what is a hessian person

German prisoners were subsequently treated well, with some volunteering for extra work assignments, helping to replace local men serving in the Continental Army. "[20] Hessian troops served in America on official duty from the armed forces of Hesse-Cassel and Hesse-Hanau. "[20] While not formally incorporated into the British military, Hessian troops were paid the same wages as British soldiers.[21]. These troops were stationed at sea in Bexhill on Sea and Weymouth, and some later went to Ireland.

[8] German states varied considerably in size and wealth, and several came to rely on their troops as an economic resource, especially since sustaining a standing army was costly.

Soubise ordered his troops to live off the land, take high-ranking hostages, and extort payments of cash and produce, with the intention of forcing Hessian troops to withdraw from the war. Many German societies became militarized, with most men undergoing annual training from adolescence well into adulthood, often serving for life or until they were too old. We know you’ll tackle this quiz totis viribus! While its troops remained members of the Hessian military, and even fought in their national uniform, they were hired out for service in other armies, without their government having any stake in the conflict. [16], The characterization of Hessian troops as "mercenaries" remains controversial over two centuries later. A typical Hessian would have long hair, and wear either jeans that had holes, or pants that were made into shorts with a pair of scissors, and they would … Later in the war, due to death in battle, death by disease, and general desertion to settle in the Colonies, the regiments may have been reduced to only around 300 to 400 men. In the midst of the War of the Austrian Succession in 1744, 6,000 Hessians were fighting with the British army in Flanders whilst another 6,000 were in the Bavarian army. In 1714, 6,000 Hessians were rented to Sweden for its war with Russia whilst 12,000 Hessians were hired by George I of Great Britain in 1715 to combat the Jacobite Rebellion. The elite jäger battalions used the büchse, a short, large-caliber rifle well-suited to woodland combat. Germany was not yet a unified nation, but a collection of several hundred states loosely organized under the Holy Roman Empire. [37] Approximately 5,000 German troops, most of whom had been press-ganged or conscripted in their countries of origin, opted to settle in either the United States or Canada. Winthrop P. Bell, ed. 'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'? [33] These men were both hunted by the British for being deserters and by many of the colonists as a foreign enemy. [31] These included Nicholas Bahner(t), Jacob trobe, George Geisler, and Conrad Grein (Konrad Krain)[32], who were a few of the Hessian soldiers who deserted the British forces after being returned in exchange for American prisoners of war. At one point the coach driver whipped the horses into a gallop and drove right through the Hessian army. [7] Germany was not yet a unified nation, but a collection of several hundred states loosely organized under the Holy Roman Empire. By 1762, 24,000 Hessians were serving with Ferdinand of Brunswick's army in Germany. This order began to have influence only when "our Germans, teachable as they are" had learned to "stammer a little English." Other contingents came from Brunswick (4,300), Ansbach-Bayreuth (2,353), Anhalt-Zerbst (1,119) and Waldeck (1,225). Hessian troops included jägers, hussars, three artillery companies, and four battalions of grenadiers. Absentee Ballot vs. Mail-In Ballot: Is There A Difference? Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words? [22] Other German princes relied on long-service voluntary enlistment supplemented by conscription when numbers fell short. [7], The Hessian military became a major source of economic strength. In most of these wars, Hesse-Kassel was never formally a belligerent. This page was last edited on 11 October 2020, at 00:31.

[34] British soldiers were offered 50 to 800 acres, depending on rank. [4] Many German states regularly rented the service of their troops to fight in wars they had no interest in throughout the 18th century as a source of funding. Remember that iconic image of Washington crossing the Delaware to make a surprise attack on the, Post the Definition of hessian to Facebook, Share the Definition of hessian on Twitter, ‘Fascism’: The Word’s Meaning and History. Desiring arrangements to be made for the subsistence of the Hessian recruits. “Affect” vs. “Effect”: Use The Correct Word Every Time. [10][12] A self-styled Enlightened despot, he also oversaw public works projects, administered a public welfare system, and encouraged education. Notwithstanding their reputation as skilled and disciplined fighters, many British soldiers shared the American distrust of Hessians, who often spoke little or no English and were perceived as crude and barbaric. Benjamin Franklin, “The Sale of the Hessians,” (1777). We Asked, You Answered.

[35], Many Hessian prisoners were held in camps at the interior city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, home to a large German community known as the Pennsylvania Dutch. Throughout the war, reports of plundering by Hessians were said to have galvanized neutral colonists to join the Patriot side. [17] American historian Charles Ingrao describes Hesse as a "mercenary state" whose prince rented out his regiments to fund his government. Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

[5] They served with distinction in many battles across North America, particularly in the northern theater, most notably at White Plains and Fort Washington. [24] Since the majority of the German troops came from Hesse, Americans use the term Hessians to refer to all German troops fighting on the British side.[17]. By 1777, the British used them mainly as garrison and patrol troops. Following two sieges of Cassel, in 1761 and 1762, the capital was retaken, which constituted the last military action of the war. Hessians also served in Nova Scotia for five years (1778–1783), where they protected the colony from American privateers, such as during the Raid on Lunenburg (1782). Hessians played a key role in the American Revolution. Their first engagement was less than two weeks later, in the Battle of Long Island, the first major battle in the war. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins The use of foreign soldiers was not unusual in 18th century Europe. By early 1778, negotiations for the exchange of prisoners between Washington and the British had begun in earnest. Definition of hessian. Great Britain maintained a relatively small standing army, so it found itself in great need of troops at the outset of the American Revolutionary War. General George Washington's Continental Army had crossed the Delaware River to make a surprise attack on the Hessians in the early morning of December 26, 1776. How to use a word that (literally) drives some pe... Name that government! "The Foundation of British Strength: National Identity and the Common British Soldier." Protocol I (1977) to the Geneva Convention defines a mercenary as "any person who ... has not been sent by a State which is not a Party to the conflict on official duty as a member of its armed forces.

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