Letters from a Hessian Mercenary

 

Letters from a Hessian Mercenary

“Letters from a Hessian Mercenary” by Hans Huth, featuring correspondence from Carl Emil Curt von Donop, edited by C. V. Easum, published in The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography (Vol. 62, No. 4, October 1938, pp. 488–501), presents firsthand letters from a Hessian officer serving in the American Revolutionary War. The letters provide insight into daily life, military operations, and battlefield conditions, detailing von Donop’s experiences during campaigns, interactions with British allies, and the challenges of command and logistics. Easum’s editorial notes place the correspondence in the broader context of Hessian participation and strategy, illuminating both the personal perspective of a mercenary officer and the operational realities faced by German troops in North America. This source is valuable for understanding Hessian military culture, morale, and the human dimension of 18th-century mercenary service.