Dear List Users:
Does any one researching the Casper Cable (the Hessian) line know of any
connection between the Trenton Hessian Battle Flags captured at Trenton in
December 1776 being retaken at Johns Island in June 1779 where Casper Goebel
deserts the Hessian army during the same month? Here's some information I
found:
From the book "THE HESSIANS and Other German Auxiliaries of Great
Britain in
The Revolutionary War" by Edward J. Lowell, originally published by
Harper &
Brothers, New York, 1884; republished by Heritage Books, 2000:
Page 241:
"One or two incidents occurred during this campaign [Battle at John's Island
and Beaufort] which especially concerned the Hessians. At a place called
Stono Ferry a small fortification had been erected, originally as a tete de
pont. It was separated by an inlet from John's Island, and the bridge which
it once protected had been removed. The fortification was occupied by the
Hessian Regiment von Trumbach and by one battalion of Highlanders, in all
about five hundred men. This post was attached on the 19th of June, 1779, by
Lincoln's army. The Hessians at first gave way, but were supported by the
Highlanders. They then rallied and renewed the battle. The Americans
retreated before the arrival of German and Scotch reinforcements.
It was about this time that two different engagements occurred in the inlets
about John's Island between Hessians, using their field-pieces, and small
vessels or galleys of the enemy. On each occasion the Hessians were
successful, and caused the retreat or destruction of the vessels engaged. It
is said that on one of these, named the Rattlesnake, were retaken sundry
cannon and flags which had been captured at Trenton with Rall's brigade. How
these trophies came to be in South Carolina is not mentioned."
Then, in the German translation of June 1779 Monatliche List for Grenadier
Regiment by Noah G. Good that appeared in Professor Raymond Cable's article
in the 1884 journal of the Johanne Schwalm Historical Society said:
"Captured:
2 officers, colonel kohler and gahndrich pauly…. were on the ……. (name of
transport) on the way from New York to the Regiment and were captured and
taken to Boston as reported. In the same event, 2 junior officers and 50
privates who were captured at Trenton, and of the rebels, 1 junior officer
and 4 privates reverted."
According to it's website, The Rattlesnake is currently at a maritime museum
in Jacksonville, FL. The website says:
"The Revolutionary War privateer Rattlesnake was designed in 1779-80 by John
Peck, a Boston naval
architect....Little is known of her career except that is was brief. Late in
1781, it was captured by the British frigate Assurance (44 guns) and taken
into the Royal Navy as the Commorant (14 guns). Sometime around 1784 it was
renamed Rattlesnake and soon afterwards was sold out of the British Navy.
I thought this was an interesting coincidence and wondered if anyone else had
picked up on this.
Cindy Luckens