ottendorf was to command a Corps of "Independent Companies" ( besides his own Company) Schott was joined to the Corps.

            By June 1777,  with the Corps in New Jersey, Ottendorf has disappeared and Charles Armand is given the command of Ottendorf's Corps.

            After the Battle of Short Hills, June 1777,  many of the Corps  has been killed, captured or missing. Schott's and Bauer's Companies seem to have received the worst. Schott has been taken prisoner. July 1777 shows many deserters being brought in from Ottendorf's Corps (Charles Armand commanding officer). It is quite possible after this,  Armand distances himself from much of this original Corps' "foot", concentrating on its mounted component for which he begins to recruit. Captain Selin it appears, commands what is now left of the "Foot" portion of  the "Late Ottendorf's Corps" in Armand's absences. This appears to be the case throughout the rest of 1777 and much of 1778.  Armand was recruiting heavily, especially in New England in the Spring and Summer of 1778 and appears to be absent from the "Foot" portion of the Corps.

            In August 1778, it was almost like Captain Selin has no idea of the status of Charles Armand, as well as Ottendorf , when he filed a report on the officers of the Corps, which he was now commanding. Schott reappears  on the scene in the late Fall of 1778 and the joint command of Capts. Selin & Schott begins. So does the controversy of point of rank between them and Charles Armand's newly commissioned officers. It appears that some major quarrels arise. They are split from Armand's Corps. Selin and Schott are sent to the Minisink region of New York along with Armand's and Pulaski's Corps.

            Selin and Schott now spend the winter of 1778-79 in this region commanding small frontier forts. They remain there until they are ordered to the Wyoming Valley in the Spring of 1779 to prepare for the Sullivan-Clinton Campaign.General Washington sends Captain Schott to Philadelphia for supplies for the Corps while Captain Selin marches the Corps into Wyoming. In June of 1779 Captain Selin is commanding a detachment who's job is to bring boats & supplies up the Susquehanna to Wyoming. We feel that Captain Schott leaves the Sullivan campaign sometime early into the march and Captain Selin is in command of "Schott's Corps"(It is quite possible that Schott, after leaving the campaign possibly due to illness or injury returns to Wyoming where he becomes familiar with Naomi Sill whom he marries the following year). At this point we see references to "Captain Selin's Independent Rifle Company.            Captain Selin also commanded a group of "pioneers" during the expedition that were somewhat instrumental in the discovery of the ambush that was being laid at Newtown, NY. These pioneers were working with the cover of the riflemen on the front lines.

           

 

After the end of this campaign they return and take up posts in Wyoming to help protect this frontier settlement.  Apparently a dispute in rank erupts again.This time it is  between Captain's Selin and Schott.

            In 1781 Captain Selin and his men are reassigned to Moses Hazen's 2nd Canadian Regiment and stays until the end of hostilities. He is discharged with the rank of  Major.

           

            The information that is presented here is documented and in a chronological form and we have included references or reference footnotes to back up the materials. We have also interjected some questions, opinions and comments along the way which at the time we felt necessary. The names of the people of concern have varied spellings which is common during the time period and most times we continue it's use for historical accuracy. There are notable misspellings to be found in the original quotes, which we did not correct to preserve their validity.

 

 

Annotation Notes: 

            All black text body copy signifies stated facts, quotes and contemporary materials. In the situation in which the original text was unable to be transcribed  we inserted a blank space. If the text was difficult to transcribe or questionable we inserted the "closest approximation followed by a ? mark.

 

Red text signifies links to associated footnotes and references.

 

Authors' comments, questions, speculations, observations and opinions appear in italic brown text.

 

Original "Fitzpatrick" notation appears in blue within the main text.

 

Common Abbreviations used:

(GWP)............George Washington Papers - Letters of George Washington, at the Library of Congress Electronic Digital Archives

 

To address any comments to the authors, they may be reached by e-mail
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This work is also available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format:Click Here to download

 

 

 

1776

 

            On September  6, 1776 in Congress  we find:

"The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved , That John Paul Schott , who is well recommended as an experienced officer, be appointed a captain in the continental army, with directions to raise a company as soon as possible; but, that as he may be usefully employed immediately, that he be forthwith sent to General Washington at New York, and that one month's pay be advanced to him."1

 

            November  8, 1776 Ottendorf is appointed.

