American Revolutionary War Brigadier General. Baron De Woedtke is supposed to have served in Frederick the Great's army and attained the rank of Major. In March, 1776 he became a Brigadier General in the Continental Army. Later that year he traveled to Canada as a member of the commission which included Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Chase, Charles Carroll of Carrollton and Father John Carroll to inquire of Montreal's citizens as to whether they would join the Revolution against Great Britain. During this mission, Charles Carroll wrote that De Woedtke was "not the best bred up by his Prussian Majesty", a possible reference to alcoholism. After this unsuccessful mission, De Woedtke joined the Northern army commanded by Philip Schuyler, and with John Thomas he commanded troops sent to reinforce Benedict Arnold in the siege of Quebec City. After disease and expiring enlistments ended the siege, De Woedtke returned to the Northern army. Shortly before he died he took part in the council which decided to abandon Crown Point on the New York side of Lake Champlain and consolidate American forces at Mount Independence on the Vermont side. He became ill in July, possibly of smallpox, possibly from alcoholism. According to the letters of Horatio Gates and others, De Woedtke died at the end of July, and the Continental Congress used July 28th as the date his commission was terminated by his death. De Woedtke was buried in an unmarked grave near the Fort George military post, the area that is now the Lake George Battlefield Park.
American Revolutionary War Brigadier General. Baron De Woedtke is supposed to have served in Frederick the Great's army and attained the rank of Major. In March, 1776 he became a Brigadier General in the Continental Army. Later that year he traveled to Canada as a member of the commission which included Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Chase, Charles Carroll of Carrollton and Father John Carroll to inquire of Montreal's citizens as to whether they would join the Revolution against Great Britain. During this mission, Charles Carroll wrote that De Woedtke was "not the best bred up by his Prussian Majesty", a possible reference to alcoholism. After this unsuccessful mission, De Woedtke joined the Northern army commanded by Philip Schuyler, and with John Thomas he commanded troops sent to reinforce Benedict Arnold in the siege of Quebec City. After disease and expiring enlistments ended the siege, De Woedtke returned to the Northern army. Shortly before he died he took part in the council which decided to abandon Crown Point on the New York side of Lake Champlain and consolidate American forces at Mount Independence on the Vermont side. He became ill in July, possibly of smallpox, possibly from alcoholism. According to the letters of Horatio Gates and others, De Woedtke died at the end of July, and the Continental Congress used July 28th as the date his commission was terminated by his death. De Woedtke was buried in an unmarked grave near the Fort George military post, the area that is now the Lake George Battlefield Park.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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