Baron Von Steuben

The German Mason Who Changed
Washington's Army

by Robert C. Barnard, MPS

The man historians call "the first
teacher of the American Army" was
born in the fortress of Magdeburg, Ger-
many on September 17, 1730. He was
christened seven days later by his grand-
father, Augustin von Steuben, a minis-
ter of the German Reform Church, who
had inserted the "von" in front of his
name in 1708. The child's full name was
Friederich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard
Augustin von Steuben.

His father, Wilhelm von Steuben, was
a lieutenant of engineers in the army of
Frederick William I of Prussia. How-
ever, soon after the birth of his son, he
transferred his allegiance to Czarina
Anne of Russia and took his family
there. It was ten years before they re-
turned to Germany, Lt.Von Steuben to
the Prussian Army and little Frederick to
the Jesuit School in Breslau.

Completing his education at the age of
seventeen, Frederick obtained a lieuten-
ant's commission on the Prussian Army,
first in the infantry and then as a staff
officer. He served through the Seven
Years War and when he was thirty, was
transferred to the General Staff, which
operated the Prussian war machine.

Historians point out that it was
Steuben's years of experience on the
Prussian General Staff that made his
services invaluable and unique when he
came to America. At this time, Prussia
was the only country with a general staff
to coordinate the entire army from the
top. Von Steuben was able to bring
Washington's staff a technical training
and equipment that was unknown in ei-
ther the British or the French armies. To
serve on the General Staff of Prussia in
the time of Frederick, the Great, the
military genius of the age, was to learn
the art of war.

Shortly after peace was signed, Captain
von Steuben was discharged at the age of
thirty-three. History fails to tell us
whether Steuben had fallen from the
King's favor or any other circumstances
concerning the discharge. Biographers
say that the reasons are "obscure" and
we must draw our own conclusions.

Failing to find military employment,
Steuben obtained a position as chamber-
lain in the court of the Prince of Hohen-
zollern-Hechingen, a petty German
state. Here, he was knighted and was
awarded the rank of baron.

When his prince became financially
embarrassed, Steuben accompanied him
to France in search of funds. The move
was a mistake for both and Steuben re-
turned to Germany several years later
destitute of money and with no prospects
in sight.

It was at this low point in his career that
Steuben made a friend of Benjamin
Franklin who recognized his worth and
recommended him to America's ambas-
sador in France. Franklin's evaluation of
Steuben was aided by that of Count de
St. Germain, the French Minister of
War. The count knew of Steuben's repu-
tation as a German staff officer and knew
that an accomplished graduate from the
school of Frederick, the Great, would be
"peculiarly qualified to give the Ameri-
cans needed advice on military training,
organization and administration.

In 1777, the French had set up a bogus
company, supposedly to trade with the
American colonies, but in reality to aid
them with arms and munitions. This
corporation, Hortalez and Company,
proposed to send Steuben to America
with adequate funds, although they
could not guarantee him any rank in the
Continental Army. Steuben agreed to go
as a distinguished gentleman volunteer.

At this point, Franklin and the French
authorities conspired in a deception, or
more bluntly, they lied to ensure the ac-
ceptance of Steuben in America. Letters
were sent to Washington and the Con-
tinental Congress introducing "Lieute-
nant General von Steuben of the King of
Prussia' s service. " Since Steuben had
held no higher rank than major, he was
living a lie when he came to America.

The deception had the desired result.
By the time George Washington learned
that his great German general was a
European fraud, Steuben had made
himself so invaluable that he could not be
replaced. He was beloved by the entire
Continental Army.

The new "lieutenant general," accom-
pained by a military secretary and an
aide-de-camp, sailed from Marseilles,
arriving in America on December 1,
1777. He was received with high honors
in Boston and by the Continental Con-
gress .

Steuben pleased the Americans by
waiving all claim to rank or pay, asking
only that his expenses be paid while he
served as a volunteer with the army.
Should his services "contribute to the
success of the American cause, " he
would expect compensation later. Con-
gress accepted his services and sent him
to Washington's headquarters at Valley
Forge on February 23.

Washington was so favorably impress-
ed by his practical knowledge and his
experience that he asked Steuben to act
as inspector general and undertake the
training of the army. The baron began
immediately and since he spoke no Eng-
lish, he overcame tremendous difficulties
as he gave his orders and instructions
through interpreters.