 In Congress;

"Resolved , That Mynheer N. D. Ottendorf  be appointed a brevet captain in the service of the United States."

The next day in Congress we read:

"Resolved , That two months' pay be advanced to Captain Ottendorf ; and that he be ordered to repair to head quarters, near White Plains, and put himself under the command of General Washington."2

 

            On December  5, 1776 Congress Resolves  Ottendorf  to form the Independent Companies of the Corps which he will head. In Congress; "Resolved , That Captain Ottendorf  be directed to raise an independent company, to be composed of 150 privates, serjeants and corporals included:

That it be divided as follows:

The first company of 60 men, light infantry, one captain and two lieutenants; two companies of hunters, 45 privates each, to be commanded each by a captain and two lieutenants:

That Captain Ottendorf have the rank of major, that he be captain of the light infantry company, and command the whole.

That an adjutant be appointed for this corps, who is to act as quarter master and pay master, with the rank of  lieutenant, and pay of other adjutants."3 (Ottendorf is elevated to a rank of Major of the Corps & acts as Captain of the light infantry company. The term " hunters" or jaegers would be a common term for these European commanders familiar with the use of rifles.
The first year of Selin's Company's deployment seems to be more of that associated to the German Jager style then of the typical American rifleman )

 

            On December 10, 1776  Continental Congress resolved   that: "Antonie Seelim (Selin)  be  appointed a captain of a riffle (rifle) Company in the Corps commanded by Major Ottendorf." 4  (Captain Selin is appointed by Congress. At this point we could not find any documentation stating that Schott was appointed as an officer in this Corps since he wasalready  appointed by George Washington to raise his own Independent Company as part of the 16 Addtional Regiments . J.W.F. )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The Commission of Antoni Selin

December 10, 1776

 

 

 

 

 

 

I n   C O N G R E S S

 

     The DELEGATES of the UNITED STATES of New-Hamphire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, Pennsylvania, Deleware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South- Carolina, and Georgia, TO

                                                            Antonie Selim, Esquire

 

     We, reposing special Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, and Fidelity, DO, by these presents, constitute and appoint you to be Captain of the Company commanded by Major Ottendorff 

 in the Army of the United States, raised for the Defence of American Liberty, and for repelling every hostile invasion thereof.  You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of Captain.... by doing and performing all manner of Things thereunto belonging.  And we do strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under your Command, to be obedient to your orders as Captain, And you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions from Time to Time, as you shall receive from this or a future Congress of the United States, or Committee of Congress, for that purpose appointed, or Commander in Chief for the Time being of the Army of the United States, or any other your superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, In Pursuance of the Trust reposed in you.

 

     This Commission to continue in Force until revoked by this or future Congress.

 

     Dated at Philadelphia December 10th, 1776

                                                                                     By Order of the Congress,

 

                                                                                                John Hancock,  President

 

     Attest. Chas. Thomson, Secy.      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1777

 

      January 31, 1777 Washington writes to Capt. Schott with the following order:  "Sir: You have herewith your recruiting Instructions, and Warrant to draw Money to begin with.  You have Liberty to Nominate your Subaltern Officers, in doing which you cannot be too particular as your own Reputations and the good of the Service in a great measure depend upon this Choice, should it happen that upon seeing them I think them Incapable of filing the Posts to which they are nominat'd with honour, I shall not think myself bound to confirm your Choice.  Fix upon some place contiguous to where you expect to raise the greatest number of men for your Rendezvous, and let me know from time to time how you proceed and when there is a probability of your Company being Complete.  I need not mention the necessity there is of putting your Men under Training duty as fast as they are rais'd, by which they will be capable of rendering immediate Service when call'd into the Field.  Wishing you Success I am etc." 1 (Schott was selected by Washington to command a small independent company as part of the authority given to him by Congress to raise add'l battalions)

By the 1st of April of 1777 Selin's Company is complete.

