The Horseman Meets the Africans

In Washington Irving’s “Sleepy Hollow”, a small community in upstate New York is terrorized by a gruesome headless horseman known as the Hessian. The Hessian galloped through Sleepy Hollow at Knight in search of heads to replace the head he lost to a cannonball during the revolutionary war. The story of the headless horseman is fantastic Halloween fiction but does contain a bit of truth.

Known as an experienced and elite fighting force the Hessians were German soldiers for hire, employed by England to assist in the campaign against the American colonists. In one of the most uncelebrated but critical events of the war, the hessian forces suffered a humiliating spanking on August 29, 1778, at the battle of Rhode Island on Aquidneck Island, at the hands of the 1st Rhode Island regiment also known as the “Black Regiment.” It was made up of predominantly freed slaves, some of whom had been born in Africa, a sprinkling of native Americans, and a few whites.

American troops, supported by French warships, crossed onto the island and laid siege to the encampments of the British and Hessian forces occupying the town of Newport. During preparations for the assault on the British position, a severe hurricane damaged the French fleet, and its commander decided to withdraw from the campaign and make repairs in Boston before returning to assist. Without the support of their French allies, the decision was made to abandon Aquidneck Island. Traitors in the American ranks loyal to England informed the British command of the planned evacuation. The British and Hessians left their entrenchments and pursued the retreating American forces hoping to deal a devastating blow.

Evacuating required ferrying men and equipment from Aquidneck to mainland Rhode Island and would leave American troops vulnerable to attack. A rear guard was positioned to cover the American retreat with the 1st Rhode Island placed half a mile at the most forward and exposed position.

The Hessian forces slammed into the “1st” which let loose a shower of musket fire, putting the Hessians on their heels, and Hessiansforcing them to retreat. While retreating they bayoneted wounded American soldiers. By this time British gunships had begun a steady bombardment of the “Black Regiments” position. The Germans advanced a second time and again the line did not waiver and the Hessians retreated. A third attempt was made to breach the wall of determined bodies, with the result being the same; “The Black Regiment” held. When asked if he would lead his men in another attack the German colonel replied, “He dared not lead his regiment" into battle again, "lest his men should shoot him for having caused them so much loss."

The outcome of this heroic stance was a safe evacuation of American forces. The French General Marquis de Lafayette called the performance of the 1st Rhode Island the “Finest action of the war.”