American Revolution Round Table - April 2026
Special guest Steven Bier, author of Facing Washington's Crossing: The Hessians and the Battle of Trenton joined us to discuss the topic of his book.
Introduction and Inspiration
Steven Bier: I originally set out to write about Washington’s crossing, but I couldn't find any new primary material—it had been beat to death. Then the computer almost took over as I discovered documents about the Hessians that were underused or never used. It was an interesting idea, and I decided to write it.
The "Business" of Hesse-Cassel
Mike: I found it fascinating to learn about Landgrave Frederick II. Most only know he rented his army to King George.
Steven Bier: Hesse-Cassel was a tiny principality about the size of Connecticut with 300,000 subjects. It ended up at a focal point in history because the land was not fertile and money was hard to come by. Even the upper class would have been considered middle class in the colonies. Frederick's great-grandfather began renting out soldiers to make money, and over a hundred years, the "commodity" of Hesse-Cassel became its male citizens.
Mike: It makes sense because maintaining an army was expensive, and renting them out was an interesting way to deal with that conundrum.
Steven Bier: Frederick II was actually an Enlightenment leader who wanted to reform his country. The great irony is that he brought Enlightenment and liberties to his people by selling them off as soldiers to raise the money for it. He was personally involved in every little regulation, much like Winston Churchill. He taxed everything from dogs to butchers and even required newlyweds to plant a certain amount of flowers and trees. He also established social programs, such as a home where pregnant women could leave babies anonymously.
Mike: Life at home seemed miserable—the people were poor, illiterate, and heavily taxed. Were they used to being shipped off to war?
Steven Bier: They were used to it. It was like gravity—it wasn't changing. But this was big money; hundreds of millions in today’s dollars passed from the British to Frederick.
Terminology and Perspective
Mike: We call them "mercenaries," but you note they referred to themselves as "auxiliaries." Is that accurate?
Steven Bier: Legally, they were auxiliaries under defense pacts. From Frederick’s perspective, it was a business (mercenary), but for the common soldier, they were just doing their job for a regular paycheck. They often had no idea what the fight was about and were shocked when they reached America. They landed in Staten Island and saw walnut trees, wild berries, and farms so prosperous the farmers owned their own carriages and had wallpaper in their homes. They couldn't understand why people in "paradise" would fight against their prince.
The Atlantic Crossing
Mike: You describe the crossing as a horrific experience.
Steven Bier: It was "miserable with a capital M." These were landlocked farmers who had never seen the ocean; some even thought they could just march to Spain and then to America. They were crammed six to a bunk, and the weather was brutal. During storms, they were battened down in total darkness for days, with everyone vomiting and things flying about. There were even duels on board; one British officer killed a German officer in a duel after an insult.
Key Figures and Records Mike: You focus on individuals like private Johannes Reuber and officers Andreas Wiederhold and Jacob Piel.
Steven Bier: Yes. Wiederhold left extensive writings that I found digitized in German. I used my iPhone to translate them. It’s a perspective from low-level officers and men that has not gotten its due.
Propaganda and Campaigns
Mike: Once in New York, did they understand the conflict?
Steven Bier: They were manipulated by both sides. British propaganda convinced them the rebels were ungrateful, while American propaganda—starting with the Declaration of Independence—called the Hessians "barbarians". Despite this, the Hessians fought effectively. At Fort Washington, they climbed a steep hillside under heavy fire while Americans threw boulders over the edge. They took the fort so quickly that both armies were literally running for the entrance at the same time.
Mike: You mention that British leadership, like General Howe, often held them back.
Steven Bier: Howe moved at a glacial pace. After capturing Fort Washington, the British did nothing for a week. They chased Washington out of Newark and then sat for two days.
The Road to Trenton
Mike: At Trenton, Washington famously collected all the boats to freeze the British Empire on the other side of the river.
Steven Bier: Yes, he snatched anything that could float. The British didn't have the "killer instinct" to just build rowboats and cross. Instead, the Hessians were left in miserable outposts while the British officers went back to New York to have parties and plays. The Hessians were exhausted by constant guerrilla attacks, sleeping in their clothes for a week before the battle even started.
The Battle and Its Aftermath
Mike: And then the storm happened during the Battle of Trenton.
Steven Bier: The storm decided everything. It snowed, hailed, and rained, which "overwhelmed the technology of the age". Andreas Wiederhold stepped out of his picket house and saw movement in the snow; he was standing at the most vulnerable point of the British Empire as the world was about to change.
Mike: Many were taken prisoner and eventually worked on American farms.
Steven Bier: It was a "gentleman’s war" then; Washington even invited captured officers to dinner. Congress sent them to work on farms in German-speaking areas of Pennsylvania and Virginia, hoping they would stay. Surprisingly, about 80% eventually returned to Germany.
The Rothschild Connection
Mike: You also discovered an interesting connection to the Rothschilds.
Steven Bier: The Rothschild banking empire was partially built on managing the money King George paid to Hesse-Cassel. Mayer Amschel Rothschild gained the trust of Frederick’s son, William, by purposely selling him rare coins at a loss. This relationship allowed Rothschild to eventually manage the state's massive wealth.
Conclusion
Mike: This book gives a whole new perspective on the New York and New Jersey campaigns.
Steven Bier: Thank you. It was a pleasure discussing this with your group.
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