The Hessian Of Sleepy Hollow

The Hessian At The Height Of Battle

No other spirit has quite haunted this nation as the Headless Horseman from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Riding at breakneck speeds atop his ebony stallion Daredevil, he has delighted and frightened decades of children and adults. The Headless Horseman is also referred to as The Hessian Horseman, as he was described as being a Hessian soldier whose head was taken off by a canon ball in some forgotten nameless battle of the Revolutionary War. There has been some debate as to whether or not the Hessian is real, or whether Ichabod's rival, Brom Van Brundt, played the part of the ghost to scare Ichabod away from his love Katrina. While reading the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the reader is brought to believe just that. However, in the film version of the movie by Tim Burton, the Hessian Horseman is a very real spirit and even slays Brom Bones during his nightly rampages.

The Hessian Horseman is not limited however to the area of the Old Dutch Church. Many people who live in the town this day claim to hear the occaisional sounds of hoofbeats galloping through the center of town around midnight, and fading as they approach the church. If one was to go to Sleepy Hollow today, one would find that the entire town has embraced their beloved character and have acknowledged his great value American Literature. Fixed to some of the electric poles, there hangs small grey flags with the Hessian Horseman emblazoned in the center. He can also be seen in many of the gift shops, and there is even a diner dedicated in his name. The Sleepy Hollow Municipal Building has also paid respect to him, and has a large stained glass mural of the Horseman and Daredevil, rearing up against a full moon. The Sleepy Hollow Police Force also carries his image on the sides of their patrol cars, and the town's football team is named, you guessed it, "The Horsemen".

Ethereal Nobility

From the research that I have done, I understand that the Hessian is not a fictional character in the book or film, but a real being who is buried in the Potter's Field section of the Old Dutch Church. Since the release of the film sadly, many plaques have been stolen which marked his burial site. I have learned that the next plaque to go in will be bolted into the ground, hopefully for all to view and not disrespect. Next to the Horseman lies the body of Hulda, the town witch. Hulda was a Bohemian immigrant who came to this country, and traded herbs with the local Indians. She lived in a cabin set within the woods, and many people were even afraid to go near her hut in the daytime. When the War broke out, Hulda offered her services to the Continental Army, but was immediately refused. She did however join a makeshift group of women and older men to fight the British. She took down many British soldiers, before she was killed in action herself. Due to her loyalty to the American cause, the town decided to bury her within the Old Dutch Cemetary, but she lies now in an unmarked grave, at a fair distance from the other graves and next to the Horseman himself. During the month of October, the Old Dutch Church holds a reading of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Some people who have gone there have claimed to even see something in the shadows in the night. I can say first hand that Sleepy Hollow at night certainly takes on a much different atmosphere than the day. And there are certain roads that I would not dare to venture on. It is certainly quite spooky, and when the cars drive by the cemetary, the headlights reflect off the newer stones, making it look as if there are ghosts flitting about. This is just a bit of background on the Hessian Horseman himself, and his influence in modern day Sleepy Hollow. I am very thankful for the film to have made such an impact and for bringing such a wonderful American Classic to life once again.