Hessian Jaegers

 

    During the American Revolutionary War, Great Britain employed thousands of German auxiliaries to supplement its military forces in the colonies. Among these troops were the Hessian Jaegers, a specialized light infantry unit recruited from various German states, particularly Hesse-Cassel. Unlike the line infantry typically associated with Hessian forces, the Jaegers were riflemen trained in skirmishing, scouting, and guerrilla tactics. Their role in the American Revolution was significant, particularly in supporting British operations in difficult terrain and against irregular colonial forces.

    The term “Jaeger” translates to “hunter” in German, reflecting the background and skills of these soldiers. Most were recruited from rural areas and were already skilled marksmen, hunters, and woodsmen before joining the military. This made them ideally suited for warfare in the dense forests and rugged landscapes of North America. Armed with rifled muskets—more accurate than the smoothbore muskets used by most troops—the Jaegers excelled at long-range engagements and hit-and-run tactics.

    Hessian Jaegers first arrived in America in 1776 and participated in several major campaigns. They were involved in the British campaign to capture New York, fighting at the Battle of Long Island and later at White Plains. Their ability to operate independently in wooded terrain made them valuable during the Philadelphia campaign of 1777 and later in the southern campaigns. Often used as flankers, scouts, and advance troops, they were frequently deployed to harass and disrupt Patriot forces rather than engage in large-scale battles.

    Although the Jaegers were respected by their British allies for their discipline and effectiveness, they were feared and disliked by many American colonists. Their reputation for ruthlessness—partly due to propaganda and partly due to the nature of their tactics—contributed to negative views of all Hessian soldiers. However, unlike some of their fellow German troops who were conscripts, many Jaegers were volunteers, proud of their elite status.

    After the war, a significant number of Hessian troops, including Jaegers, chose to remain in America rather than return to Germany. Their skills as hunters and woodsmen made them well-suited for life on the frontier, and they integrated into American society over time.

    Over the years I’ve particularly enjoyed reading about and painting Hessians for the American Revolution and plan to continue to do so.  Both Perry Miniatures and Brigade Games offer particularly great representations for these on the tabletop.  The figures here are from Perry Miniatures and based using Warbases.  The basing was done for flexibility such that they could be used for both skirmish games (SharpPractice, Muskets & Tomahawks, Patriots vs Loyalists) and larger scale engagements using rules like British Grenadier.