Hessians, << HEH shuhnz, >> were German soldiers hired by the British to fight the colonists during the Revolutionary War in America (1775-1783). About 30,000 Hessians fought in the war. They were called Hessians because most of them came from Hesse-Kassel in central Germany. The Hessians were victims of a European system by which governments sold men into military service. They were paid about 25 cents a day. Princes who sold the Hessians’ services pocketed a large bonus from the British government.
The Hessians were not particularly interested in the war, but they were well trained and fought well. Their performance in the battles of Long Island, Fort Washington, Brandywine, Newport, and Charleston caused the American troops to respect their fighting ability. The defeat of the Hessians at Trenton on Dec. 26, 1776, boosted American morale. Some Hessians were won over to the American cause and deserted the British army. Many remained in the United States after the war.
