The Hessians were, however, of doubtful benefit to the
British. It angered the Americans that hired troops should be
used against them, an anger not lessened by the contempt which
the Hessians showed for the colonial officers as plebeians.
The two sides were much alike in their qualities and were
skillful in propaganda. In Britain lurid tales were told of the
colonists scalping the wounded at Lexington and using poisoned
bullets at Bunker Hill. In America every prisoner in British
hands was said to be treated brutally and every man slain in the
fighting to have been murdered. The use of foreign troops was a
fruitful theme. The report ran through the colonies that the
Hessians were huge ogre-like monsters, with double rows of teeth
round each jaw, who had come at the call of the British tyrant to
slay women and children. In truth many of the Hessians became
good Americans. In spite of the loyalty of their officers they
were readily induced to desert. The wit of Benjamin Franklin was
enlisted to compose telling appeals, translated into simple
German, which promised grants of land to those who should abandon
an unrighteous cause. The Hessian trooper who opened a packet of
tobacco might find in the wrapper appeals both to his virtue and
to his cupidity.
Pages:
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186