I represent Gerhard Henrich “Henry” Heldring. I was a Captain in the 3rd Waldeck Regiment and Acting Engineer of the garrison. It was I who undertook the design and construction of Ft. George on Gage Hill in Pensacola. I was born about 1752 in Rinteln, Schaumburg. I was Lutheran and single, and I spoke German, Dutch, and French. The 3rd Waldeck was hired by the British from Waldeck Prince Frederick Karl Augustus to assist them in fighting the American rebels in the Revolutionary War. I sailed with the 3rd to North America in 1776 as a 1st Lieutenant in the 4th Company. I was taken prisoner in January 1777 in New Jersey, and returned to duty in July 1778. After two years of heavy action the 3rd was sent to Pensacola, along with the provincial loyalist forces of Maryland and Pennsylvania. I was promoted to Captain Lieutenant in April 1780, after being offered a captaincy in the British 60th Regiment. During my time in Pensacola I served as the post engineer and drew several maps of the Pensacola area. In the count the Spanish made of the staff of the garrison at the surrender, I was listed as an extra aide-de-camp to Maj. Gen. John Campbell. After the surrender in May 1781, we were sent by the Spanish to New York, on our honor not to fight against the Spanish again until we were exchanged. We lived in encampments at New Town on Long Island. The Waldeckers resumed duty in July 1782. A year later, in July of 1783, the Waldeck Regiment, 418 men and women and 13 children, left New York to return to Europe. I remained with the regiment at least until 1794, when I was promoted to Colonel while serving in Holland.
Sources: 11, 26, 54