March 12, 1776

Friedrich Wilhelm, Baron de Woedtke, made a splash when he arrived in Philadelphia in March 1776—though his name was misspelled in the Pennsylvania Evening Post’s report. Woedtke had served in the Prussian army during the Seven Years’ War, and he came to British North America to lend his military experience to the Continental Army. He had sailed from France to Saint Domingue and intended to land in Philadelphia, but bad weather forced the ship to Cape Cod. Woedtke was able to connect with George Washington in Massachusetts before traveling south to Philadelphia. 

Woedtke made a quick impression on the Continental Congress. On March 16, they made him a brigadier general in the Continental Army and ordered him to accompany the commissioners who would be going on a diplomatic mission to Canada. They even paid Woedtke an advance of $750. Unfortunately, the mission to Canada failed, and Woedtke died shortly after. Dr. Benjamin Rush alleged that the cause of death was “the effects of hard drinking.”

The Pennsylvania Evening Post
Printed by Benjamin Towne

Last Saturday evening Baron de WOEDLKE, formerly a Gen. in the Prussian service, arrived here.