Overview
Leopold Philip de Heister was a Hessian Commander-in-Chief who served with the British during the American Revolutionary War. Born in 1707, he had already fought in many European campaigns before he came to North America. Heister commanded the first group of roughly 8,000 German troops hired by the British Government for service in the war. These troops landed at Staten Island in early July 1776. Heister commanded the center of the British line at the Battle of Long Island and personally received the sword of General William Alexander. He also led German troops at White Plains, New York, on October 28, 1776. Disagreements with General William Howe and the Hessian defeat at Trenton on December 26, 1776, led to Heister’s recall in 1777, and Wilhelm von Knyphausen succeeded him. Heister died in Hesse on November 19, 1777.
Essential Facts
- Also Known As: Leopold Philip von Heister.
- Significance: Leopold Philip de Heister is important to American History for his role in leading Hessian troops during the early years of the American Revolutionary War.
Biographical Notes
Pre-War
- Leopold Philip de Heister was born in 1707 and died in 1777.
- Von Heister had fought in many European campaigns before he served in North America.
Hessian Commander-in-Chief
- Heister served as the Hessian Commander in Chief during the early part of the American Revolutionary War.
- He commanded the first group of nearly 8,000 Hessians hired by the British Government to support the British war effort.
Battle of Long Island
The Battle of Long Island was fought from August 27 to 29, 1776, after General George Washington moved the Continental Army toward New York to defend the city from General William Howe. The British landed at Gravesend Bay, discovered that the Bedford pass was poorly guarded, and moved around the American left flank. General James Grant distracted General William Alexander on the Bay Road, while General Heister attacked near Flatbush. The British victory caused heavy American losses and forced Washington to evacuate the army to Manhattan Island.
- General Leopold Heister and his troops landed on Staten Island in early July 1776.
- On August 26, 1776, Heister and his troops took a position at Flatbush on Long Island. They formed the center of the British line that was preparing to attack the Americans who were positioned in front of Brooklyn Heights.
- Heister and his men remained at Flatbush until early on the morning of August 27.
- Before daylight on the 27th, Heister started bombarding the American position near the Flatbush Road with his artillery. This was a diversion, meant to keep the Americans fixated on the Hessians, while General Howe led his troops through Jamaica Pass and marched around the left side of the American line.
- After Heister received word that General Henry Clinton had captured the pass near Bedford, he ordered Colonel Carl von Donop and his troops to advance. Heister and his men followed.
- Heister’s advance put pressure on American forces who were guarding the Flatbush Road.
- American forces under the command of General John Sullivan were trapped between Heister (at the front) and Clinton (at the rear).
- The Americans fought from about 9:30 in the morning until noon before the survivors surrendered.
- Heister later took General William Alexander, Lord Stirling, and troops as prisoners after their attack against General Charles Cornwallis failed.
- Heister received Alexander’s sword in the surrender.
Battle of White Plains
The Battle of White Plains was fought on October 28, 1776, after General William Howe moved through Westchester County to force Washington’s Army from its defenses near Kingsbridge. Washington withdrew to White Plains, where General Alexander McDougall’s troops occupied Chatterton’s Hill. Howe changed his plan and attacked the hill with British and Hessian troops. Although the Americans resisted strongly, militia troops fled, McDougall withdrew, and Washington later moved to a stronger position north of White Plains.
- Heister commanded the left column of General William Howe’s Army during the advance toward White Plains. His column was composed mainly of Hessian troops.
- Howe marched with Heister’s column as the army moved from Scarsdale toward the American lines on October 28, 1776.
- Heister’s column formed one part of the two-column advance against Washington’s Army at White Plains.
- The right column was commanded by General Henry Clinton and consisted mostly of British troops, while Heister’s left column consisted mostly of Hessians.
- Heister’s command helped place pressure on the American position at White Plains as Howe attempted to force Washington’s Army from its defensive positions.
- The combined attack pushed the right of the American line back to Chatterton’s Hill.
- Heister sent Hessian forces under Colonel Carl von Donop and Colonel Johann Rall, along with British troops under General Alexander Leslie, to attack the Americans on the Hill.
Recall to Europe
- The American victory in the Battle of Trenton (December 26, 1776) helped lead to Heister’s recall in 1777, although he was still leading troops during the early part of the Philadelphia Campaign (1777–1778).
- Wilhelm von Knyphausen succeeded Heister.
- Heister returned to Hesse and died there on November 19, 1777.
