Washington's Crossing from the Other Side: Three Hessian Soldiers' Stories of Defeat and Capture at the Battle of Trenton

About this episode

The episode explores the stories of three Hessian soldiers during the Battle of Trenton, revealing their experiences and perspectives.

Emanuel Leutze's iconic painting Washington Crossing the Delaware shows the general standing heroically at the bow of his boat, staring toward an unseen enemy across the icy river. But who were those enemies waiting on the other side? They were Hessian soldiers from a small German state called Hesse-Kassel, forced conscripts sent to fight in a war they didn't understand, against democratic principles they were simultaneously being taught to admire back home. These men weren't the drunken barbarians of American mythology, but rather disciplined soldiers—many influenced by Voltaire and Enlightenment ideals—who fought in major battles from Long Island to Fort Washington before their fateful encounter at Trenton. Today's guest is Dr. Steven Bier, author of Facing Washington's Crossing: The Hessians and the Battle of Trenton . Through newly translated German documents, Bier follows three Hessian soldiers through the chaos of December 26, 1776: 17-year-old Private Johannes Reuber, Lieutenant Jakob Piel who desperately tried to wake Colonel Rall as musket fire erupted, and Lieutenant Andreas Wiederhold, whose outpost was the first to spot Washington's approaching army…

People in this episode

Host: History Unplugged

Guest: Dr. Steven Bier

Topics covered

• Hessian soldiers
• Battle of Trenton
• American Revolution
• Enlightenment ideals
• military history

Keywords

• Hessian soldiers
• Battle of Trenton
• George Washington
• Emanuel Leutze
• military history
• Enlightenment
• American Revolution

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Hesse-Kassel

Books & works: Washington Crossing the Delaware

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