Of Norsemen, Chinese Pirates and German Gunboats

My father-in-law told me of his father’s adventures as a merchant seaman. Like many young Norwegians, Alf took to the sea once he passed the age of confirmation. (In old Norway, people considered confirmation the age when a child became an adult.). This was age 13 or 14.

In the years before World War I, several Chinese ports were controlled by Western countries. For example, part of Shanghai had been run by several Western nations. Called the International Community, it was policed and governed by the  British commonwealth the United States, Denmark, Italy, France and Germany. The Germans also controlled the ports of Tsingtao, Hangkow and Tianjin

Alf  was on a ship headed for one of the German-controlled ports. They were probably sailing on a square-rigged windjammer. These sailing ships were faster than the steam ships of the time, used no fuel, and hauled bulk cargo. On the way into port, they found themselves being followed by Chinese pirates. The Norwegian ship hastened into port, pursued by the Chinese.

They made it!

Once into port, the incident with the pirates was reported immediately to the port authority. The ship’s captain gave the location of the pirates. Within minutes, a German gunboat left port to hunt down the Chinese sea wolves.

Some time afterward, the German gunboat returned to port. Hanging from its lines and railings were the Chinese pirates. The German Navy (Kriegsmarine) knew how to send a message to others who might try their hand at piracy in those waters.

German Gunboat. Lots of places from which to hang pirates.

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If you enjoyed this story, please read some of the other articles on this blog.

Heinies to America

Contrary to what many believe, Germans did not first arrive here with the Hessian troops during our Revolution. Germans started emigrating here much sooner. Some were seeking freedom from religious strife. Others were fleeing chaotic conditions in their homelands.

Germany was not a country, but a region. I twas supposedly part of the “Holy Roman Empire’ , but by the 1700s it was neither Roman, nor Holy, nor an empire. Germany was actually a region of 300 independent, autonomous entities. These included a handful of kingdoms and various principalities, baronies, bishoprics and free cities.** Within these entities were some 1,440 feudal fiefdoms .

The rulers were dictators in every sense of the word. Law barely affected them. The separation between nobility and the people was vast. Nobles felt entitled to treat the people any way they pleased.

During war time, most states conscripted by force. Along with rounding up their own citizens, they would capture foreigners passing through the area. Conscripts were treated poorly. Conditions like this caused many to try and make a new life in America.

By the time of our Revolution, German was more common than English in some parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania ( The Bumpkin State ). Once could travel from Western New Jersey deep into Pennsylvania and get along speaking German as easily as he could with English.

The Germans brought more than refugees. German tradesman made a difference in the region. Among them were journeyman millers who built mills of various types. German gunsmiths developed what would be known as the Pennsylvania (or Kentucky) Long Rifle.

When the Revolution started, many German-speaking Americans took up arms against the British.  For instance, the Battle of Yorktown is called the “German battle” because American, French and British forces had large numbers of German-speaking troops. George Washington’s provost unit was made entirely of German-speaking soldiers.

Naturally, the presence of so many Germans encouraged many Hessians to desert. Knowing how conditions were in the German states, German-Americans were more than willing to help the Hessians desert. German-speaking communities expanded as a result. Interestingly enough, many Hessians who went back toy German after the war bought passage to return to America as soon as they were discharged. Life here was that much better and that much more prosperous than life in the German states..

293 Hessians deserted on the march across New Jersey from Philadelphia at the time of the Battle of Monmouth.

More waves of German immigration arrived after the War. A major wave coincided with the Irish migration in he 1830s and 1840s.  Internal troubles in the German states encouraged people to emigrate.

Today, one in four Americans can claim some German ancestry.

As with the Irish, the smart ones, the capable ones and the industrious ones emigrated here. Lesser elements were left behind.

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Historically, the Hessians were supposed to have lost 20% of their manpower to wounds and 20% to desertion. Actually, fewer Hessians were killed. A Hessian officer would be paid a higher indemnity from the British for a dead soldier, whereas he would receive less or nothing for a deserter. Many a deserter was marked ‘dead” for sake of receiving the higher indemnity. Hessian officers had fewer casualties because they were less likely to risk their men.  On the other hand, the English and their Scottish toadies often got raked over the coals. (The New Jersey militia took special delight in putting a load of buck ‘n ball up the Scotsmen’s skirts.)

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The Hessians came from six states, only two of with were Hessian: Hesse Kassel, Hesse-Hanau , Brunswick, Anhalt Zerbst, Anspach-Bayreuth, and Waldeck. Training and abilities varied. The Hessians from both Hessen stadts were the best of the bunch. Waldeck performed in the most varied terrain and climates. Most of Brunswick’s army were captured at the Battle of Saratoga. The few remaining units guarded the Canadian border. Anhalt Zerbst mostly garrisoned Quebec and Montreal. A few joined the New York City garrison.

After the War, Anspach Bayreuth split. Part of it was absorbed into the Kingdom of Prussia.

*the political leader was the bishop or other church official
** free cities were ruled by the town council.