Prisoners of Independence: British and Hessian Enemy Prisoners of War

Prisoners of Independence: British and Hessian Enemy Prisoners of War

Prisoners of Independence: British and Hessian Enemy Prisoners of War is a chapter in The Enemy in Our Hands: America’s Treatment of Prisoners of War from the Revolution to the War on Terror by Robert C. Doyle, published by the University Press of Kentucky. The chapter examines the capture, internment, and treatment of British and Hessian soldiers held by American forces during the Revolutionary War, exploring both logistical challenges and the evolving policies of confinement. Doyle analyzes prison conditions, exchanges, mortality, and the impact on soldier morale, highlighting how early American practices set precedents for the treatment of enemy combatants. Drawing on military correspondence, contemporary reports, and personal accounts, the work situates the experiences of POWs within broader strategic and humanitarian considerations, offering insight into the complexities of managing captured forces in the 18th century.