Wilfried--

The story of university educations courtesy of pay as mercenaries sounds a bit apocryphal--it may well be part of your friend's family lore, but your friend's ancestors must then have all been officers-- and as peasants I wouldn't think that's likely. The rank and file were not paid well at all--much of the money went to the local Landgraf or Herzog who was supplying the troops and who was paid even more if a soldier was killed or wounded. ("Hessians" was in fact a catch-all term for German soldiers.)   This arrangement even provided an opportunity for propaganda by Franklin, who wrote a letter, which pointed out the advantages to a purported German duke if there were a lot of casualties.

"Hessians" were famous (or infamous) for looting--at least many of these offenses were charged to "Hessians" by the British---and some were hanged.



It would be fascinating if there were some proof of the story--too bad you can't ask your friend.



One thing I read recently, possibly of interest here, is that when the British were trying to involve foreign soldiers against the American colonies, they first tried to get Russians--specifically for the reason that it would be difficult for them to desert, since there were few Russian speakers in the colonies. On the other hand, there were a lot of German speakers--so sanctuary and blending in with the local population would be easier. But the French and the Germans, for differing reasons, were able to torpedo British neogotiations with Russia.   The Russian troops never came.




The book I'm reading now makes it abundantly clear that the American Revolution was in fact Britain's Vietnam-style quagmire--complete with a very vocal and vociferous opposition, slashing attacks in the press, national security questions, and even riots at home.

The riots appear to be due to other complications. When the French joined the Americans in 1778 (after Saratoga), there was a threat of French invasion of Britain. An inconclusive battle off Ushant resulted in charges and countercharges between Admiral Keppel, who was in charge of the British fleet --(and who was against the American war)-- and Admiral Palliser, who was supported by the pro-war group, including Lords Sandwich and Germain.

It turned out that the log of a ship had been falsified to make it appear that Admiral Keppel had neglected his duty. When the frame-up was discovered and Keppel was acquitted ---(and not, like Admiral Byng, executed on his own flagship), rioting crowds attacked the Admiralty building in Whitehall, "lifting the gates off their hinges"---then went looking for Palliser and his supporters (who included many prominent proponents of the American war, such as Lords North and Germain).