He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

Hessians were German soldiers who served as auxiliaries to the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. Britain had a small army, most of which were needed at home. It decided to rent regiments. Most governments refused, but several small German states such as Hesse had a reputation as "mercenary states" and rented regiments to the British for combat duty. The Revolutionaries often called the hired German soldiers "Hessians" and denounced them all as "mercenaries" who were not fighting for their native land.

In his history of the Hessians, Rodney Atwood says, "By common usage, however, the Hessians have been called mercenaries. In this work I refer to them as both auxiliaries and mercenaries." The term is an American synecdoche for all Germans who fought on the British side, since 65% came from the German states of Hesse-Kassel and Hesse-Hanau. Known for their discipline and martial prowess, around 30,000 Germans fought for the British during war, comprising a quarter of British land forces.

Hessians played a key role in the Revolutionary War. They served with distinction in many battles, particularly in the northern theater, most notably at White Plains and Fort Washington. The added manpower and skill of German troops is credited for greatly sustaining the British war effort, but it also outraged colonists and increased support for the Revolutionary cause.

A wealthy Republican mega-donor gave South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem $1 million to cover the estimated cost of deploying National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, and both the National Guard Bureau and Defense Department are staying silent on whether this sets a precedent that military units are for rent.

"We have no additional information or comment to make on Gov. Noem's decision," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters Friday when asked by Military.com whether a billionaire funding a military mission suggests the National Guard is effectively for hire.

The National Guard Bureau did not respond to multiple requests for comment to Military.com, referring questions to Noem's office.

Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation -- helmed by billionaire Willis Johnson who lives in Tennessee -- made a $1 million donation directly to the state, according to multiple South Dakota state House members and Senators interviewed by Military.com. Willis regularly makes large contributions to Republicans, including $200,000 to the Trump Victory political action committee.

Johnson declined to be interviewed on the record during multiple phone calls with Military.com.

A wealthy partisan actor financing a military mission has raised questions over potential ethics concerns. Eight South Dakota state legislators interviewed by Military.com said that the deployment could easily be funded from other streams of state money.

Tony Randolph, a Republican who chairs the state's Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, told Military.com that he applauds Noem's move to deploy troops to the border, but Randolph voiced concern about the state accepting the donation.

"There's a lot of unanswered questions," Randolph said. "I don't know why there's a struggle to cover the resources ... It looks weird."