This song of Hessian soldiers (sold by their sovereign, Count Frederic of Hesse, to fight for the British in the American Revolution) was circulated as a broadside, "Ein schön und wahrhaftig Soldatenlied, so Anno 1775 am 19. Oktober zu Cassel auf der Parade von den abziehenden Militärs mit admirabler bonne humeur vor Ihrer Durchlaucht gesungen ward" ("A beautiful and true soldiers' song, as sung with admirable good humor on October 19, in the year of 1775, during the parade of deployed military at Cassel in the presence of His Excellency"). It warns the "lousy rebels" to "beware" of the Hessians.The song is mentioned in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's play "Kabale und Liebe" (Act 2, Scene 2) as "Juchhe! Nach Amerika!"
- King Georg preferred "foreign" soldiers over British ones -- the danger of them deserting and joining the "rebels" was considerably less.
- Each German sovereign received 150 Marks for each soldier supplied; the same amount was payable for each killed soldier or three wounded soldiers; "replacements" had to be furnished, however.
- Between 1775 and 1783, the following troops were "supplied":
- Hessen-Kassel: 16,992 soldiers (casualties: 6,500) for 1,223,1557 Pounds
- Braunschweig: 5,723 soldiers (casualties: 3,015) for 172,696 Pounds
- Hessen-Nassau: 2,422 soldiers (casualties: 981) for 173,174 Pounds
- Waldeck: 1,225 soldiers (casualties: 720) for 66,444 Pounds
- Anhalt-Zerbst: 1,160 soldiers (casualties: 176) for 48,285 Pounds
Juchheisa nach Amerika,
Dir Deutschland gute Nacht!
Ihr Hessen, präsentiert's Gewehr,
Der Landgraf kommt zur Wacht.Ade, Herr Landgraf Friederich,
Du zahlst uns Schnaps und Bier!
Schießt Arme man und Bein' uns ab
So zahlt sie England Dir.Ihr lausigen Rebellen ihr,
Gebt vor uns Hessen Acht!
Juchheisa nach Amerika,
Dir Deutschland gute Nacht!
