The Headless Horseman

The committee presenting the document of the Declaration of Independence to the Congress.
Author: John Trumbull, 1819. US Capitol

When we review the History of the United States of America, may find great events, heroic acts, outstanding personages... That nation seems to always be headed to the big goals and objectives. Also, is a country which has lived in war, from the early days. Conflictivity has marked its history. They have gallantly fought in deffense of Freedom, everywhere. But, sometimes have commited serious mistakes: we are not pretending to judge that. By any mean, their evolution has been easy. Even though, they have managed to achieve high standards in quality of life and technology. So they are still considered as a wellness reference, at global level.

Triumphal entry of George Washington, Nov, 25th, 1783. ca 1860. Chromolithography by Christian Inger, ca 1860.
Library of Congress, USA. {{PD-US}}

In the Independence War, the victory crowned the perseverance of the patriot army. They stood steady in front of misfortune: more than once, they faced the possibility of a final loss. Perhaps, it is the highest merit of those who held the flag of rebellion, at the British Colonies of North America. Thirteen colonies, which would be the seed of the great nation. 

The Spirit of ´76, or Yankee Doodle. Version of the original by A.M. Willard, 1875.
Abott Hall, Marblehead, Mass. {{PD-US}}

Many tales and legends had their origin by those days. Most children sure grew up hearing marvellous stories. Nothing could compare with those telling tales nights, around a cozy bonfire. The old soldiers narrated almost incredible things about the glorious, but hard times, they passed through. Deprivations, deadly cold, hunger... How could they change fear into courage? Such great battles and anguishing retreats! Then, they probably began to adorn their adventures with exaggerations, and why not? with some touches of fantasy. 

For some people who enjoyed with all those tales, was not enough to hear them. They also had the conviction that it was necessary to preserve the testimony of so many eyewitnesses. So they used the only resources available on those times: hearing and writing... A group of fine writers emerged. They could not only depict the stories, but also the usages and much of the spirit of the inhabitants of that land, in the early days of its history.

Washington Irving. Copied by Mathew Brady, 1861. From the original by John Plumbe
Congress Library, USA. {{PD-US}}

One of them was, without any question, Washington Irving. He was born in New York City, in 1783. In his name, he carried the trace of patriotic fervor from those times. Since he was a child, showed a high curiosity for everything around him, the customs, traditions... Also the legends, specially those creepy tales of ghosts and haunted places. The mix of scare and attraction, that many of us have ever felt, made the young Irving go in pursuit of thrilling situations.

Tarrytown, by 1828. From: Itineraire pittoresque du Fleve Hudson, By J. Milbert. {{PD-US}}

Soon he became a successful writer. Among his works was a story: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. It was part of The Sketch Book, published in 1820, using a pseudonym: Geoffrey Crayon. There, he draws an exquisite portrait of the way of living at the surroundings of New York. Were the times, when most of the inhabitants of those places, had a Dutch origin... but he merges such an idillic description, with the tale of a frightening ghost, come from hell: a beheaded horseman.

Many believed that the rider was in search of his head, for all eternity. In the meantime, he was very busy, taking the head of the unlucky people who crossed his path. Even the protagonist of the story, the teacher Ichabod Crane, could have become one of his victims.

Ichabod, by Arthur Rackham, 1928.

It is a very well known story: besides Irving´s book, it was brought to the big screen and the television. The original tale may seem impressive and scary, but with mastery, Irving combined it with a fine sense of humor. Ichabod will always know how to take a smile from us. But there is also an important concealed theme: the origin of this kind of legends, with some history basis. 

The Headless Horseman Pursuing Ichabod Crane, by John Quidor, 1858.
Smithsonian American Art Museum. Washington DC, USA.

According to the story, it was about a Hessian soldier, beheaded in combat, during a battle of the Independence War. The Hessians were mercenaries, who came from a region that now belongs to Germany. They were hired by the British Crown. Most of them were strong and brave, but also were peasants and persecuted men. They had gotten no other choice than fighting at the very far lands of North America. A question arises, as to whether this situation might have influenced on their behavior as soldiers. When the war was over, they were allowed to stay at the country they fought as enemies. This might indicate that many of them, were not considered as war criminals, by the codes of those times.

Even so, it is possible that a sanguinary Hessian soldier really existed, and his atrocious death in combat, gave rise to the legend. Things like that have happened many times, everywhere. A few years later, Irving with his fertile imagination, completed that story... turning it into a fascinating tale. Maybe, he also made the ghostly soldier a Hessian, to add mistery and interest. Anything is possible! If we compare this, with the beheaded riders legends from the other side of the Atlantic, it becomes even more intriguing. But, that is another story.

Goblins and Witches, by Arthur Rackham.

There is also the possibility that in his childhood, he was deeply impressed by horrific narrations. Later, as an adult, he might have invented that, as fiction. One thing is certain, by its characters, the atmosphere and storyline, this is a very pleasant reading. It also has an open ending, for the taste of everyone. 

Ichabod Crane and Katrina van Tassel.
By Arthur Rackham, 1928.

Regarding to the protagonist of the story, it has to be said that Washington Irving met, in the year 1814, an officer whose name was... Ichabod Crane. We may suppose, that his name and physical appearance made quite an impression on the writer. The impact was enough to decide that it was the personality he was looking for his writing. Of course, this is only an speculation. 

The ghost tales, combined with historic legends, will always like to many persons. They have a realistic halo, which rises their interest. In some cases, they pass from generation to generation, and never are completely forgotten. They seem to be stored somewhere inside our minds, at the so called "collective unconscious". 

Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman.
By William J. Wilgus, 1835.

We will make a stop in our virtual travels, to witness a series of trascendental events, ocurred at the United States of America, in the 18th century. It would not be an exaggeration to affirm that they marked the beginning of a new era for humanity.