Hessian soldiers in America’s Revolution: myth and reality

Hessian soldiers arrived in force during the Revolutionary War, joining British troops with expectations of a quick victory, only to face years of fighting and heavy losses before the conflict ended in 1783.

On August 15, 1776, more than 8,600 German troops landed on Staten Island, New York, the first large wave of foreign soldiers to reinforce British forces in the colonies. Another contingent had already reached Quebec to bolster the garrison in Canada. Their appearance was unmistakable. Unlike the British redcoats, many wore blue or green uniforms and tall brass miter caps.

Britain had been fighting colonial rebels for over a year when George III vowed in October 1775 to end the uprising with “decisive exertions,” noting he had accepted offers of foreign aid. Parliament approved, anticipating that added manpower would rapidly quash the revolt. Historian Friederike Baer writes that German troops who departed in 1776 expected the war to last no more than a year or two.

The conflict proved far longer. The fighting continued until the Treaty of Paris in September 1783. About 30,000 Germans served in British ranks. Thousands died from battle, disease or accidents, and Britain ultimately withdrew in defeat.

Who were the Hessian soldiers?

Despite the common label, these troops were not mercenaries in the strict sense. They were units sent by their princes under subsidy treaties, with rulers receiving British payments in exchange for forces. Some men volunteered, others were drafted, and some were forcibly conscripted.

Nor were they all from Hesse. The German lands were a patchwork of states, remnants of the Holy Roman Empire, each with its own ruler. Britain struck agreements with six, including Hesse-Cassel and Hesse-Hanau, whose contingents were the true “Hessians.”

Subsidy treaties were a longstanding European practice. During the Seven Years’ War, Britain subsidized Prussia, while France supported Sweden. Britain first sought troops from Russia and the Dutch Republic but was rebuffed by Catherine the Great and Dutch officials.

Terms varied by state, but rulers generally pledged fixed numbers of troops for continuing payments throughout the war and for one or two years afterward. They were obligated to replace losses to maintain agreed totals. Some treaties included extra payments per killed or wounded soldier, derided by critics as “blood money.” The soldiers were paid directly by the British army.

Patriot propaganda quickly demonized the newcomers to galvanize resistance, painting them as brutal and inhuman. Wild rumors even claimed they were cannibals. Beyond the stories, many colonists were angered that Britain would deploy foreign troops on American soil. John Jay, initially inclined to seek accommodation with Britain, shifted decisively after the arrival of the Germans, asking why “mercenaries of Germany” had been transported across the ocean to “plunder” and “ravish.”

When the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, the German contingents were still at sea, yet the document listed the king’s importation of “foreign mercenaries” among its grievances.

The Germans are coming! The Germans are coming!

Colonial newspapers had tracked the troop contracts and movements since late 1775. The first transport sailed from Bremerlehe in mid-April 1776, paused at Portsmouth, then departed for America on May 6. The Atlantic crossing was arduous. Conscript Johann Gottfried Seume later wrote that men were packed so tightly they turned in unison in their bunks, while rations were rancid and water foul.

After more than three months at sea, the fleet reached New York. On August 14, the Continental Congress offered incentives to induce desertion. Germans who left British service would receive civil protections and “50 acres of unappropriated lands.” George Washington ensured printed copies reached the camps. Two weeks later, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson approved a handbill promising 100 to 1,000 acres to officers who defected, scaled by rank, and had it translated and circulated.

Few initially accepted. Many soldiers feared punishment or felt bound to their states. At that stage, Britain still appeared likely to prevail. Some Germans sympathized with British rule, noting colonial prosperity and questioning the rebellion.

Off the boat and into the fray

Within days of landing, British commander William Howe deployed the new arrivals. On August 22, British and German units crossed from Staten Island to Long Island, conducting successive landings on the western shore. Their combined strength soon reached about 20,000, including roughly 5,000 Germans.

On August 27, they struck the Continental Army from the south while more British forces closed from the east. The outnumbered Americans suffered about 300 killed and 1,100 captured, compared with just over 60 British and German dead. Washington’s army fell back to Brooklyn Heights, then slipped across the East River to Manhattan under cover of night on August 29.

The Continental Army briefly held New York City, but Howe’s troops landed at Kip’s Bay on September 15, forcing a retreat north. A day later, fighting at Harlem Heights buoyed American morale, yet Washington’s forces soon withdrew again, first to White Plains, then across the Hudson into New Jersey and on to Pennsylvania. New York City remained in British hands until 1783.

Perceptions shifted after Washington’s daring move on the night of December 25, 1776. Crossing the Delaware from Pennsylvania, his troops surprised the German garrison at Trenton the next morning. After about two hours of fighting, the Germans surrendered and nearly 900 were captured. The victory bolstered colonial confidence and proved the Continental Army could defeat British and German regulars. German contingents nevertheless served in every major campaign for the rest of the war.

American views of Hessian soldiers grew more nuanced. They were seen less as fearsome automatons and more as a mix of professionals and conscripts, many with little stake in the conflict. Some colonists even preferred their conduct to that of British troops. In February 1777, Washington noted that American prisoners reported kinder treatment from Germans than from British officers and soldiers.

Hessian soldiers still drew criticism for plundering, though historians note that looting was common among all sides, despite official prohibitions in the British army, and rebels also targeted Loyalist property.

Of roughly 30,000 Germans who served, historian Edward J. Lowell estimated just over 17,300 returned to Europe. About 1,200 were killed in action and nearly 6,400 died from accidents or disease. He counted around 5,000 deserters. Baer estimates that 5,000 to 6,000 remained in North America, including as many as 3,500 who settled in the United States and others who moved elsewhere on the continent.

Today, millions of Americans may count at least one of these men among their ancestors. Their presence left a lasting mark on the new nation, though not the swift victory Britain envisioned when it summoned them to the war.