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Betsy "Tara" Ross The hiring of the Hessians, one historian explains, was “irrefutable proof to the colonists that they were to be treated as foreigners.”

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Thank you Tara. The use of Hessians to fight the Colonists had to have been very disrespectful. The British apparently didn't really feel that the American Colonies were equal British citizens. It's no wonder that we declared our Independence and found to get it.

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I was never aware of this story! 🇺🇸

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Thank you Tara!

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Apr 27, 2022·edited Apr 27, 2022

Trenton was the reason German Col. BVon Donop wanted revenge on Colonial troops at Redbank NJ. His plot was discovered by a colonial civilian Hunter who overheard the Hessian plans to capture Redbsnk and Firt Miflin in the Delaware River. These two locations were in strategic command of the river entrance to the port of Philadelphia. The civilian Hunter took his knowledge by running over 20 miles to give Col. Greene at Redbank enough time to construct Abstis and other obstacles that made capturing the fort at Redbank difficult at best. The Hessian Col. Vin Donop was quoted as saying “before the day is over that fort will be renamed Vin Donop”. That was not to be as the PA. Rifle company and Greene’s regulars( four companies of enslaved soldiers fighting for their yankee masters) decimated the Hessian attack. Von Donop was mortally wounded and lost nearly 2/3 of his brigade of 1000 Hessian soldiers. Greene’s troops lost les than 50 men in the battle. To make things sweeter for the Colonials, the British Frigate, Augusta, sent to support the Hessians ran aground near the Redbank fort. The colonials were able to salvage important supplies before the British could scuttle the beached ship. The road to modern day historic Redbank Firt is called Hessian way, I suppose to honor the fallen mercenary soldiers.

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Wondering if the British had better success recruiting in Germany because of their ties to the bloodline of German leaders? Anyone know?

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Thank you, Tara for delving beneath the surface to bring us lesser known details. History, and present times, are often not what they seem.

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Betsy "Tara" Ross The hiring of the Hessians, one historian explains, was “irrefutable proof to the colonists that they were to be treated as foreigners.”

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