The Recruitment of Baron von Steuben
Steuben was not a baron, but the son of an engineer lieutenant. He served in the Prussian army until 1763, when he was discharged for unclear reasons. He worked for several different armies from 1775-1777. While he was employed in the French army, "[h]e discovered that Benjmin Franklin was in Paris and that possibly, he could find work with the Continental Army in America." Through the French Minister of War, Steuben met Franklin, who recommended Steuben to the Continentals in 1777. Steuben set sail for America, where he met with the Continental Congress and made them an offer: "I ask neither riches nor titles. . . My only ambition is to serve you as a Volunteer, to deserve the confidence of your General in Chief, and to follow him in all his operations, as I have done during seven campaigns with the King of Prussia. Two and a twenty years past at such a school seem to give me a right of thinking myself in the number of experienced Officers; and if I am Possessor of some talents in the Art of War, they should be much dearer to me, if I could employ them in the service of a Republick, such as I hope soon to see America. I should willingly purchase at my whole Blood’s Experience the honor of seeing one Day my Name after those of the defenders of your Liberty."
(The first quotation is from http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/steuben.html.)
(Steuben's letter of acceptance is from http://www.bergencountyhistory.org/Pages/gnsteuben.html.)
(The first quotation is from http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/steuben.html.)
(Steuben's letter of acceptance is from http://www.bergencountyhistory.org/Pages/gnsteuben.html.)
"They accepted his offer to volunteer, without pay for the time, and on [February] 23rd . . . Steuben was reporting for duty to General Washington at Valley Forge. Steuben did not speak English, but his French was such that he could communicate with some of the officers. Washington's aide-de-camp, Alexander Hamilton as well as Nathanael Greene were a great help in this area."
(http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/steuben.html)
(http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/steuben.html)
At Valley Forge, Steuben wrote, "The men were literally naked, some of them in
the fullest extent of the word. . . . I saw officers . . . mounting guard in a sort of dressing gown made
of an old blanket or woolen bed-cover. With regard to military discipline, I
may say no such thing existed.”
(http://www.netplaces.com/american-revolution/a-war-of-attrition/baron-von-steubens-drill.htm)
(http://www.netplaces.com/american-revolution/a-war-of-attrition/baron-von-steubens-drill.htm)