Von Wreden's Feldjager Reenacting Unit

10/16/2026

Did you know? Over 1,000 Hessian prisoners of war were once housed in Reading, Pennsylvania?

In 1776, Reading was populated largely by German immigrants, so it was natural that German POWs be housed there. By 1781, there were so many POWs in Reading that they required their own barracks, build on Mt. Penn. After some initial trepidation, the prisoners largely got on well with the locals - often working in local shops and farms. Freedoms that the British POWs were not afforded!

Tomorrow, we and other Hessian reenacting regiments will gather at the site of their former encampment to share their story. We will also perform demonstrations of Hessian drill and maneuver. Come learn about the role that German-speaking soldiers played in the American Revolution, as well as the women who accompanied them from overseas.

We are hosted by the fantastic Reading Liederkranz, who will be selling food and drink!

Photo by Matt Ward

10/11/2026

Back in September one of our members was able to join HM 40th Foot / 2nd Battalion LI - "Bloodhounds" and Ferguson’s ri**es for an event in Tredyffrin Township Pa.

The Jager corp was heavily involved in the events of 1777 and the Philadelphia campaign.
Be sure to mark your calendars now for the major events coming next year!

09/30/2026

“Let them go, … and stay here. We do not want to lose any men. One jager is worth more than ten rebels.”
- General Charles, Earl Cornwallis

Through the campaigns of 1776, the Hessian Jäger had already gained a reputation for reliability, professionalism, and skill. They were the elite if the Hessian army, and their marksmanship with their hunting ri**es was recognized within their allies in the British army.

“nothing could behave better than the Hessians, and particularly their Jaegers, or Riflemen, who are as much superior to those of the rebels as it is possible to imagine.”
- Captain John Montresor, a British engineer and intelligence officer

The jäger was counted on to deliver aimed, accurate fire at distances far exceeding the effective range of the infantry.

Small wonder that the general preferred to preserve these highly trained soldiers rather than let them chase after the fleeing enemy!

09/28/2026

On the frontierland of western Pennsylvania, the Jägers are stationed to deter rebellion among the inhabitants of Faustberg…

This past weekend was our annual “immersion” tactical event at Fort Loudon, Pennsylvania. These events are the reenactor equivalent of War Games, featuring rules of engagement, casualties, appropriate 18thC camping and dining, and as close to an authentic experience as we can get!
Hessians joined their Redcoated employers and local Loyalists in defending the wooden ramparts from rebel forces!

09/16/2026

08/29/2026

We know that you follow our page not only because you are interested in the American Revolution and the Hessians, but because we share our passionate research and unique perspective that comes from reenacting as Hessian Feldjäger.
We spend hours deciphering uniform regulations, hand-crafting equipment, and spending days and nights living this history. We do this because we enjoy it, and because we want to share what we've learned so people can have a better appreciation for the real lives that experienced this momentous occasion 250 years ago.

That is what we bring to the table as reenactors, and that is why we will never post AI-generated images, text, or posters.

There is more and more AI-generated content online about the AWI, and about the Hessians in particular as we start to enter the story. Unfortunately, a lot of this content is misleading, contains errors, or is totally wrong. Many posts are made without human review, and people can come away with the wrong impression about crucial facets of these events.

Used properly, we have found AI to be extremely helpful when translating old documents, repairing damage to images of historical artifacts, etc. But we don't take these results at face-value. Accuracy is important to us, so we always give it a human review. Anyone can post an AI-generated essay. But when we make or share a post, you can count on it being thoroughly researched and true to the best of our knowledge. And when we do make a mistake, we will correct it. The images we share are us, and they are our fellow reenactors. We think that is much cooler than an impersonal generated image.

But no matter how you learn about the American Revolution, there is no substitute for experiencing it in-person! If you want to hear the Hessian story straight from the guy in the wool coat, please come see us at an event near you! I promise you will come away with a better understanding than any Facebook post can offer.

Picture by Thomas Hilton

08/25/2026

08/23/2026

We return victorious from Brooklyn!

Yesterday, the Jägers participated in the reenactment of the August 27th, 1776 Battle of Brooklyn/Long Island.

250 years ago, the Hessians played a crucial role in the British Army's opening campaign in the American Revolution - the capture of New York City.

The Jägers themselves spearheaded the frontal assault under General von Heister at the center, engaging in intense combat at Battle Pass, what is today Prospect Park - where yesterday's reenactment took place! This was a scene of heavy engagement and hand-to-hand combat. For many Hessians, this was their first real battle of the war, and was a marker of what was to continue throughout the war.

Our commander (right) wears a newly-sewn coat of the Regiment von Lossberg, as he executes his duties commanding the Hessian brigade.

Map sourced from the American Battlefield Trust. Thank you to Maria Hessian and Angelina Katsanis, REUTERS for sharing their images.

08/22/2026

The Jägers are at the 250th Battle of Brooklyn reenactment this weekend! To prepare for this and other big 250th anniversary events, our members have been hard at work outfitting new Jägers and learning new skills!

We copy coat patterns from original Prussian diagrams, adapted to match period watercolors, descriptions, and artwork of what the Hessian Jägers wore in the days of 1776. The unit also does our own leatherwork for sword frogs, scabbards, cartridge boxes, and much more!

Come see us at the next big 250th event or check out our calendar for something near you!