Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben

For the ship Second world war to see it Steuben (steamer)

Friedrich Wilhelm Rudolf Gerhard August von Steuben, Freiherr (Baron) von Steuben , (September 17th 1730 - November 28th 1794) is a Prussian officer which fought during the Guerre of independence of the United States of America at the sides of George Washington. One him must have inculcated in the American troops the bases of the military discipline, in particular by the means of the exercises.

Its origins

Steuben was born with Magdeburg in Prussia. His/her father, Wilhelm Augustine Steuben (1699 - 1783), is lieutenant-engineer. Friedrich accompanies his/her father in imperial Russia when this last is put at the service of the tsarina Anne Ire of Russia by Frederic II, king de Prusse and Prince-voter of Brandebourg. After the accession with the throne of Frederic II, Steuben turns over to Germany with his/her father in 1740.

It thus spends its first years to Russia, but its family turns over towards the Saint Germanic Roman Empire whereas it is only 10 years old. It follows the teaching of the Jésuites to Breslau and becomes officer at the 17 years age. During the Guerre Seven Year old he is member of a unit of infantry but also a staff officer. Later, he becomes even general staff officer, being useful periodically in Russia. Its service is then sufficiently appreciated so that it receives thereafter a station within the general headquarters of Frederic II. Its experiment as a general staff officer in the Prussian army then gave him a knowledge which was unknown armies British and Frenchwoman of the time. Its formation would bring thereafter to the American soldiers the technical training necessary to create an army.

In the search of a station

At the 33 years age, in 1763, Steuben is discharged from its functions of captain for reasons which remain speculative. The following year it receives the title of Baron when he becomes chamberlain at the court of justice of the Hechingen, a branch of the Hohenzollern. He is the only courtier to accompany his travelling prince incognito in France in 1771, this one hoping to be able to borrow money. Not having succeeded in finding funds, they turn over to Germany in 1775, covered with debts. Wanting to find a renewal of fortune, Steuben seeks a station within foreign armies such as those of the house of the Habsbourg, Bade or France. He discovers whereas Benjamin Franklin is with Paris and that probably he could obtain an employment within the continental Armée in America.

Steuben travels towards Paris during the summer 1777. The chance catches up with it then, because it is allowed with the service by the Minister for the French War Claude-Louis, count of Saint-Germain, who carries out all the benefit that could bring a Prussian staff officer. Steuben is then introduced near the Washington general by means of a letter the Franklin one like " Lieutenant-general with the service of king de Prusse" , which was exaggerated enough compared to its real condition. It is advanced funds and leaves Europe since Marseilles. The September 26th 1777, it arrives at Portsmouth, New Hampshire and on February 1st, it is diverted with Boston. The congress takes place then with York, Pennsylvania and Steuben, after being itself made congédié of Philadelphia during the winter, is among them the February 5th 1778. They initially accept its services as a volunteer without balance and the 23 of the same Steuben month are presented to the report/ratio near the Washington general with Valley Forge. He did not speak a word about English but its French level was sufficient so that he can communicate with several of the officers. The assistance-of-camp of Washington, Alexander Hamilton, as well as the major general Nathanael Greene were of a great help on this subject. The two men assisted Steuben in the creation of a program of drive which accepted the approval of the in March commander-in-chief.

In 1780, it takes part in the martial Cour judging John André, an officer of the British army convinced of espionage. The following year it takes share, as a major general, with the Siège of Yorktown in Virginia. After the war it receives concessions of ground in several states and finally the Congress grants a pension of 2400 $ to him. He becomes American citizen in 1783. Von Steuben, that several historians believe homosexual, married never and gave its ground to its two assistants who lived with him. When it left for America, in 1777, its relations with young boys started to be known in Prussia, which undoubtedly pushed it to change environment.

Techniques of drive of the continental army

He is regarded as one of the founding fathers of the US Army. Steuben had the title of general inspector: it wrote a handbook of tactic for this army in formation, reorganized its organization, constituted an effective framing, and improved its discipline. Many of its projections towards a coherent military structure are still valid nowadays.

The technique of drive of Steuben consisted in creating a " company modèle" , a group of 100 selected men, which would act successively in each brigade. The eclectic personality of Steuben contributed to increase its will have. It directed the training of the soldiers who at this time were vêtus in a heteroclite way, defective as regards uniform, and swore between them of German or in French. When he realized that it arrived at a certain limit, it recruited the captain Benjamin Walker, his assistance who spoke French, to be able to help it with haranguer the English troops.

Its methods of instruction give a familiar impression, which is comprehensible when it is known that what is made nowadays rises from its teaching. To correct the fact that new recruits were inserted in units without to have undergone a drive as a preliminary, Steuben introduces a system of progressive drive, which starts with the school of the soldier, and without weapons, and continues at the school of the regiment. Each commander of company is responsible for the drive of the new recruits, but the instruction as such is carried out by the best sergeants.

The war at the XVIIIe century was the rather simple once committed battle. It was about a close combat, fact of successive salvos, and where the speed of fire was of an major importance. The precision was it still more. So that these two capacities are acquired by the troops, it was necessary that the cycle of loading and fire of the weapon is repeated with the drive until it becomes automatic. This cycle breaks up into eight time and fifteen movements:

Fire! a movement.
Half-Cock - Firelock! a movement.
Handle - Cartridge! a movement.
Premium! a movement.
Shut - Side! a movement.
Load with Cartridge! Two movements.
Draw - To row! Two movements.
RAM down - Cartridge! a movement.
Return - To row! Two movements.

