Opus 2015-241: A Russian Army in America?

You pick up tidbits of history in the strangest places. 

I have been reading a biography of Catherine the Great of Russia.  At school I am covering the American Revolution and we talked about the crossing of the Delaware and the capture of the German Hessian troops.  At that time I came across this in a history of Russia.

“In the summer of 1775, King George III of England requested the loan - the rental, actually - of Russian troops to fight in America against his rebellious colonial subjects....
    “Soon, the British government was more specific.  What was wanted was a Russian force of twenty thousand infantry and one thousand Cossack cavalry, for which Britain was prepare to meet all expenses....” page 434

We all know about the Hessians.  Different sources put the numbers differently.  I saw from 12,000 to 30,000.  It may be that it was 12,000 at a time.  I had never heard about how close we were to having a Russian army on our shores.

Would it have changed the outcome?

Massie, Robert K.  Catherine the Great.  New York:  Random House, 2011.

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