He formed a model company of one
hundred selected men and undertook its
drill in person. Pretty good for a lieuten-
ant general! This company became a
shining example of military excellence
and in a short time led the entire army to
emulate its actions.

Steuben's labors have been called "per-
haps the most remarkable achievement
in rapid military training in the history
of the world." As Washington was the
father of the American Army, so Steuben
was its first teacher, says historian D.S.
Freeman .

As a drillmaster, Steuben was a humor-
ous, but respected symbol of authority to
the Continental soldiers. When all else
failed, he would explode into foreign
oaths and tell his translator that "these
fellows won't do what I tell them. Come
and swear at them for me in English! "

Captain Walker, his aide, said that "his
fits of passion were comical and amused
the soldiers. " However, they also obeyed
him with good humor and gusto. Units
that used to march in sloppy, strung-out
Indian fashion now advanced compactly,
four abreast, and the whole army sud-
denly moved faster and with greater res-
olution.

Steuben entertained the junior officers,
stating in jest that none should be ad-
mitted who had a pair of untorn trousers .
Which was fine, for by this time, the
winter and strenuous labors had not left
one really decent pair of trousers at Val-
ley Forge. Steuben called the young of-
ficers his "sans-culottes" (without pants)
soldier boys. He succeeded in winning
their affection while he taught them to
act like veterans.

Because the Continentals lacked a set
of written regulations, the inspector
general compiled the American Army's
first manual. He wrote it in French, an
aide translated it into English and Alex-
ander Hamilton put it into language un-
derstandable to all.

For instance, he described the position
of a soldier at attention: "He is to stand
straight and firm on his legs, the heels
two inches apart; the toes turned out; the
belly drawn in a little; the breast a little
projected; the shoulders square to the
front and kept back; the hands hanging
down at the sides with the palms close to
the sides. " American Army veterans
today will recognize much of these in-
structions, for although there are
changes, the main idea has remained the
same for 200 years.

Von Steuben also brought a new profes-
sional pride, just as important as his
manual of arms. He became the Ameri-
can substitute for all those competent
British Army sergeants who made the
enemy outfits work.

Perhaps Steuben's most important as-
set was his active belief that an officer
must love and gain the love of his men
by treating them with every kindness
and being alert to their complaints. His
attitude is shown in these words of praise
for his new nation and people: "What a
beautiful, happy country it is! No kings,
prelates or blood-sucking tax collectors.
Here, everybody is prosperous. I would
cheerfully die for this nation. "

The Continental, from General Wash-
ington down, soon proved that they re-
turned Steuben's feelings of
esteem. When the greatly improved ar-
my left Valley Forge, he was raised to the
rank of Major General and commanded
a wing of the army at the Battle of Mon-
mouth. He was sent with General
Greene to the South and commanded in
Virginia while Greene won battles in the
Carolinas .

In the final great action of the war,
having beseiged Lord Cornwallis at
Yorktown, Washington found Steuben's
help invaluable. He knew seige warfare
from his years in the Seven Years War.
He commanded one of Washington's
three divisions with pride and stood at
attention while the tired, defeated
British Army filed past the elated Amer-
ican and French troops.

Steuben attended Masonic Lodges
whenever possible. He had been a
Mason before coming to America and
had served as Worshipful Master in the
military Lodge of the Blazing Star in
Berlin prior to 1777. He became a mem-
ber of Trinity Lodge No. 12 in New York
City and was made an honorary member
of Holland Lodge No. 8 there. After the
war, when the old hero visited France in
1789, he attended Lodge in Paris and
brought his venerated friend, President
Washington, an honorary membership
from the French brethren.

The Baron became an American citi-
zen by act of the Pennsylvania legislature
in 1783 and by act of the New York
legislature in 1786. He became a social
lion in his old age; president of the Ger-
man Society and of the New York branch
of the Cincinnati. He was proud to be a
regent of the University of New York.

He died on his own estate in the Mo-
hawk country of New York on November
28, 1794. Eulogies from all over Amer-
ica left no doubt of his permanent place
in the affections of the rank and file of the
Continental Army.

Some modern historians feel that
Steuben' s services have been over-
praised. John R. Alden reminds us
that"Washington's army was not a
rabble in March or a perfect fighting
machine in June. " This is probably true.
Nevertheless, there is no doubt that
General von Steuben was instrumental
in converting the American Army into
an effective and highly disciplined mili-
tary force, necessary for the colonies to
achieve victory and independence. He
was a most worthy man and Mason.

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