Monhaupt, Ernst

MONHAUPT, ERNST

by Geert van Uythoven

Prussian service 1790 - 1812

One of the most distinguished Prussian artillery officers ever, but also remaining unknown to the public, Ernst Monhaupt was born in Minden on 11 April 1775. His father was a regimental surgeon in the Infanterie-Regiment von Lossaw. After his dead, Monhaupt came to Potsdam, and here began his military career. At this time the whole Prussian horse artillery was garrisoned here, and on 1 May 1790 Monhaupt joined the company of Major von Anhalt.

Monhaupt was present during the ill-fated campaign into the Champagne 1792. After the campaign, as a bombardier, Monhaupt was send to the Army of the Rhine with a battery of the company of Captain Lange. Being part of the advance guard in 1793, he took part in the engagements of Waldalgesheim, Flörsheim, and on the Karlsberg. With Von Hohenlohe’s corps, he was present in the combats of Limbach, Eschweiler, Klembach, and the one on the Scheerhöle.

For the 1794 campaign he was assigned to the corps of Count Kalckreuth. His battery was in the first line in the battle of Kaiserslautern, took part in several outpost engagements, and finally participated in the rear-guard fight near Kreutz. On the meanwhile, Monhaupt had been promoted to NCO. His exceptional behaviour brought him to the attention of the commander in chief of the horse artillery, who recommended him to General von Tempelhof to follow education at the Artillery Academy. On 1 June 1796 he was promoted 2nd lieutenant.

Monhaupt served in the horse artillery battery of Captain von Hahn when the Prussian army entered war again ten years later. Part of the Corps of Fürst von Hohenlohe the battery fought in the battle of Jena 1806. Acting in two parts, Monhaupt commanded four guns attached to the detachments of General von Holzendorf. He followed the general retreat, and arriving at Magdeburg became part of the rear guard commanded by General von Blücher. Participating in all combats in Mecklenburg, he met the fate of the complete corps at Lübeck (Capitulation of Ratkau). Monhaupt left for Memel trough Denmark.

With the reorganisation of the Prussian army after the peace of Tilsit, Monhaupt was promoted 1st lieutenant, and assigned to the horse artillery battery of the guard. According to his place of birth however, he was a subject of the newly created Westphalia, and therefore risking to be claimed for service there. This situation caused Monhaupt to ask for his dismissal in the Prussian army during the year 1812, and to leave for Russia just like so many other fellow officers.

Russian service 1812 - 1814

Arriving in Russia, Monhaupt was appointed captain and chef of the 1st Horse Artillery Battery, and also commander in chief of the Artillery Brigade of the Russo-German Legion (RGL). His experience, knowledge and organisational talents were put to good use by ordering him to organise the artillery of the RGL. In these circumstances a difficult task. But despite the severe weather and short span of time Monhaupt was able to raise two serviceable horse artillery batteries out of the material available, and the necessary amount of untrained horses. The crews were formed out of prisoners of war of the Rheinbund contingents serving in Napoleon’s Grande Armée during his Russian campaign. These were mostly infantrymen volunteering for service in the RGL, and had to be trained in serving the guns and mending the horses, even without the aid of other officers and NCO’s with artillery experience. Despite all these difficulties, Monhaupt’s batteries made such a good impression during the inspections, that they even draw the attention of the Russian Emperor himself. Therefore, while marching to Germany, Monhaupt was promoted lieutenant-colonel.

During the campaign of 1813, the RGL was part of Count Wallmoden’s Corps fighting along the lower Elbe river. The observation of Davout’s forces in and around Hamburg needed much activity and carefulness, but provided seldom opportunities for bigger encounters. During a few that did take place, especially Vellahn (21 August) and Göhrde (16 September), Monhaupt distinguished himself in these engagements, especially at the Göhrde were he cut off the French retreat with his artillery, directing them personally. As a result he was promoted colonel in the first months of 1814. Marching to the southern Netherlands that same year, a treaty close between Russia and Prussia transferred the RGL back to Prussian service, including Monhaupt, who was recommended by Wallmoden.

Prussian service 1815 - 1834

During the Hundred days, Monhaupt held command of the artillery of the 3rd German Army Corps (14 April 1815). He fought in the battles of Ligny (16 June 1815), and at Wavre on 18 and 19 June, again distinguishing during unfavourable circumstances. With the war finally ended, a number of influential officers proposed to King Friedrich Wilhelm III that Monhaupt should receive command of the guard artillery. This was not to be; the king, stating that he did not want to add even more advantages to the ‘promotional advantages’ Monhaupt already had received during his Russian service. So the reorganisation of the Prussian artillery brought Monhaupt command of the 3rd Artillery Brigade, a post he held for thirteen years.

Despite his favour for the horse artillery, he used all his qualities for bringing the artillery entrusted to his command to a high standard and tactical perfection, putting much energy in the training of the crews and batteries, greatly improving their performance. He also put much energy in promoting his views about the use of artillery, emphasising the various tactical uses that could be made of the artillery arm. He wanted to make of the artillery an arm that would be able to act on an equal level as the infantry and cavalry, and above all he wanted the horse artillery to be special: he had a very high opinion about its offensive powers, and he believed that it had a great future operating in close cooperation with the cavalry. His ideas were indeed very modern and well-thought, but the way he tried to impose them on others were the cause of much resistance; he had a dominant, grim, and intolerant nature. This brought him much opposition, and harsh critics of his written work. However, experience and logic thinking, after a while, illustrated that most of his ideas were indeed useful and great improvements. Aided by the fact that over time more and more officers had served under Monhaupt, being influenced by his ideas. And these officers generally acknowledged the value of everything thought to them by their tutor. His work, on paper and orally, greatly influenced the development of the artillery arm, and not only the horse artillery.

In 1829, Monhaupt was promoted major-general and appointed commander of the fortress-city Wesel. During the Revolution of July, he acted vigilant and careful, prepared for all cases. Plagued by sickness, mainly caused by the exhausting efforts during the winter of 1812, caused him finally to ask for his dismissal in 1834, after nearly forty-four years of service. His request was granted and promoted lieutenant-general, Monhaupt finally left the army. His dead only months later clearly illustrated that he only left service when he felt that his strength had left him completely.

He died 19 February 1835 of a nerve impact [‘Nervenschlag’], 59 years old.

Published work:

Of Monhaupt the following was published; often anonymous as was the habit that time, so he probably wrote even more:

- (Anonymous), “Die reitende Artillerie, was sie ist, sein sollte und sein konnte” (Berlin 1818)

- (Anonymous), “System der reitende Artillerie” (Berlin 1823)

- Monhaupt, “Ueber den englischen Sechspfünder”, in ‘Militair-Wochenblatt’, 8. Jahrgang (Berin 1823) pp.2843-2846

- (Anonymous), “System der Feld-Artillerie zu Fuβ” (Berlin 1825)

Posthumously, taken from his inheritance, the following was published:

- Monhaupt, “Ueber den Gebrauch der reitenden Artillerie” (Berlin 1836)

- Monhaupt, “Taktik der reitenden Artillerie” (Berlin 1837)

- Monhaupt, “Die reitende Artillerie im Cavalleriegefecht” (Berlin 1838)