Johann Rall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Johann Rahll
Born	1726 Hesse-Cassel, Holy Roman Empire
Died	December 27, 1776 (Aged 50) Trenton, New Jersey
Allegiance	Hesse-Cassel
Service/branch	Hessian Mercenaries
Years of service	1740–1776
Rank	Colonel
Battles/wars	War of Austrian Succession Jacobite rising of 1745 Seven Years' War Fourth Russo-Turkish War American Revolutionary War Battle of Long Island Battle of White Plains Battle of Fort Washington Battle of Trenton  †

Johann Gottlieb Rall (also spelled Rahl) was a German colonel. He was born around 1726 and died on December 27, 1776. Colonel Rall is most famous for leading Hessian soldiers during the Battle of Trenton. This important battle happened during the American Revolutionary War.

Who Was Johann Rall?

Johann Rall was born around 1726. His father, Captain Joachim Rall, was also a soldier. Johann followed in his father's footsteps from a young age. He joined the military as a cadet on March 1, 1740.

Rall's Military Journey

Johann Rall served the Landgraf of Hesse-Cassel. This was a ruler in a German state. He quickly moved up in the army.

• On July 25, 1741, he became an ensign.
• He was promoted to lieutenant on August 28, 1745.
• On May 10, 1753, he became a captain.
• By May 7, 1760, Rall was a major.
• In 1763, he became a lieutenant colonel.
• Finally, in 1771, he was made a colonel. He took command of his own regiment in 1772.

Battles Rall Fought In

Colonel Rall fought in many wars during his career.

• He fought in the War of the Austrian Succession. This war took him to places like Bavaria and the Netherlands.
• He also served in Scotland during the Jacobite rising of 1745.
• Rall was part of the Seven Years' War. In North America, this war is known as the French and Indian War.
• From 1771 to 1772, he fought in Russia. He served under Catherine the Great in the Fourth Russo-Turkish War.

Rall in the American Revolutionary War

The Capture of the Hessians at Trenton, December 26, 1776 by John Trumbull. This painting shows George Washington and Johann Rall.

In 1776, Colonel Rall led a group of about 1,200 Hessian soldiers. These soldiers were fighting for Great Britain in the American War of Independence. Hessians were German soldiers hired by the British.

Rall and his troops fought in several important battles:

• The Battle of Long Island
• The Battle of White Plains
• The Battle of Fort Washington

He played a key role in the Battle of Trenton.

The Battle of Trenton

On the night of December 25–26, 1776, General George Washington led his American troops. They secretly crossed the Delaware River. Their goal was to surprise the Hessian soldiers in Trenton, New Jersey.

Colonel Rall's Hessian regiments were camped in Trenton. They were attacked by Washington's army. The Hessians were defeated in this surprise attack.

During the battle, Colonel Rall was badly wounded. He was shot twice. He was carried to his headquarters. This was in the house of Stacy Potts. Rall died there later that night. Before he passed away, he asked to formally surrender to General Washington. A note about the coming attack was later found in his coat pocket.

Local stories say that Rall is buried in an unmarked grave. This grave is in the churchyard of the First Presbyterian Church in Trenton. There is a special inscription there to remember him.

See also

• Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption – This was the site of Rall's headquarters in Trenton.