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The Hessians and the Other German Auxiliaries of Great Britain in the Revolutionary War
One of the most famous revolutions in history, the American Revolution (1775-1783) was the political upheaval in which 13 distinct colonies in North America banded together to cast off British rule, forming the United States of America.
After the shot heard round the world on April 19, 1775, at the Battle of Lexington, the colonies sent representatives to the Second Continental Congress, the new states joined together at first to defend their respective self-governance and manage the armed conflict against the British known as the Revolutionary War (1775–83, also American War of Independence). Ultimately, the states collectively determined that the British monarchy, by acts of tyranny, could no longer legitimately claim their allegiance. They then severed ties with the British Empire in July 1776, when the Congress issued the Declaration of Independence, rejecting the monarchy on behalf of the new sovereign nation separate and external to the British Empire.
Of course, the colonial forces still had to defend against the British attempts to subjugate them militarily, and given the British Empire’s supremity on both land and sea, this would be a lot easier said than done. The war ended with effective American victory in October 1781 after Yorktown, followed by formal British abandonment of any claims to the United States with the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
The British relied heavily on mercenaries, none more despised or feared than the Hessians. Although largely forgotten today other than the fact that some Hessians fell victim to George Washington’s surprise attack on Christmas Day in 1776, they were an important part of the Revolution. Edward J. Lowell wrote an account of the Hessians’ participation in the Revolution. This edition of Lowell’s The Hessians is specially formatted with illustrations of several Founding Fathers and important figures of the war.
After the shot heard round the world on April 19, 1775, at the Battle of Lexington, the colonies sent representatives to the Second Continental Congress, the new states joined together at first to defend their respective self-governance and manage the armed conflict against the British known as the Revolutionary War (1775–83, also American War of Independence). Ultimately, the states collectively determined that the British monarchy, by acts of tyranny, could no longer legitimately claim their allegiance. They then severed ties with the British Empire in July 1776, when the Congress issued the Declaration of Independence, rejecting the monarchy on behalf of the new sovereign nation separate and external to the British Empire.
Of course, the colonial forces still had to defend against the British attempts to subjugate them militarily, and given the British Empire’s supremity on both land and sea, this would be a lot easier said than done. The war ended with effective American victory in October 1781 after Yorktown, followed by formal British abandonment of any claims to the United States with the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
The British relied heavily on mercenaries, none more despised or feared than the Hessians. Although largely forgotten today other than the fact that some Hessians fell victim to George Washington’s surprise attack on Christmas Day in 1776, they were an important part of the Revolution. Edward J. Lowell wrote an account of the Hessians’ participation in the Revolution. This edition of Lowell’s The Hessians is specially formatted with illustrations of several Founding Fathers and important figures of the war.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1884
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 3, 2017
This read like a junior high social studies text book. With a dash of insight here and there, the majority was rote names and dates with an anecdote thrown in for good measure (and I’m assuming those are true?)
No doubt the German soldiers, of which the Hessians were just one group, played an important part in the American Revolution. They were not, as often assumed, bloodthirsty bands highly trained in strategy and tactics. Most were taken off the streets to satisfy the Landgrave’s greed. But they were bodies, and bodies were needed. The Patriots certainly were at a disadvantage until the French came to their assistance.
I commend the author for doing his bit in enlightening the audience on the Hessians’ contribution to the British war effort. However this is in no way a brutally realistic accounting of events. Save this for the kiddies.
I thank Sapere for the free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
No doubt the German soldiers, of which the Hessians were just one group, played an important part in the American Revolution. They were not, as often assumed, bloodthirsty bands highly trained in strategy and tactics. Most were taken off the streets to satisfy the Landgrave’s greed. But they were bodies, and bodies were needed. The Patriots certainly were at a disadvantage until the French came to their assistance.
I commend the author for doing his bit in enlightening the audience on the Hessians’ contribution to the British war effort. However this is in no way a brutally realistic accounting of events. Save this for the kiddies.
