Baron Von Steuben at Valley Forge

The Prussian Mercenary Who Transformed the Continental Army

Nov 16, 2009

The German officer took George Washington's disparate fighters and molded them into a disciplined army that would go on to win the Revolutionary War.

Born in Magdeburg, Prussia, September 17, 1730, Steuben learned soldiering early in life when he fought alongside his father during the siege of Prague at the age of 14. A smart, gifted soldier, he quickly rose through the ranks eventually serving in King Frederick’s Lestwitz Regiment. It was there he learned the Prussian way of military discipline, uniformity, and economy.

Steuben’s Military Career

Steuben honed his military skills during the 7 Years War and subsequently became an instructor at the King’s War Academy where he taught modern war tactics. Unfortunately Steuben managed to make enemies of some influential officers and eventually resigned from his position.

Low on money and with creditors after him, Steuben drifted around Europe until he made his way to France where he was introduced to Ben Franklin. With Franklin’s help Steuben secured a position as military trainer to the Continental Army. Arriving in New Hampshire on December 1st, 1777, Steuben was sent to Valley Forge by the Continental Congress where General Washington made him Inspector General within two weeks.

Steuben at Valley Forge

Rather than a professional army Steuben found a collection of detachments gathered from all the colonies made up of citizen soldiers with no uniform system of training or drilling. Discipline was administered by physical punishment that included flogging, caning, and hanging men up by their thumbs. In addition the army was so low on basic supplies that many men slept sitting up by campfires for lack of warm blankets.

Steuben recognized the need to mold the soldiers into a cohesive fighting force and quickly set to work making military discipline his number one priority. He installed a simplified battle drill for all the regiments which taught the men to march, load and fire muskets, charge with bayonets, and general battlefield conduct. He instructed the men in military methods he’d learned in Prussia that included maneuvering in columns and fighting in lines rapidly with maximum firepower.

Steuben instilled a sense of esprit de corps while doing away with physical punishment opting instead for a bond of loyalty and trust between soldiers and officers. In his training manual, the “Blue Book” which would continue to be used by the US military until the Civil War, Steuben even spoke of love between those serving in military units.

Steuben Proves Successful

Steuben cut a flamboyant figure as he worked with the soldiers and instructed them in his methods. He sported war medals and ribbons on his uniform, had big holsters for the pistols he carried, wore shined boots, and was followed around camp by his wolfhound. In spite of his unconventional methods Steuben gained the loyalty of the soldiers and the respect of his fellow officers.

Morale among the troops grew as they saw themselves quickly becoming a skilled fighting force. By spring more volunteers were arriving from New York, South Carolina, and Maryland along with more supplies. Leaving Valley Forge with his revitalized army Washington engaged the British at Monmoth, New Jersey, on June 27th and from there went on to eventual victory in the Revolutionary War.

Steuben’s Later Life

After the war ended George Washington asked Steuben to stay on as military advisor which he did until his discharge from the army on March 24th, 1784. Never a good manager of his own finances Steuben found himself short of money on a regular basis. It wasn’t until some of his officer friends began managing his financial affairs for him and purchased him some land to live on that Steuben was able to live out his remaining days in relative security.

Steuben died on November 28th, 1794, being remembered along with George Washington as one of two indispensable men of the American Revolution.

Sources

Marshall-Dutcher, Joan "Winter At Valley Forge”, American History Illustrated, Nov/Dec 1990

The copyright of the article Baron Von Steuben at Valley Forge in Colonial Wars is owned by Lawrence Koppy. Permission to republish Baron Von Steuben at Valley Forge in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.