Examining the push-pull factors for German-Americans on the eve of the American Revolution.
By Robert A. Selig
“A few Minutes past, a curious Phenomenon appeared at the Door of our Congress. A German Hussar, a veteran in the Wars of Germany, in his Uniform, and on Horse back, a forlorn Cap upon his Head, with a Streamer waiving from it half down his Waistband, with a Deaths Head painted in Front a beautiful Hussar Cloak ornamented with Lace and Fringe and Cord of Gold, a Scarlet Waist coat under it, with shining yellow metal Buttons—a Light Gun strung over his shoulder—and a Turkish Sabre … very large and excellently fortified by his side—Holster and Pistols upon his Horse—In short the most warlike and formidable Figure, I ever saw. He says he has fifty Such Men ready to enlist under him immediately who have been all used to the service as Hussars in Germany, and desirous to ride to Boston immediately in order to see Burgoignes light Horse. This would have a fine Effect upon the Germans through the Continent, of whom there are Multitudes.”
John Adams’ letter of 6 July 1775, written from Philadelphia where he attended the meetings of the Second Continental Congress in the Pennsylvania State House (today’s Independence Hall) to his friend James Warren in Boston, illustrates the electrifying atmosphere in the city less than three months after the Battle of Lexington and Concord of 19 April. Warren passed Adams’ description of the war-like German hussar to the Boston Gazette and Country Journal, which printed it in its 24 July 1775 edition; and to the Massachusetts Spy, which ran the story on 2 August. Tying even a few of the “multitudes” of German-speaking colonists to the American cause had to be on the “to do” list of every member of the Continental Congress now that the first rounds had been fired in the struggle against the House of Commons in London. But there was a second reason for Adams mentioning the Germans. “I should not myself be fond of raising many Soldiers out of N. England.” Adams was afraid that the other colonies held a “Jealousy, that New England will soon be full of Veteran Soldiers” who might be used to execute “Designs unfavorable to the Other Colonies”. Let other colonies where attachment to the common cause was yet weak raise troops, since “by engaging their own Gentleman and Peasants and Germans &c they shall rivet their People to the public Cause”.
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