Friedrich Wilhelm Baron von Steuben

The name is not unknown - the annual Steuben Parade in New York that German immigrants are organizing with a lot of pomp has made him well-known. But who knows anything about the man who seems the figurehead of this almost Carnival-like spectacle? We can help you there:

Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben was born on September 17, 1730 in the fortress of Magdeburg as the son of a pioneer lieutenant. Most of his childhood he spent in Russia, together with his father. When Friedrich Wilhelm was nine years old he returned to Germany, where Jesuits educated him in Breslau.

Military career

At the age of 17, Friedrich Wilhelm started his military career. As a Prussian officer he served in the Seven Years War from 1756 to 1763. Due to his excellent strategic skills Steuben was later assigned to the general staff and served in Russia same as his father. Frederick the Great was so impressed by Steuben that he gave him a task in his headquarters. The experiences he had made with the general staff of the Prussian army and his studies of the strategies of the English and French armies that had been previously unknown to him, brought him an extensive knowledge that he later needed to turn the brave American freedom fighters into an effective army. In 1763, Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, 33 years old and a captain was discharged from the royal Prussian army. The reasons can only be speculated about.

Nobility and unemployment

One year later Steuben was raised to nobility, when he became the chamberlain of the Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen. The Baron of Steuben, that was his title, was then the only courtier who accompanied his prince to Paris in 1771, where both hoped to borrow money. Disappointed, they returned home in 1775, without money, but with even greater debts than before. Looking for work, Baron Steuben tried to be hired by different foreign armies, without success.

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL: AMERICA

Then he heard that Benjamin Franklin was currently in Paris. Steuben saw a chance for himself. He had to go back to Paris to meet Franklin, and offer his services to the Continental Army. In the summer of 1777 Baron von Steuben raveled to the French capital. Luckily for him, Count Claude Louis de Saint-Germain supported him in his efforts to find employment, and recommended his ability and experience as a Prussian officer of the general staff to Franklin. In a telegram Franklin introduced Baron von Steuben to his President George Washington. Franklin highly praised von Steuben and made him - a little exaggeratedly - lieutenant general of the Prussian Army in his report. George Washington could be convinced and so a short while later Friedrich Wilhelm Baron von Steuben left the European continent departing from Marseilles.

Volunteer in America's Army

On September 26, 1777 he arrived in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and until December 1 settled in Boston, Massachusetts. During this time, Steuben had no contact to the Continental Congress, only when winter was approaching its end did he appear before the Continental Congress in York, Pennsylvania on February 5, 1778. Congress confirmed Steuben, however, as a volunteer he did not receive any pay. On February 23 he reported to General Washington in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania where he started his service. Steuben didn't speak a word of English, but his knowledge of French allowed him to communicate with most officers. General Washington's adjutant Alexander Hamilton as well as General Nathaneal Greene were among Steuben's most fervent supporters in this area, when he started developing a training program for the soldiers. His suggestions were much appreciated by the Commander in Chief.

Trainer Steuben

The most important question Steuben had to solve was how to turn a bunch of courageous but individual men into an effective army. He started with a "model company" of 100 hand-picked men. He trained and educated them in the art of war. As a former Prussian officer he knew several tactics of the European armies, he borrowed the best from all of them, improved it and taught in his rough and cursing way, a hotchpotch of German and French, to his recruits.

Steuben very much emphasized discipline, he always was a great example to his soldiers. From morning to evening he drilled his troop. The eclectic Steuben had a distinctive personality and his myth kept growing with the work he did in the new world. His only shortcoming was his lack of knowledge of the English language, which led to problems when he tried to pass on his knowledge, so Steuben was supported by his French-speaking interpreter Captain Benjamin Walker.

When the training program was done, all men were able to train other brigades. The Continental Army starting taking shape. It is interesting to know that American recruits are still being drilled according to Steuben's strict rules even today.

