British Light Infantry in the 18th Century

The Hessians earned very evil repute in America, whether they deserved it or not is hard to say; probably like most German soldiers they were addicted to pillage and drunkenness, nevertheless, they were brave and useful troops. The traditional fear of the Hessian name survived in America until as late as 1864. In an address of the Congress of the Southern States to the people made this year, we read: "The Administration (of Lincoln) has been able thus far, by its legion of Hessian mercenaries, to overawe the masses, to control the elections, and to establish an arbitrary despotism." After Trenton, Washington marched one thousand Hessian prisoners through the streets that the people might cease to think them invincible.

In "The Narrative of Lieut.-General Sir William Howe" in a Committee of the House of Commons on April 29th, 1779, published 1780, Sir William Howe greatly praised the Hessians. In his evidence Major-General Robertson stated: ". . . In regard to what the General mentions, of posting the Hessians on the left of the cantonments (at Trenton), I must say, I ever had, and still have, the highest opinion of those brave troops. The misfortune at Trenton was owing entirely to the imprudence and negligence of the Commanding Officer. On all other occasions, the troops ever had behaved, and, I dare say, ever will behave, with the greatest courage and intrepidity. The behaviour, on the attack of Fort Washington (afterwards named Fort Knyphausen) of this very brigade of Colonel Rhall's, was the admiration of the whole army."

The early history of the Hessians as mercenaries is interesting. The following notes are taken from Walter Copland Perry's article, "On the Employment of Mercenaries in Ancient and Modem Times," in "The Nineteenth Century Review," of February 1907.

In 1587, Queen Elizabeth entered into correspondence with the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel to raise troops in his dominion; he, however, refused.

After the Thirty Years' War, the smaller German princelets grew in importance and began to ape Louis XIV. One of these petty despots had a body-guard of fifty men who wore high heels and had two bearskins among them which the sentinels at the Palace assumed in turns. Another regiment had three different uniforms for the same soldiers, so that at various times they might be Grenadiers, Cuirassiers or Jaegers. Another prince had a squadron of Dragoons on foot, who at reviews were ordered to neigh to help the illusion. The traffic in the blood of subjects was begun on a large scale by the Landgrave Karl of Hesse-Cassel.

At Blenheim the Hessians fought well.

In 1731, Mr. Walpole moved for a grant of £230,923. IIs. 8d. for the maintenance of 12,000 Hessians. In 1777, Lord Chatham, then in the opposition, stated: "We have swept every comer of Germany for men; we have searched the darkest wilds of America for the scalping-knife of the Indian. . . . Peace will never be gained as long as the German bayonet and the Indian tomahawk are threatened to be buried in the bowels of our American brethren."

Most of these troops were raised by Frederick VII. Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel who left behind him a hundred children. He provided for these after the manner of the Persian Kings, by raising the tax on salt on the birth of each son. Though extravagant and wasteful he left behind him 60,000,000 thalers. His son Wilhelm continued the traffic and eventually was overthrown by Napoleon. Wilhelm strove his utmost to rival his father in the family propensity; he failed, though not ignominiously, for he left ninety-four natural children behind him, twenty-two of whom were born to him by Fraulein von Schlotheim, "alle ohne Liebe," as the poor victim said.