Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 December 1885 — The Hessians as They Were. [ARTICLE]

The Hessians as They Were.

The diary of Capt. Pausch, commander of Burgoyne’s Haynau Artillery, a manuscript pf 170 pages, found in the State Library at Cassel, and a copy recently secured by Coi. Stone, on which treasure-trove the Nation of October lfi has a three-column editorial. Capt. PaUsch’s journal is naturally most copious in describing the three battles in which he and Iqs famous battery bore an active part, viz., the naval action against Arnold on Lake Champlain, and the battles on the ISth of September and the 7th of October, which resulted in the surrender of Burgoyne. It, however, dwells freely on the personal experience of this officer and his men, and one gets glimpses into the private life of these execrated Hessian soldiers which makes one lament their hard and unhonored fate. The author says naively that, when on detached service with an English force who were ignorant of German, as he was of English, he felt, with David, “like a pelican in the wilderness. ” His men, in their hard voyage over, in a ship which had been a Guinea slaver, “never forgot to sing devotional hymns morning and evening—the offering due to their Mighty Protector.” Arrived here, many of them were in hospital from diarrhoea, “and their homesick talk, night and day, as long as their breath held out, was of brides and wives, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and other relatives left behind in their beloved Haynau.” It was har<L lines for them, indeed. The shame of their being here was not theirs, but the caitiff King’s who'sold them to the English to fight against the liberties of a brave young nation. “Theirs not to reason why. Theirs not to make reply, Theirs but to do, or die." Both off cers and men were cavalierly treated by their English comrades, which sank deep in their martial souls. English officers could command Germans; but German officers could have no authority over English soldiers; and an attempt was made to deprive Capt. Pausch’s men of side arms when off duty. Pausch testifies to the Yankees, or "rebels,” as he calls them, firing so well at Valcour Island, under Arnold, as to sink one of his vessels, and firing when their own were sinking. How bravely, in this single line, does one see these comrades of our gallant forefathers disappearing to mortal sight to people the realm of imperishable renown ! ■,