The Prussian army did not hire out regiments. There were about six different states that furnished troops to England for service in America Prussia was not one of them. The Hessen and other soldiers in the American revolution fought well and bravely. Only a few deserted while a number received their discharge and stayed in America. The majority returned to Germany after their service was over. For more information on these troops see the series of books by Bruce Burgoyne which are available from Heritage Books. David Rorer ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sylvia Stoltz" <sylvanem@alphalink.com.au> To: <HESSE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 12:14 AM Subject: Re: [HESSE] Hessian Soldiers > Hi Lisa > Was most interested to see your message about conscripts into the Prussian > army. We have the same story about my Grandfather from Hesse-Darmstadt. > Also a story that he and a brother "escaped" to Italy and came to Australia > from there in 1856. (He was then 37). We have on record (in his obituary) > that he was injured in the "Civil War" which I assumed was the Revolution of > 1848. I have not been able to trace him as an emigrant from Hamburg and > passenger lists for arrivals at Moreton Bay in 1856 were lost in a flood. > I don't know what other records are available. > Some time ago I read an article which stated that at that time young German > males were snatched from their families and conscripted into the Prussian > army, which was hired out to other countries. Apparently that is how there > came to be a Hessian army in the American war, hired by George III. Most of > the soldiers were unwilling participants and some managed to escape and even > fight with the Americans. > For some interesting reading (fact + fiction) see if your library has a copy > of "Right hand of God". I don't have a record of the author... it was one of > a series. > > History is a mystery!!!! > > Sylvia - Melbourne > > ----- Original Message -----

David Interesting stuff about Hessian soldiers. You seem to have a good source for information on this subject. Sylvia ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Rorer" <drorer@fuse.net> To: <HESSE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 6:57 AM Subject: Re: [HESSE] Hessian Soldiers > The Prussian army did not hire out regiments. > There were about six different states that furnished troops to England for service in > America Prussia was not one of them. > > The Hessen and other soldiers in the American revolution fought well and bravely. Only a > few deserted while a number received their discharge and stayed in America. The majority > returned to Germany after their service was over. > > For more information on these troops see the series of books by Bruce Burgoyne which are > available from Heritage Books. > > David Rorer > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Sylvia Stoltz" <sylvanem@alphalink.com.au> > To: <HESSE-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 12:14 AM > Subject: Re: [HESSE] Hessian Soldiers > > > > Hi Lisa > > Was most interested to see your message about conscripts into the Prussian > > army. We have the same story about my Grandfather from Hesse-Darmstadt. > > Also a story that he and a brother "escaped" to Italy and came to Australia > > from there in 1856. (He was then 37). We have on record (in his obituary) > > that he was injured in the "Civil War" which I assumed was the Revolution of > > 1848. I have not been able to trace him as an emigrant from Hamburg and > > passenger lists for arrivals at Moreton Bay in 1856 were lost in a flood. > > I don't know what other records are available. > > Some time ago I read an article which stated that at that time young German > > males were snatched from their families and conscripted into the Prussian > > army, which was hired out to other countries. Apparently that is how there > > came to be a Hessian army in the American war, hired by George III. Most of > > the soldiers were unwilling participants and some managed to escape and even > > fight with the Americans. > > For some interesting reading (fact + fiction) see if your library has a copy > > of "Right hand of God". I don't have a record of the author... it was one of > > a series. > > > > History is a mystery!!!! > > > > Sylvia - Melbourne > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > ==== HESSE Mailing List ==== > Many towns in Germany have the same name! Add the 5-digit > zip code in front of the name! Zip codes explained, > http://members.cox.net/hessen/table.htm >

I have nearly all of Bruce Burgoyne's books as well as a bookcase full of books on German history. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sylvia Stoltz" <sylvanem@alphalink.com.au> To: "David Rorer" <drorer@fuse.net>; <HESSE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 10:53 PM Subject: Re: [HESSE] Hessian Soldiers > David > > Interesting stuff about Hessian soldiers. You seem to have a good source for > information on this subject. > > Sylvia > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "David Rorer" <drorer@fuse.net> > To: <HESSE-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 6:57 AM > Subject: Re: [HESSE] Hessian Soldiers > > > > The Prussian army did not hire out regiments. > > There were about six different states that furnished troops to England for > service in > > America Prussia was not one of them. > > > > The Hessen and other soldiers in the American revolution fought well and > bravely. Only a > > few deserted while a number received their discharge and stayed in > America. The majority > > returned to Germany after their service was over. > > > > For more information on these troops see the series of books by Bruce > Burgoyne which are > > available from Heritage Books. > > > > David Rorer > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Sylvia Stoltz" <sylvanem@alphalink.com.au> > > To: <HESSE-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 12:14 AM > > Subject: Re: [HESSE] Hessian Soldiers > > > > > > > Hi Lisa > > > Was most interested to see your message about conscripts into the > Prussian > > > army. We have the same story about my Grandfather from Hesse-Darmstadt. > > > Also a story that he and a brother "escaped" to Italy and came to > Australia > > > from there in 1856. (He was then 37). We have on record (in his > obituary) > > > that he was injured in the "Civil War" which I assumed was the > Revolution of > > > 1848. I have not been able to trace him as an emigrant from Hamburg and > > > passenger lists for arrivals at Moreton Bay in 1856 were lost in a > flood. > > > I don't know what other records are available. > > > Some time ago I read an article which stated that at that time young > German > > > males were snatched from their families and conscripted into the > Prussian > > > army, which was hired out to other countries. Apparently that is how > there > > > came to be a Hessian army in the American war, hired by George III. > Most of > > > the soldiers were unwilling participants and some managed to escape and > even > > > fight with the Americans. > > > For some interesting reading (fact + fiction) see if your library has a > copy > > > of "Right hand of God". I don't have a record of the author... it was > one of > > > a series. > > > > > > History is a mystery!!!! > > > > > > Sylvia - Melbourne > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > > > > > ==== HESSE Mailing List ==== > > Many towns in Germany have the same name! Add the 5-digit > > zip code in front of the name! Zip codes explained, > > http://members.cox.net/hessen/table.htm > > > >