In so far as they can appear complicated, these new instructions were much simpler than those used by the other armies of the time and thus increased the speed of fire significantly. The gasoline even of the combat during this war was a confrontation between two brought closer lines, in which that which gained was in general the line which carried out a first salvo, essuyait one in return and reloaded of them more quickly than the enemy to draw again. As soon as an individual could handle his mousquet, one placed it in a group of three, then in a group of twelve, and then began the operations in group. A particular strain was made on these exercises of alignment because a good formation was guarantor of an effectiveness increased at the time of the salvos.

Another program set up by Steuben consisted in installing the medical ones in the camp the standard which rose from this program will remain the standard during more than one century and half. Before that, there was no specific measure, the men being relieved where they wanted it. When an animal would die, this one was removed from its meat and the remainders were left with the abandonment. Steuben conceived an installation drawing in which districts were built for the commander, officers, like for the privates. Kitchens and latrines were on the other hand from/to each other, these last being downstream.

But perhaps that the greatest contribution of Steuben to the American revolution was the drive with the use of the bayonet. Since the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Americans had become too dependant on their ammunition to gain the victory. During the first years of the war, they use their bayonet like kitchen utensil or tool rather than as arms with combat. The introduction of the loads to the bayonet as tactical of war becomes crucial then. With the battles of Stony Point, the American soldiers under the orders of the general Anthony Wayne attacked a British outpost with rifles noncharged and gained the victory, while basing itself on the drive lavished by Steuben.

The first results of these drives are visible as of the May 20th 1778 in Barren Hill like in Montmouth until the June 28th. Washington then recommends Steuben for a post of general inspector the April 30th, which the Congress approves the May 5th. Steuben, which was used then within the general headquarter as Washington during the summer 1778, was the first to be perceived that the enemy moved towards Montmouth. During the winter 1778 - 1779, it writes Regulations for the Order and Discipline off the Troops off the United States (Rules of order and discipline of the troops of the United States) so known under the name of Blue book (blue Book). The plan which it had conceived in Valley Forge was used as a basis for this work.

The next winter (1779 - 1780), its commission represented Washington with the Congress on the relative questions with the reorganization of the army. Later, he travels in company of Nathanael Greene, the new one ordering Campaign of the South. He takes then his districts in Virginia, because this state centralizes the assignments of material and men for the whole of the army. Steuben also takes part in the Countryside of the South during the summer 1781, with like culminating point the delivery of 450 soldiers of Virginia with Fayette in June. Thereafter it is obliged to take a leave disease, joining the army only for the final countryside of Yorktown, where it assumes the command of one of three divisions of Washington. It also helps this last at the time of the demobilization of the army in 1783 like with the design of the plan of defense of the new nation. He becomes American citizen by an legislative act of Pennsylvania in March 1784 (and later by the authorities of New York in July 1786). He takes his retirement of the army with the honors the March 24th 1784.

He establishes his residence in New York where he becomes a notable figure and patriarch of the German Protestant church. Its capacities of manager being limited, it is found once more in financial problems. The reason first is that he lived with a view to receive the pension which the government of the United States had granted to him, but which was carried out only in June 1790, date on which he accepted an annual pension of 2500$. Its financial problems were levelled only thanks to the assistance of Alexander Hamilton and other friends who succeeded in obtaining a mortgage " to him; avantageuse" on its property of New York of approximately 16.000 acres (65 km ²). He dies unmarried in 1794, leaving his property to his two former assistants, William North and Benjamin Walker.

Honors and distinctions

the Von Steuben Day is one in September bank holiday in the United States. It can take place the 17,19 or the 24 of this month. This day is often regarded as the event Germano-américain of the year. The participants walk, dance, put costumes and play of the music. There are a parade on the fifth avenue and a festival on Central Park. The Steubenparade takes place since 1957 with New York.

a report/ratio of the visit in America of several members of its family is available here Baron Von Steuben (in English).

the name of Steuben was also given to several warships. During the First World War, the German linership Kronprinz Wilhelm was renamed WORN Baron von Steuben after his capture. During the Second world war, there was the Dampfschiff Steuben , steamer of luxury reconverted in transport of troops and torpedoed in February 1945 at sea Baltique with thousands of refugees and wounded on board, evacuating Eastern Prussia. During the cold war, a submarine of US Navy was also baptized of its name, the WORN Von Steuben .

Several places in the United States bear the name of Steuben, the majority in its honor. For example, the county of Steuben in the state of New York, the county of Steuben in the Indiana, and the town of Steubenville in the Ohio.

the Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center is a public school with Chicago in the Illinois.

Steuben is one of the four foreign military chiefs having been used the cause of the American revolution to have a statue in the public garden Lafayette, just in the north of the White House to Washington DC.

a house having been given him in recognition its services in the continental army, the Steuben House, is with River Edge in the New Jersey. Belonging at the origin with a loyal supporter family, the surrounding house and grounds were seized in 1781. The whole was bought by the county of Bergen, New Jersey, in 1928 for 9 000 $ and preserved like national monument and public museum. The zone around the house is used as ground for reconstitutions of the wars revolutionist and civil.

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