MacNiven, Robie/Capparoni, Marco (Illustr.) Continental Soldier vs Hessian Soldier. American Revolution 1775-83

During the American War of Independence, the British Crown deployed hired German troops to defeat the Patriots. The newly formed Continental Army, which faced a steep learning curve - some of the soldiers in its ranks were also German-speaking, particularly those from Pennsylvania - faced these lumbering regular troops from Hesse-Kassel, Brunswick and other German principalities. In this fully illustrated account, Robbie MacNiven assesses the combat effectiveness of both sides during the three critical months of fighting in late 1776. At White Plains, New York (28 October 1776), Hessian troops led a Crown Forces attack on the Continental Army; the disciplined Germans turned the Patriot flank and forced the Continental Army to retreat in good order. At Fort Washington, New York (16 November 1776), the Crown Forces inflicted a demoralising defeat on their opponents, with the Hessians forcing the surrender of the Continental garrison. At Trenton, New Jersey (26 December 1776), the Continental Army crossed the Delaware, surprising and defeating a complacent Hessian garrison consisting of three regiments. With archival illustrations, specially commissioned artwork and colour maps, this book reveals the gruelling effects of the American War of Independence on the forces of both sides.