Handbook on warfare

Warfare in the 18th century was a comparatively easy task, as soon as the troops were on the battlefield in the right battle array. All rules and proceedings were compiled n a handbook by Steuben. It contained everything about battle array, firing order, handling of the arms, reloading etc. The handbook was detailed enough to even meticulously describe the exact process of what had to happen between one shot and the next. According to Steuben, eight steps were necessary. This was new. The men were drilled in such a way that they went through all these steps automatically. Hard as it was to learn this process between one shot and the next, in practice it was easier than the firing rules of the European armies.

Prussian order in the battle

At the time of the revolution, the armies usually were still facing each other eye-to-eye. So you could indeed win a battle if all men were acting according to their orders in a disciplined way and had the techniques down cold. The soldiers of the European armies often weren't able to fire correctly due to a lack in discipline or the stress. They rather shot aimlessly after reloading. In order to increase firing power, Steuben insisted the soldiers always shoot in salvoes.

Camp sanitation

Another program Steuben developed was camp sanitation. Steuben realized quickly that the catastrophic hygiene in the camps was not good for his soldiers and weakened them in fights. First off he introduced a so far unknown camp order, detailing exactly where tents and accommodations were to be placed. Between the tents he had the men make camp paths. Furthermore, the men were no longer allowed to relieve themselves just anywhere. Steuben introduced latrines and ordered that these were always built off the camp site. Also, animals which had died and were lying there rotting and the men cut out a piece of meat if they needed it had to be gotten rid of to prevent epidemics.

Field kitchen

And the common provisions were introduced so that men no longer had to provide food for themselves. According to Steuben's orders, the kitchen had to be on the opposite side from the latrines. He also assigned some men to keep kitchen and latrines clean. That way he introduced hygienic standards that should still be in effect a century and a half later.

Battles and successes

Steuben proved the military strength of the company he had trained on May 20, 1778 in Barren Hill and a short time later in the battle at Monmouth Courthouse in the town of Freehold in Monmouth County, New Jersey. This battle seemed to have been lost for the Continental Army, when Steuben led his men into battle and secured a triumphant victory.

Career

After that George Washington recommended to Congress to make Steuben inspector general of the army, in the rank of brigadier general. On May 5, 1778, Congress approved this.
In the summer of 1778 Steuben served at General Washington's headquarters. From there Steuben reported in detail about the battle of Monmouth. In the winter of 1778/1779 Steuben wrote an important military book titled "Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States" This training handbook later became the standard book of the American army and it still is in a modified form. More than one year later during which he further improved the army structures he started traveling with Nathaneal Greene who had been promoted to commander of the Southern campaign. They set up camp in Virginia. When the English invaded Virginia under the leadership of General Charles Cornwallis, Steuben served under the Marquis de Lafayette. After this Steuben served as an advisor to Nathaneal Greene for the battles in the South. Later von Steuben participated in the last campaign in Stony Point near Yorktown, the battle of Yorktown. Steuben had command over one of three divisions.

After the war

After the American War of Independence he assisted George Washington with demobilizing the army, and had a large part in drawing up the defense plans for the new nation.
In March of 1784 Friedrich Wilhelm Baron von Steuben became a US citizen. In the same year, on March 24, 1784, he was discharged from the military with honor. Steuben settled in the state of New York, but he wasn't a very economical man he soon was indebted again. The reason for his chronic shortage of money was mainly that he was waiting long for compensation for his services from the US government. Only in June of 1790 the government granted him a pension of $2,500 a year. He could live off that money, but not repay his debts. But von Steuben had good friends, one of them being Alexander Hamilton. His friends helped him get through the roughest times with little donations. They even helped him get a mortgage so Steuben could built a house in Oneida County. The 6.5 hectares of land on which the house was to be built had been a gift to him from the state of New York.

Last honors

Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben died on November 28, 1794. Since he was unmarried, he left his estate to his former aides-de-camp, William North and Benjamin Walker. The American nation honors him with a hero's grave in Steuben County. The inscription on the bronze plate says "Indispensable to the Achievement of American Independence." Today Americans are commemorating him with the Steuben Parade that leads down the 5th Avenue in New York every year in September.

(Source: magazinusa.com)