Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben
Stamp issued 1930
Friedrich Wilhelm Augustin Ludolf Gerhard von Steuben also referred to as the
Baron von Steuben,[1] (September 17, 1730 – November 28, 1794) was a Prussian
aristocrat and military officer who served as inspector general and Major general of the
Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He is credited with teaching
the Continental Army the essentials of military drill and discipline.[2] He wrote the
Revolutionary War Drill Manual, the book that became the standard United States drill
manual until the War of 1812, and served as General George Washington's chief of staff
in the final years of the war.
In 1776, Steuben's career at Hohenzollern-Hechigen ended in scandal: he was alleged to
be homosexual and was accused of improper sexual behavior with young boys. [3]
Whether or not Steuben was actually intimate with other men is not entirely known, but
the rumors compelled him to seek employment elsewhere.[3]
Steuben's training technique was to create a "model company", a group of 120 chosen
men who in turn successively trained other personnel at Regimental and Brigade levels.
Another program developed by Steuben was camp sanitation. He established standards
of sanitation and camp layouts that would still be standard a century and a half later.
There had previously been no set arrangement of tents and huts. Men relieved
themselves where they wished and when an animal died, it was stripped of its meat and
the rest was left to rot where it lay. Kitchens and latrines were on opposite sides of the
camp, with latrines on the downhill side. There was the familiar arrangement of
company and regimental streets.
Perhaps Steuben's biggest contribution to the American Revolution was training in the
use of the bayonet.
Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette
Marquis de Lafayette
Madame de Lafayette (his Mother)
Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette 1757 –
1834), or Lafayette, was a French aristocrat and military officer born in the province of
Auvergne in south central France. Lafayette was a general in the American Revolutionary
War and a leader of the Garde Nationale during the French Revolution.
Benjamin Franklin wrote George Washington recommending acceptance of Lafayette as his
aide-de-camp, hoping it would influence France to commit more aid.[29] Washington accepted,
and Lafayette met him at Moland House in Bucks County, Pennsylvania on 10 August 1777.[30]
When Washington expressed embarrassment to show a French officer the state of their camp
and troops, Lafayette responded, "I am here to learn, not to teach."[31] He became a member of
Washington's staff, although confusion existed regarding his status. Congress regarded his
commission as honorary, while he considered himself a full-fledged commander
Wounded during the Battle of Brandywine, he still managed to organize a successful
retreat. He served with distinction in the Battle of Rhode Island. In the middle of the war
he returned to France to negotiate an increased French commitment. On his return, he
blocked troops led by Cornwallis at Yorktown.
Washington and Lafayette at Valley Forge
Lafayette and Washington at Mt. Vernon, 1784