I thank Sapere for the free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
April 23, 2022
A little while ago I made a joke on Strava that I decided to ride my bike because no one wanted to play make believe Hessians vs. Americans with me (I obviously called the role of Yann LeCun). That rather off-hand thought brought back a flood of memories related to the Revolutionary War my growing up near Princeton and Trenton afforded me. The most salient memory being the time Jordan insisted that the path we were running on on the New Jersey side of Washington Crossing State Park was the VERY trail GW Not Bush took his shivering men on their march to Trenton. Feeling the Revolutionary buzz (or maybe that was because I drank too many Sam Adams), I bought this book...which was not well written at all. Hard to imagine in what world this passed for New Yorker article material and how it could be a "classic text". Times have changed apparently. But all in all I enjoyed reading some history and learning about the Hessians and their ill-conditionedness.
May 23, 2014
The serious student of history, like the serious historian, values primary sources. The eye witness reports of people directly involved in an event have an immediacy which the sands of time and the fog of memory only dull. Second only to primary sources are serious scholarly works drawing together primary sources which, due to language or inaccessibility or volume, are beyond the reach of the casual scholar.
Such a work is The Hessians in the Revolutionary War. Writing a hundred years after the American War of Independence Edward J. Lowell gathered many European inputs—treaties, letters, journals and memoirs—to present the perspective of those often unwilling participants whom we collectively call the Hessians.
Unlike modern writers who casually edit history to fit their preconceived notions, Lowell is careful to note both the unreliability of some sources and the apparent conflicts. Even when it comes to interpreting what it all means, Lowell “teaches the controversy.” He acknowledges differing interpretations and tries to makes a fair representation of each. In the end, he often admits that we may never know the true motives, intentions and even actions of all the players.
The Hessians in the Revolutionary War a delightful treasure of facts, maps, lists and anecdotes. All the better to get a feel for a war fought far from home by soldiers who had no personal stake in the outcome, other than their desire to serve well and go safely home. But over a third of the 30,000 Germans who embarked for war in the new world did not return home. A few over a thousand died in combat. Over six thousand others died of illness or accident. Five thousand deserted.
Unlike Americans or British who may have deserted these men did not escape to go home or blend in. The first word they spoke gave them away. But desert they did. And stay they did, often making a life for themselves in the American wilderness where no such possibility availed itself in the fractured German principalities of the nineteenth century.
One of them was my great-great-great-great-great grandfather.
This book is now in the public domain. Many editions of it are available through various sources.
A very good read.
Such a work is The Hessians in the Revolutionary War. Writing a hundred years after the American War of Independence Edward J. Lowell gathered many European inputs—treaties, letters, journals and memoirs—to present the perspective of those often unwilling participants whom we collectively call the Hessians.
Unlike modern writers who casually edit history to fit their preconceived notions, Lowell is careful to note both the unreliability of some sources and the apparent conflicts. Even when it comes to interpreting what it all means, Lowell “teaches the controversy.” He acknowledges differing interpretations and tries to makes a fair representation of each. In the end, he often admits that we may never know the true motives, intentions and even actions of all the players.
The Hessians in the Revolutionary War a delightful treasure of facts, maps, lists and anecdotes. All the better to get a feel for a war fought far from home by soldiers who had no personal stake in the outcome, other than their desire to serve well and go safely home. But over a third of the 30,000 Germans who embarked for war in the new world did not return home. A few over a thousand died in combat. Over six thousand others died of illness or accident. Five thousand deserted.
Unlike Americans or British who may have deserted these men did not escape to go home or blend in. The first word they spoke gave them away. But desert they did. And stay they did, often making a life for themselves in the American wilderness where no such possibility availed itself in the fractured German principalities of the nineteenth century.
One of them was my great-great-great-great-great grandfather.
This book is now in the public domain. Many editions of it are available through various sources.
A very good read.
September 4, 2015
An excellent history of the German soldiers hired to supplement the British forces in North America during the American Revolution. Commonly called mercenaries, the soldiers gained nothing by their duty. The various German rulers, led by Landgrave Frederick II of Hesse (cousin of the Britain’s George III), rented their conscript armies to the British and received all the rent.
Of the thirty thousand Germans who came to North America only half returned to Germany. Twelve hundred were killed in action, while over six thousand died of other causes. About five thousand settled in America.
