This is the second volume in a highly detailed study of the German
auxiliary troops who fought for Britain in the American Revolutionary
War and won a distinguished reputation on a host of battlefields.
During the American Revolutionary War (1775-83), German auxiliary troops
provided a vital element of the British war effort. While the largest
body of German troops was from Hessen-Cassel (see the first volume of
this study), the first Germans to be contracted by the British were from
the Duchy of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel -- 4,300 men including dismounted
dragoons, artillery and light infantry. Hessen-Hanau initially
contributed one infantry regiment and an artillery company, which were
also captured at Saratoga; Hessen-Hanau later provided the British with
Jäger and light infantry troops. An infantry regiment contributed by the
Principality of Waldeck and Pyrmont served alongside the troops of
Hessen-Cassel during the New York campaign of 1776-77. The margraviates
of Brandenburg Ansbach and Brandenburg-Bayreuth initially sent 1,600 men
including a full regiment of Jäger; these troops fought in the
Philadelphia campaign of 1777-78 and some were present at the siege of
Yorktown in 1781. Finally, the Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst sent two
battalions of infantry which served in Canada and New York City. Fully
illustrated, this lively study examines the organization, appearance,
weapons, and equipment of these German auxiliary troops who fought for
King George in the American Revolutionary War.
