American History from German Archives (Part XIII: German Soldiers in the Revolution and Franklin’s Visit to Germany) by J. G. Rosengarten (Lancaster, Pa., 1904) is a documentary-based historical study prepared for the Pennsylvania-German Society that examines German archival material relating to early American history, with a major focus on the American Revolutionary War.
The work is built primarily on German-language archival sources, correspondence, and official records, particularly those relating to German states such as the Electorate of Hesse that supplied auxiliary troops to Britain during the Revolutionary War. Rosengarten uses these materials to reconstruct recruitment, organization, and deployment practices of German soldiers serving in North America, as well as their administrative relationship with both their home governments and British command structures.
A significant portion of the study addresses the presence and activities of German auxiliary forces—commonly referred to as “Hessians”—in the American theater. It examines regimental correspondence, military orders, and administrative records to provide a German archival perspective on campaigns, logistics, and soldier experiences, complementing American narrative sources.
In addition to military documentation, the work also includes material on Benjamin Franklin’s diplomatic and scientific visit to German-speaking regions. This section highlights intellectual and cultural exchanges between American and German elites in the 18th century, illustrating broader transatlantic connections beyond the wartime context.
Rosengarten’s study is structured as a critical documentary compilation rather than a continuous narrative history. It reflects the aims of the Pennsylvania-German Society to recover and publish German-language sources relevant to American history, particularly those illuminating the role of German-speaking populations and institutions in shaping early American military and diplomatic history.
