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Monday, October 8, 2018

Who Were the Hessians?

Hessian hussars in America

The historical note in the back of a novel can only cover just so many topics, and I recently discovered a few holes in mine. A very “meh” review on my newly released title The Cumberland Bride (granted, it was a 5-chapter free preview) made me realize I’d never addressed a particular issue of the family’s backstory—that is, the heroine’s father, Karl Gruener, having been a Hessian in the employ of the British army during the American Revolution.

So who were the Hessians? Essentially, they were German mercenaries hired by Great Britain, and not just for the American Revolution. Surprising? Let's look at the details.

During the American colonial era, Germany was not one unified country. It was a collection of imperial states, each granted authority under the Holy Roman Empire, which included Prussia, Bavaria, Hesse-Hanau, and Hesse-Kassel. The troops of the last two in particular regularly hired out to other countries during the 1700’s, and in at least one case even fought on opposite sides, such as during the War for Austrian Succession, under Britain and Prussia. Because so many came from Hesse-Kassel and Hesse-Hanau, these troops were often referred to as simply “Hessians,” and so the term stuck.

The first German mercenary troops used during the American Revolution landed in 1776 and fought in many of the battles between British and Continental troops, including during the Southern Campaign. These troops were comprised of Jagers (infantry), Hussars (cavalry), artillery, and grenadiers. Jagers were the ones I’d heard most about, many of them sharpshooters and brought in as “anti-sniper” troops because they often carried German-made rifles that rivaled the ones carried by backcountry militia. Their skill could be as legendary as American riflemen, and the faith was attested to, albeit mockingly, by the British colonel Lord Rawdon, who had this to say about their behavior under pressure (in this case, at the prospect of being fired upon while crossing a river):

The Hessians, who were not used to this water business and who conceived that it must be exceedingly uncomfortable to be shot at whilst they were quite defenceless and jammed so close together, began to sing hymns immediately. Our men expressed their feelings as strongly, though in a different manner, by [cursing] themselves and the enemy indiscriminately with wonderful fervency.

And yes, for those who have read The Cumberland Bride, this event, from September 1776, is the one I reference in the opening scene.

The Capture of Hessians at Trenton
A large number of Hessians were taken captive in the Battle of Trenton, December 26, 1776, and farmed out along with British soldiers to the surrounding countryside. While the British-born reportedly did not take well to their captivity, many of the German prisoners wound up abandoning military service in favor of the American colonies. I’ve heard stories of the British deserting as well, but apparently Hessians did so in larger numbers. Maybe because the British felt they had a larger stake in the conflict?

 ~*~

Quote from Redcoats and Rebels: The American Revolution Through British Eyes, Christopher Hibbert. Also thanks to Wikipedia for an excellently footnoted article on the Hessians ... and to a particular group of reenactors I met years ago at the Battle of Parker's Ferry, whose name I've sadly lost track of.

13 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing this information Shannon. I am getting ready to read The Cumberland Bride and I'm thrilled to see that my state of Kentucky is mentioned.
    Blessings!

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    1. Oooh, I hope you enjoy it, Connie! <3 Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  2. This is so interesting! I haven't managed to dig in to this myself. But of course they also inspired the best of footwear (the Hessian boot!).

    I can see why many would be interested in taking up farming in the beautiful countryside.

    Thanks Shannon!

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    1. LOL true, Debra! And yes, I'm sure it just felt more safe and familiar to a lot of them. It's interesting hearing how conflicted they felt about the war, here, especially when they saw other German immigrants suffering from taking the colonies' side. :-)

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  3. Thanks for sharing, Shannon! I don't recall learning about this in school. I will be sharing this info with my family. I love it when I learn something new. :)

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    1. It amazes me to hear how much is NOT taught in school! Even when I was a kid, so much was glossed over or sanitized. It's even worse now. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

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    2. That is so true and one of the reason why we continue to homeschool our kids. I am learning right along with them, because of the lack of history that was taught.

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    3. Oh me too, Joy! On both accounts!!

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  4. Thanks, Shannon, for the interesting post.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by! :-) We love hearing from our readers!! <3

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  5. Thank you for the not only informative post, but your commentary as well made it a delight to read. I also loved the pictures that you posted. I have always wanted the chance to cook and live as our ancestors did. I truly wish there was a vacation spot specializing in the Colonial Era that offered vactaion's and hands on learning.

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    1. Doesn't Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, offer this sort of experience? And there are local living history events all over the country that can give you a taste of the era. But thank you so much for your kind words, and I'm so glad you've enjoyed it all. <3

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  6. This is so wickedly interesting to me! My ancestors came to the United States the 1820s from Hesse-Kassel & began farms in the Midwest. I may have to do some more digging to find out if they came on their own free will, or if they were possibly part of this tiny little snippet in history!

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