Reply to Query 31 (Issue 12, p.33) Allied Forces in Hamburg during the Spring Campaign 1813

Count Wallmoden-Gimborn, the Allied Commander along the lower Elbe as of April 24th 1813, disposed of ca. 10000 troops in all. The forces defending Hamburg were commanded by the Colonel, later MajorGeneral, Baron von Tettenborn. The following is a list of troops actively involved in the defence of the city until the evacuation and capitulation of May 30th 1813. it is pieced together from the various available to me at the moment:

1. Russia

Maj.-Gen. Baron von Tettenborn's raiding force (Streifkorps): 240 Hussars, 120 Dragoons, 1000 Cossacks, 2 Horse Artillery guns (Arrived in Hamburg March 18)

2. Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Mecklenburg-Schwerin Guard Grenadier Battalion (400 men) arrived March 28 Volunteer (Foot) Jdger Regiment, 1 company arrived May 2 7

3. Hanover

Lauenburg Volunteer Battalion, Major von Berger; 888 men (strength as of April 23)
Luneburg Volunteers, Lieut.-Col. von Estorff
Luneburg Jager Corps (Luneburg Light Battalion), Lt. von Langrehr, 291 men
Luneburg Hussar Regiment, 288 men
Bremen and Verden Legion, Major von dem Bussche
Bremen and Verden Battalion, 519 men
Bremen and Verden Hussars, 324 men

Count Kielmannsegge's Jager Corps (Lauenburg and Lfineburg), 170 men

On April 2nd, General Lyon, a K.G.L. cavalry command (40 horses) and 380 officers and men of the K.G.L. were ordered to the rebelling areas of Hanover to assist with the raising of volunteer formations. Due to French advances this was actually done in Hamburg. They arrived on April 16th. They were distributed amongst the new Hanover units. Another 85 men under Lieut. Col. Halkett followed in May. During the actual fighting around Hamburg these men fought as a half-battalion of their own.

Lauenburg Militia: 800 men (not actively involved)
Landsturm units were raised in the Stade (Duchy of Bremen and Verden) and Lilneburg areas. The Lilneburg Landsturm fought alongside a Cossack force in the abortive attack at Tostedt on the night of March 30/31.

4. Great Britain

About 100 men from Heligoland landed in the Weser estuary to support the peasant's rising against the French there (ca. March 24th). By one account this was a force of invalids. 20 of them were killed in the skirmish of Bremerlehe on March 25th, the rest were apparently reembarked for Heligoland.

Some British gunboats operated on the lower Elbe, using the coastal port of Cuxhaven (a Hamburg possession) as their base until the French occupied it again at the end of April. One ship involved was the armed cutter 'Liberator' which supported the Allied troops in May. it was commanded by a man called Debriam.

5. The Hanseatic Cities of Hamburg and Ulbeck

Hanseatic legion (no overall commander)
1st Infantry battalion: Captain von Stelling
5 Line companies, 2 Rifle platoons (Scharfschiltzen)- 1010 all ranks
2nd Infantry battalion: Captain von Gloeden 3 1/4 Line companies-589 all ranks
These two battalions were from Hamburg
3rd Infantry battalion: Captain von Lucadou 4 Line companies, 1 Noger (Rifle) company-444 all ranks
The 3rd battalion was from Lubeck

Cavalry Regiment: Major Count Westphalen
8 squadrons (armed with lances)- 1121 all ranks

Foot Artillery battery: Captain Wertheim
Four 6 pounders, 2 howitzers-150 all ranks

Horse Artillery battery: Captain Spooremann
Four 3 pounders, 2 howitzers-] 08 all ranks

Total (including depots, band, etc.): 3788 officers and men

Hamburg Burgergarde (citizens' guard = militia): Colonel von Hess
8 battalions of infantry: Colonel von Hess and Lieutenant- Colonels Schwarze, Prell, Mettlerkamp, Kleudgen, Schbnhijtte, Suhr and Sutor.
1 company of Jager: Major von Voss, 157 all ranks
1 squadron of cavalry: Captain Wiedemann; 150 all ranks
1 company of artillerymen: Captain Schulz; 120 all ranks
The actual strength varied considerably, the highest actual figure reached being ca.6000. Less than half the men were equipped with functioning firearms. Only a part of the men were involved in actual fighting.

Lubeck Burgergarde (not in any action)
3 companies, 1 Jager detachment, 1 cavalry detachment

6. Prussia

Fusilier battalion of Porneranian Infantry Regiment (Nr.2): Major von Borcke, ca. 500 men (arrived in Hamburg May 27th).
Schill Free Corps Hussars

7. Denmark

In spite of his nation's neutrality, General von Wegener put his division at Tettenborn's disposition in mid-May. Tettenborn only used 200 Jager of the Oldenburg Infantry Regiment in the fighting on 12th May.

8. Sweden

Major-General Boye's brigade of D'beln's Division (4 battalions, 4 guns) arrived in Hamburg May 23rd, and left two days later on the Crown Prince's orders without taking part in the fighting.

9. Oldenburg

Troops were raised in the Duchy of Eutin (near Uibeck), but there seems to be no account of them being involved in any combats.

Operating further afield on the left bank of the Elbe were: Dornberg's and Chernichev's Russian raiding forces, half of Prussian Horse Artillery Battery Nr.5 (4 guns) and the Uitzow Free Corps