MovieChat Forums > The Crossing (2000) Discussion > So what happened to the Hessians at Tren...

So what happened to the Hessians at Trenton (after the battle)?????

posted 10 years ago by Draco1138
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Colonel Rohl, on his death bed, has the NERVE to say that his men are good brave soldiers with honor and besieges Washington not to rob them. Mercenaries by definition (in my opinion) have no honor, killing for a price---killing anyone, not for a cause they believe in with their own heart.

Meanwhile outside you see The Continental Army saying to check the Hessians pockets (likely for money), taking their helmets and perhaps thinking of their value as a trophy or money, telling them to sit down, not talk, insulting them (rightfully and justifiably as "mercenary bastards", and my favorite "What are you lookin' at?!"

***If I was there I'd take their *clothing, money, all things of value*, and of course all military valuable items too (which were captured).****

I would imagine the Hessian clothing would be great to keep warm, use in covert intel and sneaking into camps, and used for surprise attacks in their clothing.

So what happened to them? Were they all put in stockades? Makeshift POW camps, forced to fight for them or be killed (and paid with their own money), what? I don't remember that part of the history class. I am guessing they were marched out as prisoners and could be a great PR/propaganda piece to use in recruitment and send a message back to England.

I really liked how Washington spoke of how he owed Colonel Rahl nothing, no sympathy should be shown for him or his Hessians. He spoke to General Greene of his of disdain for the situation, that it isn't a parlor game, and he needn't pay his respects. Washington had some great lines as to why he hated them, mercenaries who slaughtered 500 his men while they tried to surrender, skewered them in the backs. General Greene hit him hard with the idea that we all fight for money in one form or another.

Washington took the high road and decided to visit Rahl dying, showing them we Americans aren't savages (though the Hessians appeared to be).

[–] BridgetB 10 years ago

I enjoyed the film but anybody interested in this era ought to read David Hackett Fischer's Washington's Crossing. This immensely readable book tells the whole story; alas, it came out after the film was made. To correct the first error--the Hessians were not drunk or hungover when Washington attacked. And I believe that little dramatic scene near the end was invented; Washington had no problem meeting with the dying Colonel Rall.

The Hessians were not modern-day mercenaries, freelance soldiers for hire. Hesse was one of several impoverished German states where men were encouraged (& sometimes conscripted) to serve their prince--who would hire them out to foreign powers. They took pride in their service. At the beginning of the Revolution, they (& some Highlanders) were known to take no quarter; generally, they were considered fierce & honorable foes. Early in the War, the Continentals made a point of treating prisoners fairly well; when the War moved to the South, things got uglier on both sides.

The POW's from Trenton were mostly put to work on farms. The officers were probably paroled. After the War, a fair number of Hessians decided to stay in a country that offered more opportunity.

[–] Draco1138 10 years ago

I know they weren't drunk. I don't think that was implied in the movie. The guards were up, eating, and put up a fight. Then the entire detachment of Hessians attempted to form the battle lines, meanwhile the rebels are coming closer with fixed bayonets---cold steel. The drummer is drumming "formation" and they are measuring their place...anytime they'd get ready General Knox and his men, "FIRE!" BOOM!

However, I agree: history has shown they weren't drunk that morning, it was a great sneak attack, and the capture of goods was a major coup for the Continental Army.