The company along with it's fifers and drummers is now ready for deployment. Which would make it the first company of Ottendorff's to be in the field. Selin has Company #2 of the Corps and Schott should have Company #3 (but at this time he still is commanding a small independent company- he joins Ottendorff late in April-not by his choice)   In a letter to George Washington on March 24, 1777, Schott writes to ask him for money, arms and plankits              ( blankets?) .  He also states that he has 25 men to pay and "if I gets the Plankits I will put them in the barracks at Lancaster". (At this time Schott is in Lancaster with only 25 men that he has recruited for his company.)  In an entry of the  Journals of the Continental Congress of May 3, 1777 there states "Resolved , That Christian Mankey receive a commission as first lieutenant, and George Shoffner a commission as a second lieutenant, in Captain John Paul Schott's independent company; and that the said commissions bear date the 4th February last, the time they were appointed to act by the captain, in consequence of orders from General Washington." And, "Resolved , That Christian Frolock be appointed a second lieutenant in Captain Selim's company, of Major Ottendorf's corps." (At this time Schott is not affiliated  with Ottendorf's Corps and is acting under the orders of Washington at the command of his own Independent Company whereas Captain Selin Company is a part of Ottendorff's ) 
 ( also see notes 2,3,4 & 5)

            February 14, 1777 In Congress: "Resolved, That 500 dollars be advanced to Captain Antoine Selin, towards raising Major Ottendorf's corps, and  that the same  charged to the account of the said Major Ottendorf." 6

 

            February 22, 1777  In Congress: "Resolved, That Jost Triesback be appointed a captain, and Charles Merckle a lieutenant, in Major Ottendorff's corps." 7

 

            March 19, 1777 "That John Schrop be appointed second lieutenant, and Bartholomew Van Heer, adjutant, in the corps commanded by Major Ottendorf." 8

 

            April 4, 1777  From George Washington's General Orders:  "The detachments, commanded by Capts. O'Hara, Bicker, Talbot and Selin, to hold themselves in readiness (with two days provision) to march tomorrow morning. They will receive their orders from Major Genl. St. Clair. 9 (This would be the first deployment of Selin's Company that we have located. It is very probable that it was the first Company of Ottendorf's to be fully recruited since Ottendorf continues to recruit through May of 1777)

 

            April 9,1777  "That Jacob Bauer be appointed a captain and Lawerence Meyer a first Lieutenant, in the corps commanded by Major Ottendorf."10  

 

 

            According to Captain Johann Ewald's Journal,  by April 10th 1777  "We learned that a French major, Mr. von Ottendorff had arrived with a newly organized corps consisting of Germans and Frenchmen for the reinforcement of the post at Bound Brook." " On April 11th this hero tried his luck against us. He attacked my post at daybreak, and I was forced to withdraw across a small ravine. At ten o'clock in the morning he came again, but since Captain Wreden came to my aid at once, he was driven back with losses and we escorted him up to the enemy outposts. But since he had firmly resolved to dislodge me today, he reappeared for the third time at three o'clock in the afternoon." Ewald continues his encouters with Ottendorff's Corps in the area of Bound Brook and seems to get the upper hand: " Since the 18th of April, Mr. von  Ottendorff had prowled about at night in the ravines across the river and had fired on our posts, through which several sentries werre killed and wounded.  The enemy had also hidden several times in the barn of the preacher across the river and fired on my quarters through holes cut in the barn walls.

            Therefore I decided to draw these guests into an ambuscade.  On the 20th., several hours before daybreak, I put an amusette behind a false hedge which I had fashioned from bushes, placing it so that the barn could be pierced easily.  I sent Lieutenant Trautvetter with twelve jagers to a small hollow on this side of the river across from the parsonage, with orders to keep hidden until the Americans were dislodged from the barn by the fire of the amusette.  Then they were to rise and accompany the piece with sharp rifle fire.  All went well.  As soon as day broke, the riflemen began their harassing with their long rifles.  After the third cannon shot, the barn became silent and the enemy left it, whereupon he fell into the jagers' fire.  Since the road ran up along the river, which was not over a hundred paces wide, the jagers had the best possible range, and every jager killed or wounded his man.

            After several hours an officer with a trumpeter appeared and requested permission to take away the dead and severely wounded on a wagon.  I permitted this and asked the officer if he would not visit us again soon.   He shook his head, and they took away their dead and wounded on two wagons.  There were five dead and two badly wounded. (Capt. Johann Ewald, "Diary of the American War" A Hessian Journal, translated and edited by Joseph P. Tustin, Yale Univ. Press)

            (This is most likely Captain Selin instead of Ottendorf for a few reasons; Captain Selin's Company was deployed on April 5 based on the General Orders of the previous entry above. He was Swiss, fluent in German and the French Languages.  All his personal correspondence in our archives is written in French. It also appears that the engagements were of "foot" troops. Selin's Company was recruited as" hunters" in a word American Jaegers. In these engagements they  were opposing similar stlye troops recruited by the British from Germany Hessians Jaegers and being deployed in similar fashion.

