Wilhelm von Knyphausen

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Wilhelm Reichsfreiherr^[1] zu Innhausen und Knyphausen (1716 – 1800) was a Hessian general during the American Revolutionary War.

In the army of Hesse-Kassel, Knyphausen was a lieutenant general. With 42 years of military experience, he traveled to North America in 1776 and led Hessian troops in the Battles of White Plains, Fort Washington, Brandywine, Germantown, Springfield, and Monmouth. In 1779 and 1780, he commanded British-held New York City.

James Fenimore Cooper, in his memoir A Residence in France, states that in 1776, Knyphausen,

"...a rigid martinet, knew nothing of the sea, and not much more of geography. On the voyage between England and America, he was in the ship of Lord Howe, where he passed several uncomfortable weeks, the fleet having an unusually long passage, on account of the bad sailing of some of the transports. At length Knyphausen could contain himself no longer, but marching stiffly up to the admiral one day, he commenced with "My lord, I know it is the duty of a soldier to be submissive at sea, but, being entrusted with the care of the troops of His Serene Highness, my master, I feel it my duty just to inquire, if it be not possible, that during some of the dark nights, we have lately had, we may have sailed past America?"

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