Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-07-07
MISCELLANY.
From The New York Evening Pos,l
ETCH OF THE EARLY LIFE
OF STEUUEN.

Mr.. Frederic Kapp read an unusually inter-
esling paper about Baron Sleuben before the
Historical Society on Tuesday evening. of
which we give the following abstract, together
with an interesting letter from the General,
never before published in this country
General Steuben belonged to highly re-
spectacle family of German nobility, whse his
tory dates from the thirteenth century. His
father was prominent officer in the Prussian
army, He had three children-two sons and
a daughter. Our Revolutionary general, Fred
eric William, was the Oldest of these children.
lie was born at Magdeburg in 1870. He was
educated at the Jesuit's institution at Neisse
and Breslau, where he distinguished himself in
mathematics
While boy of scarcely fourteen, he served
with his father in the campaign of l14i, and
was present at the siege of Prague. He be-
came an officer of infantry in l747, and took
an active part in the famous seven years war.
He was wounded at the battle of Prague, in
1857. lie made campaign into Poland in
l75s and fought AT the hattie Of Kunersdorif,
in 1859, when he was wounded a second time.
In the year l76O, he was appointed quarter
masters lieutenant. In 1901, he was taken
prisoner by the Russians, and carried to st.
Petersburgh, when PeIer II, when ascending
the throne, delivered him up 10 Prussia. In
the last year of the war, he was attached to
the kings suite as captain, and acted dd inter
nm as commandment of Torgau.
Soon after the conclusion of peace Steuben
quilted the Prussan service, and on the rec
ommendation of Prince Henry, of Prussia, was
appointed Grand Marshal at the court of Ho
henzollern- Hechingen. He held this office
about ten years. A most important incident,
of decisive influence for the remainder of his
life, was his journey to Paris in l77l, with the
pvince. He was then introduced into the cir
cles of nobility, and TO the government officers
for, instance, TO Count St. German, after
wards French Minister of War.
Afterwards, while on visit to the court OF
the Margrave of Baden, he became aequain,-
ed with an Englishman of the opposition par
ty. His new acquaintance freely conversed
with him on the politics of the day, and ex-
planned TO him how the American insurgents,
although privately provided by France with ar
lillery, engineers, and munitions, could hardly
succeed, inasmuch as they had no officers well
skilled in tactics, and capable OF introducing
order and regular action into their army and
making them contend adyaniageously against a
wel-organized enemy. This was exactly the
thing in which Steuben, during his warfare in
the Prussian service, had most excelled. lie
became, therefore Immediately interested in the
subject, and told the Englishman that he knew
somebody who had acquired in the school fthC
great Frederick thorough knowledge of the
whole system, and who would be willing to en-.
gage in the service of Congress, provided the
terms propose by him. should be accepted.
The Englishman communicated this intel
lgenee to Beaumarchais, to Franklin and Sila,
Duane in Paris. They answered that they
wished to see the officer thus recommended, tt
examine his qualifications, and if satisfactory
there would be no difficulty in coming to a sat
isfaciory arrangement with him. In Apr
l777, Sieuben started for Paris, provided will
letters of introduction from the Prince of Ho
nenzollern. At the first interview, Count st
German proposed that Steuben should engage
in the service Of Congress- for the purpose o
organizing and drilling the troops. He wa
well aware that Steuben was perfectly compe
tent to the task.
Steuben was no Frenchman, and the tim,
was moi yet come for France to act openl,
against England. 1t was, however, the poll
cy Of the Court Of France to injure Engan'
wherever they could. The French minister o
war found, therefore, in Steuben lust the MAJ
he wanted. Steuben's objections to the fiat
1eTing prospect were but formal. The Difficult