May 6, 1776

Rumors about foreign soldiers entering the war between Great Britain and the colonies swirled for months before May 6, when John Dunlap printed this postscript to his Pennsylvania Packet. The day before, “a gentleman from Europe” had arrived in Philadelphia with a newspaper printed in Dublin, Ireland, on March 2. “By him,” Dunlap explained, “we learn, that a large naval force was coming out for America.”

The Dublin newspaper included paragraphs of news from London, dated February 19, describing how “Hessians, Brunswickers, Waldeckers, and Hanoverians,” amounting to “20,000 men,” were on their way to North America. The London press had focused on the expense of paying for these soldiers: £45 per man, amounting to £900,000, plus £350,000 in transport costs, and a further £300,000 expected for “ordnance and extraordinaries.”

The total “embarkation in the spring” was expected to include 45,000 men, “English and Foreigners.” To this, Dunlap added his own reflection: “[Oh GEORGE! Are these thy commissioners of peace and reconciliation?]” In the same speech where the king had hinted at foreign troops, he also had promised to send commissioners for peace and reconciliation to North America, who had yet to arrive.

Postscript to Dunlap’s Pennsylvania Packet
Printed by John Dunlap

Yesterday arrived a gentleman from Europe, by whom we have a Dublin paper of the 2d of March, containing the following paragraphs. By him we learn, that a large naval force was coming out for America, and that the armament was ordered to sail the 10th of April.

LONDON,[...]
Feb. 19. There will be five debarkations in America in the spring; one at Quebec, one at New-York, one in New-England, and two to the Southward.

Letters from Cassa, by yesterday’s mail advise, that the body of 12000 Hessians, taken into English pay, are commanded by M. Heister, Lieutenant-General, and that it will be composed of the regiment of Guards, and that of the Hereditary Prince and Prince Charles, with the regiments of Werguneau, Detfourth, Donop, Losberg, Kniphausen, Trimbach, Mirbach, Rall, Stein, Wisbach, Hayne, and Buneau. The Grenadiers of the above regiments are to form a different corps, commanded by Colonel Donop, and to the above are to be added some companies of Cannoneers, and Foot Chausseurs, and private letters from Hamburg inform us, that they are on their march to embark at Stade.

The Hessians, Brunswickers, Waldeckers, and Hanoverians, are to amount, it is said, to 20,000 men. 20,000 foreign troops, at 45l. per man, comes to 900,000l. Transport service to bring them to America will cost 350,000l. Ordnance and extraordinaries may be reckoned at 300,000l. more.

The embarkation in the spring will consist of 45,000. men, English and Foreigners, and to rendezvous at Portsmouth the last day of March. [Oh GEORGE! Are these thy commissioners of peace and reconciliation?]

The transports to bring over 22,000 Germans, Hessians, Brunswickers, &c. are to be at Stade on or before the 6th next month.