This is the Hessian FAQ,. This answers most questions that Hessian reenactors are
asked at events, and also questions that they would like to be asked. This FAQ
also refutes many myths, misconceptions, and misunderstandings about Hessian
Soldiers in the American War of Independance.
0.0 Who were the Hessians?
'Hessian' is most often a generic term for the German soldiers hired by England to
fight during the American Revolution. For the purposes of this FAQ, however,
the Hessians are those German soldiers actually from the state of Hessen-Kassal.
1.0 Were the Hessians Mercenaries?
By the most technical and liberal usage of the term, yes. But the term is misleading and
innaccurate.
One must understand that the Hessian soldier received no extra pay for his duty,
and stood loyal to the German state of his origin. While some could be enticed
to disarm, none could be enticed to fight for the Rebel side. And one of the
defining terms of a mercenary is that he will fight for anyone, for pay.
In a year, a Hessian soldier could at most earn a grand total of 3 pounds, 10 pence.
Hardly the rate of a mercenary.
Perhaps James F. Dunnigan (author of 'Dirty Little Secrets' and 'How To Make War')
defines it best. He considers Hessians to be term unto themselves and not mercenaries
in the classic sense. If one looks at the situation the Hessian were in and calls them
mercenaries, one may become very uncomfortable with the number of soldiers today who
could be called mercenaries. Paid allies may be the most accurate term.
(cf James F. Dunnigan 'Dirty Little Secrets - Military information you're not supposed
to know' pp. 267-268)
2.0 Were all of them from the state of Hessen-Kassel?
No. But the majority of them were either from the state of Hessen-Kassel
(17,000 officers and soldiers) or Hessen-Hanau (2,600 officer and men).
But 'Hessians' actually came from all over what is now Germany.
Brunswick sent 5,723 men, Waldeck sent 1,225 men, Brandenburg-Anspach sent
1,040 men, and Anhals-Zerbst sent 1,119 men, which figured approximately 5% of
that state's total population!
3.0 Why did the German rulers send their soldiers?
There is no simple answer for this. But the easiest way to say it is that by having
England pay for the soldiers, you could keep a large army without having it drain
your state's funds. And why did the German states need such armies? The answer
is that to survive the chaos of the Holy Roman Empire in the 18th century, you
required either an alliance with a powerful nation or a large army. Otherwise
the Landgraf could pretty much kiss his throne goodbye.
Make no doubt about it. While the soldiers were under British command in America,
they were still part of their homeland's armies. Had trouble started up during
that time in Germany, they would have undoubtedly been recalled.
4.0 Did the German rulers get 'blood pay' for soldiers killed in action?
Yes, but this was not as cruel as it sounds for two reasons: 1) Any person in
18th century Germany was of economic value, even if just for being a soldier. 2)
It prevented unwarranted abuse of the German soldiery by the British high command.
After all, would you like to be placed on the front of the line just so the commanders
can make their payroll?
It should be noted that Hessen-Kassel did not have a 'blood pay' clause in
their contract with England. Instead, a debt owed to England for hospital
services rendered during the Seven Years War was forgiven by the English.
5.0 What happened to the Hessians?
Of the soldiers from Hessen-Kassal, the following is known.
357 were killed in action (most at Fort Mercer)
2,949 deserted
8,029 were captured during the war.
4,626 died of other causes (disease, starvation,etc)
914 were paroled.
These figures are obtained from the 'official' Hessian records but are most likely wrong.
Another accounting by Edward Lowell in The Hessians and other German Auxilliaries of
Great Britiain in the Revolutionary War gives a total number of Hessians killed in battle
at 1,200, Hessians that died of other causes at 6,354, and Hessians that deserted at
5,000.
The fate of the deserters and captured Hessians varies greatly.
Some were paroled into American factories and farms, others were merely made to
stand down and not fight anymore. It has been estimated that some 6000 Hessian soldiers
remained in America & Canada either from desertion or naturalization after paroling
or capture. Most of the Hessians staying in America settled around Lancaster,PA, Reading,
PA and Frederick, MD. While some true Hessians may have remained in Canada, the majority
of them were actually Brunswickers and other German states.
Keep in mind that a Hessian that stayed in America may not have actually been a deserter.
Large numbers of Hessians were paroled in America due to injury, completion
of duties, or other reasons.
6.0 Who were the Jaegers?
Jaeger, or 'hunters' were sent from several German states as part of the treaties with
George III. Basically the Jaegers were German riflemen who used rifles that were much
shorter than the American Kentucky Rifle. Many of the Jaegers were second or third
sons of German landlords, gameskeepers, or adventurers of one kind or another.
Jaegers were quite distinctive from their infantry counterparts; their uniforms were
often a medium green lined with red. For more information you may wish to visit the
Hessen-Kassel Jaeger website and read more about the Jaegers.
7.0 I have an ancestor who was a Hessian soldier, where can I get more informtion?
It can be very hard to find information about Hessian soldiers in most cases.
Some soldiers, namely those captured at Trenton, are listed in the appendix of
the book "The Hessian view of America". There is an overall list of the fate of
all soldiers from Hessen-Kassel (at least as far as their superior officers were
concerned), in the Hetrina series "Hessian troops in America".A partial copy exists
in the David Library at Washington's Crossing, PA, another at the Rutgers library
in New Brunswick, and copies are also owned by the Scwalm society and the Lancaster
County Historical Society. Please let me know if you know of other such copies.
Things that can help your search are knowing at what battle he was captured
(or where he deserted), who he was paroled to, and so on. There are several
newgroups on the soc. hiearchy that may also be of help. In particular, the
group soc.geneology.german
8.0 Where are the Hessians buried?
The Hessian who died during the course of the war are not buried in any special place.
Most old graveyards that date back to the 18th century may have a grave or two. But
it is unlikely to be easily found. The best known burial ground of Hessian soldiers is
in Runnemede, NJ, where some 50 Hessians who fell at Fort Mercer are buried. Another grave,
nearer to fort ( In Red Bank or National Park, NJ), may have once held an equal number.
But during World War I, anti-hun hysteria seized a few locals, who promptly unearthed
the remains in the grave and dumped them into the Delaware River.
11.0 Did England ever hire German soldiers at any other time beside the American
Revolution?
Actually, English often hired Germans and other nationalities to do their fighting.
It is a tradition that dated back some time. Many continental (European)
soldiers were hired from the Middle Ages well into the English Civil War.
However, these soldiers were most often 'true' mercenaries and were actually
incorporated into the English Army of the time. Hessians of the American Revolution
remained in their own units with their original commanders.
During the Scots Rebellion an 1745, many German (including Hessian) units were hired to
fight for England. Since the commanders did not speak each other's language, they
communicated by using a common language, French for the English officers and Latin
with the Edinburgh middle class.