  Ottendorf  was a Prussian (we do not know what languages he spoke) however during this period of time in he was in Philadelphia  waiting for more recruits to fill  his ranks  which incudes the attachment of Captain John Paul Schott's Independent Company as the entry for April 24th 1777 will show.   J.W.F.)

           

 

 

 

                        April 17, 1777 George Washington forms a list of Officer Apointments for sixteen Additional Battalions: Captain John Paul Schott is on this list ( appointment by Washington) 11

           

            On April 24, 1777  Major Ottendorf is in Philadelphia awaiting more recruits to fill the rest of his Company. Captain Schott with his Independent Company is also there. Captain Schott's Company is now attached to Ottendorf's Corps by orders of General Schuyler. A set of two returns now residing in the New Your State Library, show the numbers of men both in town and in the camp, for Ottendorf Independent Company and also for Schott's Independent Company with the notation that Schott's Company was joined to Ottendorf's. 12 (NYSL, Documents 914-915)

 

            April 29, 1777

"Resolved, That one thousand dollars be advanced to Major Ottendorf, for recruiting his corps of rangers; and that he be directed, forthwith, to produce a certificate from the commissary general of musters, or deputy muster master general in this department, of the number of soldiers inlisted into his respective companies." Also "Resolved, That Baron Ernst Siegsmond be appointed first lieutenant, and John Conrad Latour, second lieutenant, in the corps commanded by Major Ottendorff"13

 

            On May 10, 1777  In the Continental Congress we find;

"That there should be advanced to Major Ottendorf, for the use of his corps, the sum of 500 dollars; he to be accountable:" Also "Resolved, That Mons. Armand have a commission, with the rank and pay of a major or colonel, and that he be directed to repair to General Washington." 14

           

            May 19th 1777 Washington favors Armand to form a Partisan corps;  If he couldn't fill the Corps he was to be able to recruit from existing Regiments all French Officers that would want to serve under him.15

 

            June 11th 1777 Armand is "ordered" to take command of  Ottendorff's Corps.

            In a letter Washington  writes to Armand  June  11, 1777  "Sir: You are forthwith to take upon you the command of the Corps heretofore under Major Ottendorf and to do all the duties thereof as commanding Officer, according to the rules and regulations established for the government of the Continental Army and according to the usages of War. You will therefore endeavour, by attentive observation and inquiry, to make yourself acquainted with every kind of duty practiced in the Army, with the resolutions of Congress, the Articles of War, and all general orders and conform punctually to them. You are permitted to use your endeavours to complete your Corps to a full Regiment; the necessary Officers will be appointed, in proportion to the progress you make and the number of Men you collect. For the present you are to be under the immediate command of Major General Lincoln and to obey all his orders." 16

( Somewhere in the period of mid May to mid June 1777 Ottendorf  leaves and /or deserts  and  goes back to Europe) 

(At this point  it is not evident if Armand has a group prior to this command.  It seems as if this is a new command and was called the "late  Ottendorf's Corps" and / or after Armand added additional companies to it,  it became "Armand's Partisan Corps" or what could be called the "Old Armands Corps" but not Armand's Legion which was not formed until later in 1780).

 

"The only known detailed map of the Battle of Short Hills by Liet, Friedrich von Wagenheim of the Hessian Jaeger Corps, a German with French training in Cartography, Showing the "Avante Garde des Riflemen d'Ottendorff on two hills straddling the road a short distance in advance of the main Corps du Gen'l  Stirling" Wagenhiem " Plan de l'Affaire de Westfield, 1777 . Lib of Cong Card # G 3813.E7S3 1777.W3 Faden 75.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Battle of Short Hills

(The following are excerpts from Frederic C. Detwiller's "War in the Countryside, the Battle and Plunder of the Short Hills, New Jersey, June 1777." They are included here because of the number of  first hand accounts cited. June 26th, 1777)

 

The Fight for the American Cannon

 

