Kannicht, Joachim Mit der hanseatischen Legion gegen Napoleon

Erfahrungen eines jungen Studenten 1813-1816

Friedrich von Coulon, a 21-year-old law student in Göttingen, volunteered to fight against Napoleon after Colonel Tettenborn and his Streifpartei (miscellaneous troops) of Cossacks entered the city on March 18, 1813, and called for the formation of the Hanseatic Legion, which was to consist of 6,000 men on foot and on horseback. It was the memorable day of April 7, 1813, when I rushed to the colors of my still oppressed fatherland to do my part in liberating my native country, he wrote in his diary. His father was serving in the Kings German Legion at the time, while his mother and sisters lived in Stade. He confided his feelings and thoughts to his diary during the campaign led by Lieutenant General von Wallmoden-Gimborn and his corps as part of the army of the Crown Prince of Sweden. It gives us an insight into the feelings of this young man, who, although he comes from a family of soldiers, even in battle his thoughts linger on his beloved books and soon on a girl for whom he has the deepest feelings, but which are not reciprocated by her. Although Fritz is promoted to lieutenant and leader of a company after a short time, reading his notes makes one wonder about his leadership qualities and the level of training of his men, for apart from a few officers and non-commissioned officers who took charge of drill and training, the troops were inexperienced. Enthusiasm replaced experience. Wallmoden, in his sober assessment of their combat value, therefore used the Hanseatic Legion primarily as a security force and to unsettle the enemy.