Lovell used German sources and dairies to identify who the soldiers were and what they did. Anecdotes flesh out the narrative with glimpses of the trials and sufferings of the soldiers (and occasional accompanying family).
The style is dense and some sentences require re-reading. Translated German sources undoubtedly contributed to the stilted style.
Contrary to Goodreads.com this book was published in 1884. The author died in 1894.
A good read for the student of the American Revolutionary War.
Of the thirty thousand Germans who came to North America only half returned to Germany. Twelve hundred were killed in action, while over six thousand died of other causes. About five thousand settled in America.
Lovell used German sources and dairies to identify who the soldiers were and what they did. Anecdotes flesh out the narrative with glimpses of the trials and sufferings of the soldiers (and occasional accompanying family).
The style is dense and some sentences require re-reading. Translated German sources undoubtedly contributed to the stilted style.
Contrary to Goodreads.com this book was published in 1884. The author died in 1894.
A good read for the student of the American Revolutionary War.
December 9, 2018
Great comprehensive read on the Hessians. Our family always said we were from Hessian soldiers but a look into our genealogy proves we were actually Patriots! Any rate this book explains the role of the Hessian soldiers in our revolution which is a lot different than what we used to discuss at our family gatherings. Great read and am passing it on to friends to enjoy.
August 19, 2019
A summary of German actions under British command during the Revolution based on Hession writings.
Mention is made of the disposition of prisoners, particularly after Saratoga, but is much wanting in detail. Lists of tose held in the Fredericksburg and Charlottsville area would have been welocme.
Mention is made of the disposition of prisoners, particularly after Saratoga, but is much wanting in detail. Lists of tose held in the Fredericksburg and Charlottsville area would have been welocme.
September 14, 2017
Edward J. Lowell, an American lawyer and historian with an interest in German participation as mercenaries in the American Revolution, published a book on that involvement in 1884. He outlined the practice, common during the period, of the princes of the German principalities of supplying fighting men to the other European powers—among them, England, which was one of the main customers for such services. The Hessians and the Other German Auxiliaries of Great Britain in the Revolutionary War by Edward J. Lowell, has been reprinted in e-book format, making it accessible to today’s readers.
Originally a series of letters, this book explores the historical background, beginning with the fact that Germany at the time was not a unified nation, but rather a loose collection of independent entities, and exploring in detail the German participation in America’s war for independence from Britain.
Written in the linguist style of the period, Lowell’s book gives the previously untold story of the dreaded Hessians, and their failures and successes in the war. An interesting bit of trivia, for example; while the term Hessian was applied to all German auxiliaries, only a portion of the foreign troops were from Hesse-Cassel, but the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, was one of the most formidable of the suppliers of mercenary troops, and thus, the name was applied to all, regardless of their true origin.
For readers interested in the Revolutionary period, this book puts a human face on the war, providing details that are often lacking in standard histories of the period. It should be required reading for any student of history, and is highly recommended to anyone who wants to know more about the evolution of current American-European relations.
I received a free copy of the book.
Originally a series of letters, this book explores the historical background, beginning with the fact that Germany at the time was not a unified nation, but rather a loose collection of independent entities, and exploring in detail the German participation in America’s war for independence from Britain.
Written in the linguist style of the period, Lowell’s book gives the previously untold story of the dreaded Hessians, and their failures and successes in the war. An interesting bit of trivia, for example; while the term Hessian was applied to all German auxiliaries, only a portion of the foreign troops were from Hesse-Cassel, but the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, was one of the most formidable of the suppliers of mercenary troops, and thus, the name was applied to all, regardless of their true origin.
For readers interested in the Revolutionary period, this book puts a human face on the war, providing details that are often lacking in standard histories of the period. It should be required reading for any student of history, and is highly recommended to anyone who wants to know more about the evolution of current American-European relations.
I received a free copy of the book.
March 24, 2014
Excellent history of the German troops whose regiments fought for the British in the American Revolution. From the jäger corps to the infantry of the Hesse-Jessel regiments. These outstanding troops were fierce adversaries against the Continental Army. These troops were in most of the major battles of the American Revolution from 1775 to 1781.
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January 13, 2011Another great book on a fascinating subject. Good objectivity on a deep subject (Old world vs New)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews