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JAGER RIFLES 095. The German word Jtiger means "hunter." The early Jager short rifles of the 17th century were equipped with wheel-locks and massive butts, designed to be fired from the chest. By the first quarter of the 18th century the flintlock short Jager rifle, fired from the shoulder, was in wideuse as a sporting arm. These rifles varied in length, but most had barrels under 30" for fast handling in the German forests while hunting deer, boar, and other game. There is evidence that small units of military Jagers were included in the regiments of some German states by 1740. These were the forerunners of the "rifle" companies. The early Jagers, who were recruited from among the game keepers and hunters, brought their privatelyowned rifles with them into military service. In order to keep these arms in repair, and to supply new rifles when the old ones became unserviceable, gunsmiths were employed by and traveled with the armies of these German states.1 A Prussian Kabinett order of June 15, 1744, authorized the establishment of two foot rifle companies. This is the first known authorization of organizedJager units in the Prussian Army. During the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), the number of Jager companies in the Prussian Army was increased to four, but was later reduced to two when the war ended. In 1773 a Jager battalion consisting of five companies was authorized. Five years later the battalion was augmented to eleven companies. The first Prussian Jager regiment was authorized in the mid-1780s. JAGERS IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Two independent companies of Hesse Cassel Jagers landed in New York in August 1776, at the same time the main Hessian forces disembarked. Three companies of Ansbach Jagers, each consisting of four officers and ninety-seven other ranks, also landed at the same time and were attached to the Hesse Cassel Jagers. Three days after the British victory in the Battle ofLong Island, General von Heister wrote Frederick II of Hesse: "On account of the thick woods and wild country, the Hessian Jagers have been of extraordinary great use to the army, and if your Serene Highness should be pleased to increase the number of them One such gunsmith was Andreas Albrecht, who emigrated to North America in 1750 and became a maker of American long rifles. Albrecht began workingin Wolfenbuttel, Brunswick, in 1739. The following year he was in Anhalt, doing work he "had accepted for the soldiers." The First Silesian War broke out in 1741, and he traveledwith the Anhalt-NassauRegiment, employed as a stock maker.This war ended in 1742, and Albrecht returned with the regiment to itsgarrison at Halle.When the Second SilesianWar eruptedin 1744, Albrecht againmarched with the regiment into Bohemia. 1 JAGER RIFLES in the army, it would be to its advantage, as well as being of great benefit to the Corps/' In November the landgrave wrote the general that he would augment the Jager Corps to 1,000 men. These Jagers, along with other replacements, sailed from Germany in May 1777. Thereafter, the Hessian Jager Corps in America comprised five companies of foot and one company of mounted Jagers. The Jagers, along with three or four grenadier battalions and British light infantry, were used as the advance guard of the British Army when it was on the move. The Jagers also fought as detached units for skirmishing, sharpshooting, and reconnaissance. Elements of the Hessian Jager Corps saw service in almost every major battle of the Revolution. The Ansbach Jagers also served in most major battles. On March 31, 1777,a Jager corps left Hesse Hanau. It arrived in Quebec on June 1. A BrunswickJager company servedat Quebec and took part inBurgoyne's campaign into New York and Vermont in 1777. GERMAN STATES' JAGER RIFLE PROCUREMENT Section 92.2 describes the limited known information on the German states' arms procurement. This information indicates that rifles ("Jager carbines") were procured by Hesse Cassel during the Seven Years' War from Peter Mumme in Solingen. It is also possible that rifles were obtained from the Berlin companies named or from other makers. An identified example of a Hesse Cassel Jager Corps rifle made by Pistor in Schmalkalden has been located in a American collection and isdescribed in this section. It is speculated that the sudden demand for increased numbers of Jagers in North America in the fall of 1776 and spring of 1777resulted in the purchase of additional rifles from Pistor and perhaps from other smaller...

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