Joachim Friedrich von Stutterheim

Joachim Friedrich von Stutterheim („Alt-Stutterheim“), (2 November 1715 – 26 August 1783). He was known as the Old Stutterheim to distinguish him from his younger brother, Otto Ludwig (1718–1780), also a lieutenant general in Frederick the Great's army.

Family His parents were Joachim Friedrich von Stutterheim (1683–1745) and Johanne Eleonore von Hacke (1687–1737). His father was a captain in the Polish-Saxon army, and a landowner. His brother, Otto Ludwig (1718-1780), was also a Prussian lieutenant general. He was born 2 November 1715 in Sellendorf, Lower Lusatia. He married Sophie Therese von Lettow (1719–1807) and they had two sons, one of which, Ludwig August von Stutterheim, became a lieutenant general.

Military career After a chance encounter with King Frederick William I, whom Stutterheim liked, he was admitted to the Berlin Cadet corps in 1729. From 1732 he entered the "Regiment Kröcher zu Fuss" as a flag-bearer. In 1735, he was promoted to ensign and in 1739, to second lieutenant. As such, he went to the First Silesian War and at the Battle of Mollwitz, Stutterheim demonstrated his command abilities and a keen sense of the battlefield. Always ready to encourage initiative in his officers, Frederick awarded him the Order of Pour le Mérite, and gave him a position at the cathedral in Cammin, and a captaincy in a company in the Regiment La Motte zur Fuss. Stutterheim then fought in the battles of Chotusitz, Hohenfriedberg, and Soor, where, he was wounded.