            Much of the conflict  centered around the American cannon since, "in the course of the battle four field pieces were taken from Lord Sterling, again retaken, and finally lost."1

One observer wrote later from Washington's camp at Middlebrook describing how one of these cannons was subsequently saved from falling into enemy hands:"The fire growing hot and our men beginning to retreat, a British officer singly rode up to a cannon that was playing on the enemy, and with his pistols and hangar forced every man from it, then seeing Lord Sterling, he cried 'Come here you damn rebel, and I will do for you!' Lord Sterling answered him by directing the fire of four marksmen upon him which presently silenced the hardy fool....Our men recovered the field piece which their want of small arms obliged them to abandon."2

            According to the subsequent news report, the British officer who was mortally wounded in the exchange of words and fire at the cannon "was the honorable Mister John Finch, son of Earl of Wichelson, who came out this spring as a volunteer.  After he fell, his horse came over and was taken by our army." 3

Muenchausen adds that "General Lord Sterling, who was in command, had his horse shot, and General Maxwell was almost captured by the Hessian Grenadiers missing him only by  a hair's breadth."4

            Apparently according to John Montresor, "Lord Chewton, aide de camp to Lord Cornwallis had his horse shot under him" as well.5

Meunchausen's account continues: "They finally fired grape-shot at von Minnigerode's battallion, but after that they ran away into the woods."6

Colonel Lewis Willis wrote to Mr. Charles Yates in Fredericksburg, Virginia, regarding this last desperate clash  saying "Several declare that at one discharge of our cannon with cannisters shot, we thereby killed six men upon the spot."7

            Future cavalry leader Colonel Charles Armand-Tuffin, Marquis de la Rouerie, the Frenchman in command of Ottendorff's Corps and probably a mounted component of it, in particular seems to have had a direct role in the contest for the American cannon.  He  reports he had a certificate of commendation "from Lord Sterling for my conduct at the battle of short hills in the jersey--where out of 80 men, 32 were killed & taken in the action & after the corps were ordered to defend a piece of cannon which happily,  though making the rear guard in the retreat, I saved from the enemy--thus as I  may remember were the expressions of  Lord Sterling--the loss of men and the deffence of the peace of canon are the fact."8

 

The Americans' Retreat

            The flanking movement by Minnigerode's Hessian Grenadiers on the right against the American left, had produced its desired effect.  George Ewing of Maxwell's Brigade states that these men "were nearly surrounded before we were aware....We were obliged to retreat which we did in good order."9

William Grant, the Virginia rifleman tells of the ultimate fate of the majority of Ottendorff's Corps of Volunteers: "They drew up immediately in order to defend their field pieces and cover our retreat, and in less than an hour and a half were entirely cut off; scarce sixty of them returned safe out of the field; those who did escape were so scattered over the country that a great number of them could not rejoin the Army for five or six days."10

            AndrČ reports that "a troop of Light Dragoons pursued the fugitives and took 30  prisoners, killing or wounding several more."11

Johann Carl Buttner of Ottendorff's Corps gives his views of events toward the end of the battle: "When we saw that we were outnumbered and resistance was hopeless, we abandoned our cannon and baggage and fled down the other side of the hill.  Many threw away their rifles and knapsacks, and ran like hares into the forest.  I fell into a ditch and my comrades, leaving me for dead, jumped over me.  As the cannon balls and rifle bullets were falling all around me and I was afraid of being run through by the enemy that were pursuing us, I crawled on my hands and knees into some thick undergrowth nearby, and lay there till I could no longer hear any firing."12

            A British observer gives a detailed description of the scene of battle: "When the engagement began, I got upon a little hillock to see better, but an honest highlander advised me to retire into a small breastwork just by, without which I  had a mind to stick up myself as a mark for the rebels to shoot at.  I thought proper to take his advice and retired to the place he directed me to, where I had a very good view of the proceedings.  I observed a party of our  men going through   a rye field, I suppose with an intent to get into the rear of the rebels and by that means surround them, but they were met as soon as they got out of the field by about the same number of rebels.  When they were about a hundred yards from each other both parties fired, but I did not observe any fall.  They still advanced to the distance of forty yards or less, and fired again; I saw a good number of them fall on both sides.  Our people then rushed upon them with their bayonets and the others took to their heels.  I heard one of them call out 'Murder!' lustily. This is laughable if the consequence was not so serious. A fresh party immediately fired upon our people, but were dispersed and pursued into the woods....A brisk fire then begain from six field pieces the rebels had secreted in the woods, which did some mischief to our men. The engagement lasted about thirty-five minutes.  Our people took the field pieces....

