Karl von Reyher

Karl was the eldest son from this marriage and was born in the village schoolhouse (as of 2023, still preserved with a memorial plaque dedicated to Reyher).

"General von Winning would like to see and speak to Cantor Reyher's son, Karl Friedrich Wilhem, in order to test his knowledge of arithmetic and writing.

General von Winning was impressed with the young man and after passing a short exam, Karl was sworn in to the Regiment on 20 May 1802.

General von Winning looked after the young recruit and due to Karl's good handwriting, quickly promoted him to the position of regimental clerk.

[6] Reyher spent the week after the Prussian defeat and rout of October 14 guarding the wagon, bringing it safely to Magdeburg, where he was reunited with his wounded commander, von Rathenow.

[7] In order to avoid the ensuing confusion and chaos amongst the baggage train, Reyher turned off the main road and tried to hide the wagon, having been abandoned by the few soldiers directly assigned to him.

Arriving at a small village with his tired horses, he attempted to get help from the local bailiff but he was refused as the official feared the French more than Reyher and threatened to reveal the wagon's location if asked.

[7] Along with other prisoners of war of his regiment under the command of Captain von Zglinitzky, Reyher was able to escape while being transported by the French.

Reyher decided that there were too many French between him and any remaining free Prussian forces, so he returned to the nearby home village of Groß Schönebeck and stayed at his parents' house until the end of the war.

At the time, Schill's independent detachment was still mostly made up of troops that had served with him in the 'behind the lines' raids he led in the area around Kolberg from December 1806 through May 1807.

After Reyher passed a special exam on August 10 in Kamiss, the temporary cantonment location, Schill assigned him as his staff secretary.

The mounted Jager detachment continued to exist unchanged with a strength of up to 60 horses, but had to be included in the budget of the 2nd Brandenburg Hussar regiment.

[9] Schill's celebrity status led him to be a central part of Berlin's social life under French occupation.

By early 1809, tensions between Austria and France were rising once again – and despite King Frederick William III of Prussia's best efforts to keep control of the situation, many Prussian groups planned to use a potential war between France and Austria as cover to start open rebellion against the occupation not only of Prussia but in the other German provinces as well, with or without the King's approval.

Schill was in secret contact with many other like-minded officers, citizens, and officials, including a Prussian quasi-secret society known as the Tugendbund.

Major Schill marched his regiment out of their Berlin quarters and eventually into King Jerome's Kingdom of Westphalia.