Von Wreden's Feldjager Reenacting Unit

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!

08/15/2026

The Jägers are here!

August 14 marked the 250th anniversary of the Jägers arriving in America!

If you have been following along with the great 250th Battle Reenactments, this is where the Hessians join the story! From here on, German-speaking troops in blue and green coats will be fighting alongside the Redcoats. This first shipment of 8,000 Hessian soldiers included the first of two Jäger companies from Hesse-Cassel. By the end of the war, up to 37,000 Germanic soldiers will have made the same crossing, and will make up over a quarter of all British forces.

Captain August von Wreden arrived with the first company of Feldjäger on August 14th, 1776 after spending 100 days at sea. He and his men would not have long to recover from this journey. Soon, they would take part in the Battle of Flatbush, New York (August 22nd, 1776). This was the first action the skilled riflemen would see, and inaugurated their near continuous tour of action throughout the war. The Jägers would adapt quickly to the style of fighting going on in America, creeping through the woods to engage with the American sharpshooters and performing a crucial role in scouting, flanking, and skirmishing for the main army.

Have a question about the Jägers or the Hessians? Ask us in the comments or come see us!

Come see the Jägers in action at our upcoming 250th Events!
August 22nd: Battle of Brooklyn
October 24th-25: Battle of White Plains
December 12th: Battle of Petticoat Bridge
December 26th: Battle of Trenton

And check out our event schedule for other opportunities to learn about these soldiers who have just joined the war!

08/14/2026

An exciting new event has been added to our calendar! On October 17th, the unit will be joined by several other Hessian regiments at the Reading Liederkranz for a day of presentations, drill, firing demonstrations, and great German food and drink!
If you want to learn more about the role the Hessians played in the American Revolution, join us there! Stay tuned for more information!

07/27/2026

If you are near Boyertown, PA - come listen to our presentation about the role Hessian soldiers played in the American Revolution!

Part of our continued program to engage with local communities to share knowledge about these important events. Thank you to Boyertown Community Library!

Registration: https://www.berkslibraries.org/boyertown-events #/events/USRDYbaUU2/instances/fEW2WSZKxG/

07/16/2026

Check out the pan-Hessian initiative!

Subscribe to this channel for informational videos about the German troops which fought for King George

Interested in learning and sharing history? Want to learn more abou...

05/19/2026

The unit had a great time at Pennypacker Mills this past weekend!

This is a great local event at a historic location with ties to the battle of Germantown. Looking forward to attending future events!

Thank you to Robert Miller for his photos.