The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-09-11
The Grave Of steuben.

About FIVE miles from the village ol Step-
ben, and in the town Of that name, is the
grave of Baron de Steuben. In FIVE acre
woodland, on a hill, and fenced IN, SO that
the field cannot enter, quietly rest the re-.
mains Of the Prussiah patriot and hero. The
grave is in the middle of the wood, and was
once covered by monumental plain slab,
with the following simple inscription: "MO-
jor General Frederick William Augustus
Baron de Steuben." We visited the grave
few days since, and found the monument
tumbled down, and things going to ruin and
decay. 1t was an unpleasant sight to stand
by the grave of that great man, and think
how negligent our country had been Of her
heroes. There in the wild woods, far from
the city's crowd, and by the "fair forest
stream" reposed the remains of a gallant
patriot, with nothing but ruined mass oI
mortar and stones 10 mark his resting place
Baron Steuben YVES Abide. Camp to the
King of Prussia-he was receiving a salary
of about S. 900 year at the time of our
Revolutionary struggle-his sympathies
were enlisted in behalf of the infant colo
ny, and he left his home and situation to
serve in the American cause, and take the
lead of our armies. He was an able gene.
raj and an experienced tactitian, and ren.
percd invaluable service to our country
Soon after the close of the var, Steuben re-
tired to private life, and for seven years en-
deavored in vain to prevail on Congress to
remunerate him for his services. Al length
he received a salary of $2,500 year, only
half Of that which he had relinquiShed thr.
teen years before, to risk all in her service.
He located himself on the farm, and in the
township where he died, given him by the
State OF New York. He cleared off sixty
sixty acres oil land, erected log house, and
sat down for the remainder of his life. With
his trusty servants and a few friends who
still clung to him with more than flial af.
ISItlOl, "ulIIIu NiIC VI MS NSuI
drift peacefully away, without a sigh for the
splendors of royalty he had left behind him
in the old world.
A tree, ,near the spot where his house stood
was favorite of his, and under that tree in
summer he used to pass many of his hours
He expressed wish to be buried, when he
died, under the tree where he had SO otter
rested while living. On the 25th day of No
| vember, 1907, he was struck with a poraly
sis, and lived but three days aftcrward, HI
! directed, Just before his death, that he shout
be buried in his military cloak, with the sta
Of honor, which he always wore, placed OF
his breast. His weeping servants, and
few rustic ,neighbors, formed the procession
to his solitary place of burial; and there, il
the still woods, "with the military cloal
around him." and the star flashing on hi
breast, they laid the old warrior down t.
rest. He sleeps we'll beneath the s,il h
helped to free.
His stormy career was over, and he VIII
had passed his life on the battle field ha
not flag to droop over the hearse, or sol
der to discharge farewell shot DER hi
grave. A nation seems to have blotted hin
out from its memory, and left him to di
alone, forgotten and unhonored. A ere
public may prove ungrateful," and refuse t
erect monument to the memory of the de
parted patriot and warrior, but the people c
the land which he helped to free, will cher
ish his many virtues with filial tenderness
and affection.
In 1854 his remains were taken from tn
place where they were first deposited
high way having been laid out there-an
removed some fifty or sixty rods distant.
AS we stand by the grave Of the baror
like so many sentinels around, the follow
ing touching and appropriate lines of til
poet came clustering to our memory:
$50 sleep the brave who sink to rest
! With all their copntry's honors blest
When spring, with dewy fingers cold ~
Returns to deck the hallOwed mold,
He there shall find sweeter sod
i Than his tired feet have ever troG.
There honor comes, pilgrim gray, -.s
To deck the mo Id that wraps their clay;
and freedom for awhile repair
To dwell weeping hermit there"
-. .......... Rome (N. " S"ntineI.