What did the hessians do?

Answer 1

The Hessians were auxilliary troops "rented" from their rulers by Britain to fight in the Revolutionary War. Hessia or now known as Hesse, is a region in Germany, although many "Hessians" were from other German states as well. Many of them were forced to fight by their Hof or Land owners, Barons and Princes and such, as they were under their rule. Some believed they were being contracted by the English to fight the Indian savages that were "terrorizing the colonies". In fact from the Native American point of view, the colonies were growing fast and needed territory to expand, and basically the Colonists, or people who emigrated to the New World for opportunity, basically robbed them and often times slaughtered them for their land since such transactions did not go down without dispute. But that's another story for another time.

Hessians were basically badass, but had morals and ethics. Some of them, realizing they were fighting Colonists(not "Americans" yet since they hadn't won independence)put down their weapons and joined their ranks to fight the English or disappeared into obscurity but less than 25% of them settled in the New America country. 25% were killed in action or died of illness because back then medical science was not so great and many men fought in the cold and bad weather and caught bad colds, and died. The rest returned to Hessia, where we can probably speculate their ancestors eventually returned to America as immigrants at some time or another, as Germans represented the largest percentage of American Immigrant.

Some Colonists still were loyal to The Crown (England) and did not approve of the English sending in Hessians, who they viewed as mercenaries, to handle the Rebels (future Americans). They felt they were worth more than that and deserved English fighters. Well the Rebels i.e. Continental Army was a rag-tag Army, not well clothed, not much supplies or food, but they fought for Independence. They lost a few battles to the English (and Hessians) but won the war.

Hessians usually supported English Regiments or fought on their own. The engagements varied greatly by weather, terrain, supplies, location, etc. The Rebels(Continental Army) fought alongside the French and some German military officers also trained some Rebels in close combat since many didn't have ammunition for musket in some battles so a famous commander, Baron Von Steuben, trained them how to use bayonet, and often times Rebels would win battles without ammo, only using bayonet.

So in short the Hessians were auxilliary troops who fought under contract of The Crown but forced by their respective rulers back home in Germany, to stop the Rebels in the Colonies.

Answer 2

The Hessians were auxilliary troops "rented" from their rulers by Britain to fight in the Revolutionary War. Hessia or now known as Hesse, is a region in Germany, although many "Hessians" were from other German states as well. Many of them were forced to fight by their Hof or Land owners, Barons and Princes and such, as they were under their rule. Some believed they were being contracted by the English to fight the Indian savages that were "terrorizing the colonies". In fact from the Native American point of view, the colonies were growing fast and needed territory to expand, and basically the Colonists, or people who emigrated to the New World for opportunity, basically robbed them and often times slaughtered them for their land since such transactions did not go down without dispute. But that's another story for another time.

Hessians were basically badass, but had morals and ethics. Some of them, realizing they were fighting Colonists(not "Americans" yet since they hadn't won independence)put down their weapons and joined their ranks to fight the English or disappeared into obscurity but less than 25% of them settled in the New America country. 25% were killed in action or died of illness because back then medical science was not so great and many men fought in the cold and bad weather and caught bad colds, and died. The rest returned to Hessia, where we can probably speculate their ancestors eventually returned to America as immigrants at some time or another, as Germans represented the largest percentage of American Immigrant.

Some Colonists still were loyal to The Crown (England) and did not approve of the English sending in Hessians, who they viewed as mercenaries, to handle the Rebels (future Americans). They felt they were worth more than that and deserved English fighters. Well the Rebels i.e. Continental Army was a rag-tag Army, not well clothed, not much supplies or food, but they fought for Independence. They lost a few battles to the English (and Hessians) but won the war.

Hessians usually supported English Regiments or fought on their own. The engagements varied greatly by weather, terrain, supplies, location, etc. The Rebels(Continental Army) fought alongside the French and some German military officers also trained some Rebels in close combat since many didn't have ammunition for musket in some battles so a famous commander, Baron Von Steuben, trained them how to use bayonet, and often times Rebels would win battles without ammo, only using bayonet.

So in short the Hessians were auxilliary troops who fought under contract of The Crown but forced by their respective rulers back home in Germany, to stop the Rebels in the Colonies.