The Hessians: Mercenaries from Hessen-Kassel in the American Revolution

by Rodney Atwood

The Hessians are infamous in American history for their role as part of the British forces sent to crush the colonists' rebellion in 1776. Yet these German auxiliaries, or mercenaries were only one instance of a frequent military practice, approved by international jurists of the time and used by the British in all their eighteenth-century wars. This study (dealing with one of the six contingents known inaccurately as the Hessians) is the first to make extensive use of manuscript sources in Germany, Britain and America to put the Hessians in their historical context and to examine a number of the myths about them. The encounter of the Americans with the Hessian troops from a disciplined paternalistic society organized for war, with special thoroughness, was not merely the meeting of two military systems, but also of two ways of life, and is thus worthy of study in an age of conflict.

Genres: Germany, American Revolutionary War, 18th Century, History

308 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Rodney Atwood received his PhD from the University of Cambridge, UK, and has served in the Royal Tank Regiment.

Reviews

[Sean Chick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A social and military history of a contingent covered in mythology. Atwood places the Hessians within the context of European warfare in the era, showing that they were not an unusual lot, and incidents of plunder and desertion were on par with other armies and wars. The difference is the Hessians were on the losing side and there was a growing consensus against hiring out troops. The American and then the French Revolution signaled the end of the practice, while nationalism and capitalism placed a general stigma on hiring out soldiers. Atwood's best command analysis is that the average Hessian officer was from training and experience unsuited to independent command.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want one book to understand who the Hessians were in the American Revolution, this is it. I cannot praise Atwood's work enough.

[Steven]

Great book! Love the subject matter. Good info on hard to find details.