THE PRUSSIAN

BATAlLLON ‘VON HELLWIG’

IN 1813

translated by Geert van Uythoven

Anonymous: “Ausgezeignete Thaten betreffend das Bataillons von Hellwig”:

1.

“On 8 October 1813, after a successful raid on the city Gross Sommerda, near Erfurt, Major von Hellwig was attacked by two Polish lancer regiments. Because of this much superior enemy, the guard at the gate, consisting of about twenty young infantrymen, took flight. Drummer Toullie took a musket, and manages to stop the guard by word and deed, fires himself and urges the others to follow his example. This way, the enemy was beaten back at two gates, and believing that the city was full of soldiers retreated.”

2.

“Jäger Vogel defended near Lessines a narrow road with the bayonet against four enemy cavalrymen all alone, until his calling alerted the guard which came to his aid.”

Source: Militair-Wochenblatt, 3. Jahrgang (Berlin 1818), No. 104, p.617.

© Geert van Uythoven