THE MYSTERY OF THE “CAPTURED HESSIAN COURIER” POSTCARD ISSUED BY THE BRANDYWINE BATTLEFIELD PARK, CA. 1961, AND THE “LEGAL STATUS” OF GERMAN OR BRITISH COURIERS CAPTURED IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

This article examines the historical and legal status of captured military couriers, particularly Hessian and British messengers, during the American Revolutionary War, using the Battle of Brandywine (11 September 1777) as a focal point. It discusses the ambiguity surrounding the treatment of captured couriers at that time, noting the absence of formalized laws of war in 1777 and contrasting this with the more developed legal framework established by the Lieber Code of 1863, which codified rules for the treatment of messengers, spies, and war traitors. The article also explores the practical challenges of communication between British and German forces, the use of secret codes and concealment methods by couriers, and the risks couriers faced if captured out of uniform or carrying incriminating information. Ultimately, it highlights that protections for couriers as prisoners of war were inconsistent during the Revolution and largely dependent on the circumstances and discretion of captors, reflecting the evolving nature of the laws and customs of warfare in the eighteenth century.