Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1847-12-30
From Headley's Washington and his GeRerals
Baron Stcubcu.


without regard to friend or foe. Having spent
his life in camp, he was frequently rough in his
manners, and when excited, rash as a storm. Still
the soldiers and officers loved him, for generous
act would always repay sudden wrong under
that stern military exterior beat kind a heart
as ever dwet in human bosom. He was prodi-
gal to fault, and an appeal TO his sympathes he
could never resist-consequently, as objects of
charity were painful enough during our Revolu-
ton, he was never long in the possession ofmoney
|-Whenever he had any thing TO eat, his table
was crowded with officers, and often those of in
ferior rank. Once in directing some of the latter
class to be invited he said, Poor fellows they
have field officers somachs, without their pay or
ratons"
On one occasion, he sold part of his camp epui-
page in order to give dinner TO some French Of
! ficers, at whose table he had often been a guest
81 can stand it no longer" said he in his blunt
manner. 81 will give one grand dinner to our al
lies, should l eat soup with a wooden spoon for
ever after" After the surrender of Yorktown, he
sold his horse TO be able to give dinner to the
British officers. Every major general in the
army had extended this courtesy but him, and
distressed at the reflection this cast upon his hos
pitality he parted with his horse in order to raise
the funds he needed. His watch had been pawn
ed before under some generous impulse, and as
he could not borrow the money, this was his last
resort. When the army was on the point of leav
ing Virginia he went to Major North, who lay
sick with a fever, and told him that he was to be
left behind but" said he, "he instant you are
able leave this unhealthy place, l have left my
sulky for you, and here (handing him piece of
gold) is half possess in the world. God bless you
i can say no more" OF the strictest integrity
and honor himself he scorned meanness and
treachery in others, and hence never could hear
49,,
nation. Once, in reviewing a regiment, he heard
the name of Benedict Arnold called in the muster
roll He Immediately ordered the private bear
inc this deiested cognomen to advance out of the
line. He was n fine looking feow-cvcry inch
a sodier-and the Baron, after surveying him
moment said
"Change your name, broher soldier; you are
too respectable to bear the name of traitor"
"What name shall take, General 2" inquired
the young man.
"Take any other, sir, mine is at your service"
He accepted it, and Immediately had his name
enrolled Frederic William Steuben. The Baron
settled upon him in return a pension of five dol
lars month, and afterwards gave him a tract of
land.
With all his strict notions of discipline & subor-
dination, he was prompt to redress the slightest
wrong done to the meanest soldier Once a
review near Morristown, he ordered Lieutenant
Gibbons to be arrested on the spot for a supposed
error and he felt the disgrace keeny The Col
onel of the regiment that he had been much
wronecd, and waiting till the Barons wrath had
subsidized, advanced and told him that the young
officer was not in the fault, and suffering
keenlv under the modification inflicted upon him.
Ask Lieut.. Gibbons to come to the front, Colonel"
said the veteran.-IIe was brought forward when
Steuben said aloud before the whole regiment
"Sir the fault which was made by throwing the
line into confusion, might have been fatal in the
presence of an enemy. ] arrested you as its sup
s fa e and HAT 5e You we're hasr0
your pardon--return TO your command. l would
not deal unjustly by any, much less by one whose
character officer is so respectable" All
this passed with the Barons hat Off the rain pour
ing on his venerable head.
His acts of kindness were innumerabc. In
passing from New York to Virginia on one &C.
cason, he heard a constant wailing in the fore
part of the vessel and on nquiring the cause, and
being told that little negro boy who had been
purchased by a southern gentleman was crying
for his parents, he Immediately purchased him
and carried him back to his home. Soon after
the little fellow, while fishing, fell into the water
and was drowned When the Baron heard of it
he evinced deep emotion, saying; d" I have been
the cause of his death he had followed his own
destiny all would have been we'll"
The disbanding of the army at Newburgh was
n distressing scene-oflicers and men were re-
quired to lay down their arms, and poor, unpaid,
and destitute, to return to their homes. Steuben,
though he had no home, nor relative in the coun-
try, and was a stranger in an impoverished land,
still endeavored to cheer up the Responding Off
GERS and throw little sunshine on the gloom.
Seeing Col Cochran standing alone the picture
of sorrow, he tried to comfort him by saying that
better would come.
"For myself" replied the brave officer, 81 can
stand it. But my wife and daughters are in the
garnet of that wretched tavern, and l have no
where to carry them, or even money to remove
! them"
"Come, come" said the Baron, whose kind ma
ture this reply had completely overcome, 81 will
pay my respects to Mrs Cochran and your daugh-
tiers, if you please = and away he strobe to the
tavern.
He was not absent long, but he left happy hearts
in that lone garrett He had emptied the entire
contents of his purse the table, and then hast
ened away to escape the tears and blessings that
were raned upon him. As he walked towards
the wharf, he came upon poor negro soldier,
whose wounds were still unhealed bitterly lam
enting that he had not the means with which to
get to New York. Touched with his sufferings,
the Baron's hand Immediately sought his pocket !;
but the last cent had been left in the garnet so
turning to an officer he borrowed dollar, and
handing it to the negro, hailed sloop and put
him on board. As the poor fellow hobbled on
deck, he turned and with tears running down his
face he exclaimed: "God Almighty bless YOU,
Master Baron." The veteran brushed tear
from his eye, and turned away.-Thus did the
stern warriors heart, which had moved without
hnching through the storm of so many battles,
4 IL ll-l-. Al