            "I went to the place where I saw the two parties fire upon each other first, before the wounded were removed, but I  never before saw such a shocking scene:  some dead, others dying, death in different shapes; some of the wounded making the most pitiful lamentations, others that were of different parties cursing each other as the author of their misfortunes.  One old veteran I observed (that was shot through both legs and not able to walk), was cooly and deliberately loading his piece and cleaning it from blood. I was surprised at the sight and asked him his reasons for it.  He with a look of contempt, said, 'To be ready in case any of the Yankees come that way again."13

 

 

 

 

 

            On June 26th 1777  Captain Schott is taken prisoner in the battle of Short Hills, at Woodbridge, NJ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            From the Pennsylvania Archives we find the following;

OTTENDORFF'S CORPS, PENNSYLVANIA

Captain Anthony Selin's Company, May and June 1777

A PAY ROLL

Of Captain Antony Selins Company of the Independent Corps Commanded by Major Ottendorff Esqr due from the first of

May 1777 to June the first 1777.

(This is the earliest listing of men in Co.#2, Captain Selin's Company, that we have located to date. Although it is a Payroll for May-June of 1777, research that we have done points to a date of some time in the Summer of 1777 (most likely July orAugust 1777 *) This is based on the fact that there is the signature of Col. Charles Armand, who took command of Ottendorff's Corps on June 11th 1777, and the countersignature of Richard Humpton** at that point in charge of the 2nd Brigade -Genl. Lincoln's Division ( Lincoln had been transferred north while his Division remained in the Philadelphia area to become attached to General Stephen's then to General Wayne). Also the names on the list show men that we feel were in Co. # 1 Dreisbach's, Co.# 4 Bauer's as well as Ottendorff's own Company. This may reflect recent disorganization from the damage to the ranks during the engagements of Short Hills and Boundbrook, NJ in June of 1777.)

            *George Washington's General Orders August 6th 1777 "The pay Abstracts of every regiment and corps in the army, for the month of July, and any time preceding that month, for which they have not been made out, are to be completed and delivered to the Pay Master General by Monday next. The officers commanding regiments and corps will be answerable for the execution of this order: And every officer, who does not deliver in his abstracts, punctually by the time above assigned, may depend on being arrested, and tried for disobedience of orders; unless there are reasons, which may render it impracticable, to any to make out and deliver their abstracts by that time"

            **General Washington's General Orders July 3, 1777 "Col. Humpton will take the command of the division commanded by General Lincoln."(So at this point in time it may be possible that Selin was attached to Gen'l Lincoln's Old Division which is being commanded by Humpton... he is in the Jerseys and on way to the Philadelphia Campaigns)

 

            July 4, 1777

George Washington in his General Orders at Head Quarters, Morristown, writes;

            "The Commander in Chief approves the following sentences of a General Court Martial, held the 2nd. Inst., whereof Colonel Stewart was president, and orders them to be put in execution forthwith--viz:

George Deal of Col Armand's Independent Corps, charged with "Desertion" found guilty, and sentenced to receive 39 lashes.

            Charles Grifinger of Col Armand's Independent Corps, charged with deserting from that corps, and likewise with having deserted from the 11th. Pennsylv. regt., found guilty, and sentenced to receive 100 lashes on his bare back, for deserting from Col Armand's Independent Corps, and also to receive 50 lashes for deserting from the 11th. Pennsylv. regiment.

            John Gunsell of Col Armand's Independent Corps, charged with "Desertion," found guilty, and sentenced to receive 39 lashes on his bare back.

David Klein of Col Armand's Independent Corps, charged with "Desertion," pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to receive 39 lashes.

