Hessians

Hessians refers to professional soldiers from the German state of Hesse, especially the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel, who served as mercenaries for Britain during the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783). The practice arose when Britain hired foreign contingents to supplement its forces in North America; contracts were arranged by the ruling house of Hesse-Kassel and paid for by Britain. In practice, tens of thousands of German troops from Hesse-Kassel and other states served as auxiliaries, forming a substantial portion of the forces deployed to the American continents.

They were primarily infantry, though cavalry and support units also participated. Hessian troops fought in several major campaigns in the northern colonies, including the Battle of Long Island (1776), the Battle of Trenton (1776), and the Battle of Brandywine (1777), as well as operations in the Southern Theater such as Savannah (1779) and Charleston (1780). They were recognized for drill and discipline, often employing tight formations and bayonet charges.

After the war, most Hessian soldiers returned to their homeland when peace terms permitted, though some remained in British service or settled temporarily in North America. The term Hessian, in American usage, became a generic label for German mercenaries in the Revolutionary War. The episode illustrates eighteenth-century mercenary warfare and the complexities of international military contracts within global conflicts.