I do believe that I miss everything about my Jager family.

Captured!

To modern day, there is a strip of land that once had makeshifts and huts overlooking the town. This place would be known as "The Hessian Camp". According to a journal written from a Johann Bense in a Brunswick unit, the Germans were tempted several times with chances of freedom. One option was to give 80 silver talers as a ransom. If he didn't have the money? Well, if a civilian decided to pay the money for him, that lucky or unlucky Hessian could expect to work for that person for 3 years. 

(A replica hut that probably looked like what they stayed in)

The second option was to join the American Army and get 8 talers as a thanks. After the end of the war, they were to be given 100 acres of land. 

Because the Hessians did not join the American Army, they were treated badly. There was not enough room and many men had to lay in the open, in any sort of weather. 

How much is really known about the camp in Reading? Not much. Modern photos reveal what is left today. 

Happy 4th

I spent my 4th of July in Cape Canaveral. It has been a wonderful break away from things, as well as some bad news for me. I got my associates degree in Maryland, and apparently Florida's transfer guidelines are more than what I have. 

I only completed 62 credits with two Ds, meanwhile Florida universities do not accept Ds and require 67 credits. I was not prepared to return to community college, especially after the age of 22. Today is a really picky and hard to deal with day for me. I am still glad to be moving to Florida, but this news is going to have me feeling down for a while.

Goodbye Stranger

On Sunday, Heimerich and I returned his gear to our unit commander. It was a good day spent in my home state. Before returning his gear, I took a picture because I'd love to have a portraiture necklace made as a souvenir for the happy 8 years of Revolutionary War reenacting I was in. There is a small running joke that the green ribbon in Heimerich's coat had become a "unit heirloom". It was something I gave to him 3 or 4 years ago, when he joined the hobby and it had made an appearance at every event. Heimerich took the ribbon off of his coat, but I'm not sure what he is going to make of it. 

On Wednesday, I'll be in Florida to start my apartment search.

Some Rev. War Oddity

I think because the WW2 reenacting scene is filled with younger people, there is generally more enthusiasm. A great deal of people who are young in the WW2 hobby sometimes put more effort into researching their impression, adding some extra "oomph", and actually "acting" while in the battlefield. This does include over dramatic deaths. 

Now that I recall, in all of my 8 years of reenacting, I haven't seen any one actually act. Its called reen-acting for a reason... right? At any of the battles. I've seen commanders leading their unit with balloons tied to their back, but I've never seen anyone yet to get really fun. I think if the young crowd came into Revolutionary War reenacting, there would be fake arms flying in the air, blood packs hidden under the sleeves of clothing, and some great screams. 

So you can imagine, that when I saw Heimerich screaming and hobbling over from at a great distance, I was 99% convinced that he had actually twisted his ankle or broke something out on the field. Sweat tickled my forehead. "Is that guy joking?" I looked to the spectator next to me and we both seemed to be dazed. It wasn't until a few moments, Heimerich got closer and I sighed. If it was a WW2 reenactment, I probably wouldn't have paid any mind to this at all! I was wondering why Heimerich and our Feldjager friend instantly got up though. (When you die, you're suppose to stay down. 

Reality, you know? At least until the battle is over and the dead rises.) Apparently a calvary rider had told them to get out of the way. No room for fun, right?

Mutiny for Ansbach-Bayreuth

Ansbach-Bayreuth Regiment

Troops Marching out of Ansbach

In 1777, on the 10th of March, the Ansbach and Bayreuth regiments had a bit of a spat. Fueled by alcohol and anger (homesickness, did not want to be in the army, conditions), a group of Ansbach Hessians disembarked the ship and refused to leave their spot. The Jager Corps were ordered to take a post on some heights and fire shots to intimidate the rebels. Fire was returned, and some rebels were wounded in their legs. This lasted for about two hours, and in the process the city was blocked off and drawbridges were raised. In his diary, Private Dohla says that because of this incident, there was a great antipathy between them and the Jagers, which even continued until after the war.