Wilhelm Dorn of Col Armand's Independent Corps, charged with "Desertion," pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to receive 39 lashes." 17

(These desertions took place mostly during or right after the June engagements in New Jersey {Short Hills et al} which was Armand's first Battle in the American War)

            July 10, 1777 Acting on an application to the Board Of War by Charles Armand, Richard Peters writes to George Washinton:  War Office July 10th, 1777

            "Sir, Col. D'Armand of the Corps late Ottendorff's has appplied to the Board for forty Musketts & ten Rifles to supply the like Number lost by the Soldiers.  The Board_________

wrong to comply with this requisition on the Application being made to them in the first Instance without passing under your Excellency's notice who must be the best acquainted with the Propriety & Neccesity of the Application.  Amid  necessaries lost in acutal service should beyond a doubt be  replaced; but if any neglect has happened on the Part of the Officers & the Soldiers have sold or wantonly lost their  arms or clothes & the officer has taken no Pains to recover them or enquire into the Causes of their Loss it ought to

fall upon the captain of the Companies ( or other officer in fault) & be deducted out of their Pay. Ottendorff's Corps went out of this City at least as well equipped as any in the Army & it is extraordinary that out of about one hundred men so many as fifty should want but everything.  The Commisary is ordered to box up & send the fifty Arms to Camp & gives Directions to the officer who recieves them there not to deliver them without your Permission which they make no Doubt you will grant if the measure be all right & proper but if not you will be pleased to apply the Arms elsewhere?  There is a Deficiency of Clothing to a great Amount also applied for which induces a Belief that the soldiers have sold to the Suttlers both Arms & Clothes. I have the Honour to be with the greatest Respect your very obed' Servt Richard Peters  Secy 18

           

            July 16, 1777 George Washington writes the Continental Congress War Board

from Camp near the Clove,

"Sir: I am this moment favor'd with yours of the 10th Inst.51 As I am an utter Stranger to any want of Arms in Colonel Armand's Corps, I am pleased that you have fallen upon so judicious a mode of supplying him, should it appear, upon inquiry, that he wants so many, which at present I can scarcely beleive; however, after proper examination, the necessary Steps shall be taken respecting it.

            Should Arms be granted, upon every application from Commanders of Corps or Regiments in service, all that could be imported would fall exceedingly short of supplying the Army, as the most trivial disorder or wanton negligence would (in general) be the cause of requesting such supply. Instances of the Soldiers selling their Cloathes or Arms to Sutlers, have not as yet come under my Notice; should they in future, I shall fall upon the most effectual Method to prevent a Repetition of them" 19

[Note 51: This letter. dated July 10, 1777, is in theWashington Papers. The Board of War suspected carelessness in the need of these arms for Armand's Corps and, while complying with the requisition, ordered the officer who received them not to deliver them until he obtained Washington's approval. If Washington disapproved, the arms (50 stands) could be issued wherever the Commander in Chief thought proper.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            August 7, 1777, General Orders  George Washinton mentions some trouble that Captain Dreisback has got himself into; (Dreisback was Captain of Company #1 Ottendorf's Corps now, Armand's Corps)

Head Quarters, Roxboro, August 7, 1777.

            "Capt. Friesback of Col. Armand's corps, charged 1st. with "Absenting himself without leave; 2nd. When being ordered to join his company when under arms, answer'd, he had time enough, and declined doing it; 3rd. When being put under arrest, made use of bad language, and treated his Colonel in a manner unbecoming an officer; 4th. When the corps was ordered to march into Amboy, he uttered discontent loudly before the soldiers, and wanted to know why they were returning to Amboy." Acquitted of the first, and found guilty of the second, third and fourth charges, and sentenced to be reprimanded in General orders, and to ask pardon of Col Armand in the presence of the officers of his corps.

            The Commander in Chief wishes all officers to be impressed with this truth, that nothing is more essential in military service than an exact subordination, and ready obedience to the commands of superior officers; that it is this which gives life and vigour to an army: that a contrary conduct must clog and impede every movement, and excite a spirit of discontent, disobedience and licentiousness among the troops; that in this view, the conduct of Capt. Friesback must be deemed highly criminal, and of a very dangerous tendency." 20

 

            August 20, 1777 , George Washington's General Orders

The order, by which Col. Armand's Corps was annexed to Genl. Conways brigade is countermanded. 21(We still have not been able to  find the orders to annex.)

           

            September 1, 1777

George Washington to William Maxwell

Head Qurs., Wilmington, September 1, 1777.

