 But you have to remember, these men had just marched for weeks and fought in a battle in about the worst physical circumstances possible and were stretched to the limit. Many of them had families to attend to, and they probably felt that they had already done their duty and were looking forward to their time off. They knew that signing up meant risking their lives yet again, and this time perhaps against the king's regular soldiers, not just Hessian mercenaries. So nothing short of a heartfelt appeal from the man at the top would keep them in the army.