The Hessian Prison Camp, Reading, Pennsylvania, 1776–1783 by Jane A. Kevin and Summer Owen is a local historical study of German auxiliary prisoners held in and around Reading, Pennsylvania during the American Revolutionary War.
The book focuses on the confinement of captured “Hessian” soldiers—many from the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel—between 1776 and 1783. It reconstructs how prisoners were distributed, guarded, and administered under American authority following their capture in early campaigns of the war.
A central theme is the daily life of prisoners, including housing (often in barracks or private homes), food supply, labor arrangements, discipline, and health conditions. The study shows that imprisonment frequently involved regulated labor and relative freedom of movement under parole rather than constant confinement.
The work also explores the relationship between prisoners and the local population, highlighting interactions with civilians, instances of escape, and cases where soldiers chose to remain in America after the war, contributing to local communities.
Drawing on local newspaper clippings, the book provides a detailed reconstruction of this specific prison system and its administration.