"Colo. Armand has complained to me of some Insults, offered him by a Lieutenant Colonel of Horse, whose name he does not mention, it will be easy for him to name the Gentleman to you, and you will order a Court of Inquiry upon the matter." 22

          September 2, 1777

George Washington to William Maxwell-Head Qurs., Wilmington, September 2, 1777.

            "Sir: I have your two favours of this date.

In consequence of the remonstrance from the Inhabitants near Elk, I have commanded Armand's Corps to repair immediately to this place. If any of the people who have been injured can point out the particular Persons, either Officers or Soldiers, they shall be made Examples of." 23

 

            September 2, 1777

George Washington to Charles Armand-Tuffin, Marquis de la Rouerie,

Head Qurs., Wilmington, September 2, 1777.

 

"Sir: I have a complaint lodged against your Corps by a number of the reputable Inhabitants in the Neighbourhood of Elk.

As I find that your men cannot be restrained from committing Violences while in the Country, I desire you will immediately march them to this Town."24

 

            September 4, 1777 A memorial from Captain Jacob Bower, and of Charles Seitz, an adjutant in Major Ottendorf's corps, were read, desiring leave to resign their commissions.25

 

1778   

 

            March 23, 1778

George Washington- General Orders

Head Quarters, V. Forge, Monday, March 23, 1778.

 

"At a General Court Martial whereof Colonel Swift was President (March 16th. 1778.) Serjeant John Henry Leiders of the late Armand's Corps, tried for wounding with his sword one Henry Trautcher found guilty of a breach of Article 5th. Section 18th. of the Articles of War, but in consideration of some alleviating circumstances only sentenced to be reprimanded by the officer commanding the Corps he belongs to." 1

            March 25, 1778

George Washington to Charles Armand-Tuffin, Marquis de la Rouerie

Head Quarters, Valley Forge, March 25, 1778.

 

"Sir: I yesterday received your letter from York Town. You must have misunderstood me, if you thought I gave you permission to raise a new and seperate Corps. I told you I had no power to grant such a request; but that if you could obtain permission from Congress [or of the Comee. of Congress in Camp] I should have no objection [to the measure and to your Inlisting Prisoners.] I am certain I never gave you any encouragement to inlist deserters, because I had ever found them of the greatest injury to the Service, by debauching our own Men and had therefore given positive orders to all recruiting Officers, not to inlist them upon any terms. The Congress have since made an express Resolve against it, and also against inlisting prisoners.

As you say your two Lieutenants were promised the Rank of Captains by the Marquis de la Fayette, I cannot do any thing in that matter until I have seen the Marquis who is expected from Albany shortly. When the Committee of Congress found that the Corps formerly commanded by you, were reduced below 50 Men, they determined to reduce it and to throw the Men into some Regiment.

 

I hope you will understand me clearly, [when I again assure you, that I have no powers to authorize the raising of New Corps] and as you are upon the spot, you will have a good opportunity of making application to the Congress for such a command as you seem desirous of having." 2

 

            March 27, 1778

George Washington to Alexander McDougall,

Head Quarters, Valley Forge, March 27, 1778.

"Dear Sir: I opened the inclosed to take out the Letter for the commanding Officer at Albany, having an opportunity of sending it immediately there by Colo. Armand." 3                        

 

            May 17th., 1778, At a Board of War,

Present, Colo. Pickering, Mr. Peters, Mr. Duer.

"That Colo. Armand, Marquis de la Rouerie, at present commanding the Independent Corps, formerly raised by Major Ottendorf, be authorized to recruit for the purpose of compleating the said Corps, Deserters from theEnemy's foreign Troops, French Men, and others not owing Allegiance to the King of Great Britain, upon the same Terms as other Troops raised on the Continental Establishment for three Years or during the War.That the said Corps be distinguished by the Name of The Free and Independent Chasseurs.

That it consist of Three Companies, formed and Commanded as follows, vizt.:

Each company to consist of one Captain, 1 Captn. Lieut., 2 Lieuts., 8 Sergeants, 8 Corporals, 2 Drummers, 128 Privates.Regimentary Officers, 1 Colo., 1 Major, 1 Regimental Standard Bearer, or Ensign Major, with the Rank and Pay of Lieut.

So that the whole will be composed as follows, viz:

*          One Colonel                          *          24 Sergeants                                                             

*          1 Major                                  *          24 Corporals                                                

*          3 Captains                             *          6 Drummers or horn sounders