Ludwig's father changed his name from Jark(a) to Yorck to make it more English (York) and dropped the von Gostkowski.

After seven years' service, however, he was cashiered for insubordination, having reproached his superior for plundering during the War of the Bavarian Succession when in 1779, during the Guard Parade, Yorck expressed his contempt for him.

In 1805, with the rank of Oberst, he was appointed to command an infantry brigade as a vanguard force of Duke Karl August of Saxe-Weimar during the War of the Fourth Coalition.

Having crossed the Elbe river and Harz mountains, he was taken prisoner, severely wounded, in the last stand of Blücher's corps at Lübeck.

He had to judge whether the moment was favorable for the war of Prussia's liberation; and, whatever might be the enthusiasm of his junior staff officers, Yorck had no illusions as to the safety of his own head.

[3] The Convention of Tauroggen armistice, signed by Diebitsch and Yorck without the consent of their king, declared the Prussian corps "neutral".

The news was received with the wildest enthusiasm, but the Prussian Court dared not yet throw off the mask, and an order was despatched suspending Yorck from his command pending a court-martial.

Diebitsch refused to let the bearer pass through his lines, and the general was finally absolved when the Treaty of Kalisz placed Prussia on the side of the Allies.

In the campaign in France, Yorck drew off the shattered remnants of Osten-Sacken's corps at Montmirail, and decided the day at Laon.

In the campaign of 1815, none of the older men were employed in Blücher's army, in order that August von Gneisenau might be free to assume command in case of the old prince's death.

Before the August 1919 abolition of nobility as a legal class, titles preceded the full name when given (Graf Helmuth James von Moltke).