Darstellungsgruppe
The
German word Jaeger in English means hunter, in French chasseur. The Jaeger Corps
of the landgrave of Hesse-Cassel is the link between the professional hunter and
the soldier. The Jaeger-unit of Hesse-Cassel is most probably the oldest
military Jaeger unit in the German states of the period. It´s existence is
first documented in papers as old as 1631, when Wilhelm V. was landgrave of
Hesse-Cassel. The professional hunters and foresters of the landgrave (hunting
was a privilege of the souvereign; there were no private hunters) where well
suited to serve as sharpshooters, messengers, scouts and commando soldiers
outside the common order of battle.
Hesse-Cassel
and Hesse-Hanau sent more than 1500 Jaegers to serve in the American war of
Independence on the side of the British colonial troops. Only the first
companies, that were sent over the ocean, were recruited from professional
hunters. The rest consisted of regular infantry soldiers who had qualified to
serve in the Jaeger-Corps by excellent marksmanship or other special abilities.
In America the Corps was split and the companies detached to the different
Hessian and British infantry regiments. Thus the Jaegers participated in most
major battles and uncounted skirmishes. Their conduct in the field, loyalty and
success was famous even amongst the enemy. The Jaeger tactics were often
superior to the tactics of the line infantry because of their better mobility in
the uncommon topography of the American landscape, that had lesser roads and
settlements than European war stages.
Uniform
and equipment was very similar to what the Jaeger-Corps of Prussia used at the
same time. Jaegers on foot carried a Jaeger rifle with calibres of .62 and up
and a Hirschfaenger, a hunting sword that originally was used to cut the muscles
of the hind legs of red elk (Hirsch) hunted down in so called Parforce-hunts on
horseback and with a flock of bloodhounds. Mounted Jaegers were equipped with
cavalry sabres and short carbines, carried on a broad shoulder sling. The latter
may have been supplied by the British.
Hessian mounted Jaegers.
Kontakt: Martin H. Heller, e-mail: mmheller@t-online.de