The Trinity journal., 1856-11-01
The Grave of Steuben.

About five miles from the village Of Stcu-
ben, n. Y, and in the town of that name,
is the grave of the Baron de Stcuhen. In Il
five acre woodland, on hill fenced in so
that the cattle cannot enter, quietly rest the
remains of the PruSsian patriot and hero.
The grave is in the middle of the wood,
and was once covered by monument, n
plain slab with the following inscription
!" Maior-General Frederick William Angus
tuS Baron de Steuben.' We visited the
grave recently, 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" repose the remains of Il gallant
patriot, with nothing but ruined mass of
mortar and stones to mark hiSreStng place
Baron Steuben was aid-de-camp to the
King of PruSsi0--he was receiving salary
of s. 600 year at the time of the Revolu
tionury Strtggle-his sympathies were enlist
ed in behalf of the infant colonies, and he
left his home and his situation to serve in
the American cause, aud take the lead of
our armies. He was an able general and
an experienced tactician, and rendered in
valuable service to our country. Soon after
the close of the war; Steuben retired to pri-
vate life, and for seven years cndeayored tu
prevail on Congress to renumerate him for
his services Al length he received salary
of 81 500 year, only half of that which he
relinquished thirteen 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 lie
cleared of sixty acres of land, erected log
house, and sat down for the remainder of
his life, With his trusty servants and few
friends, who still clung to him with more
than hliul Affection he watched the current
of his years drift peacefully away, without
sigh for the SplendorS Of royalty he had left
behind IN the old world.
A tree near the spot where his dwelling
stood was favortc of his, and under that
tree, in summer he used to pass many of
his hours. lie expressed II wish to be bur
ried when he died under the tree where he
had so often rested while living. On the
Goth day of November, 1907, hc was struck
WIFI Ildl NSlSt dil' llNtN lilltt NldNn ditNl-
wards lie directed, just before his death,
that he should be buried in his military
cloak with the star of honor, which,he al
ways wore, placed on his breast His weep
ing servants and few rustic neghbors formed
the procession to his solitary place Of burial,
and there, in the still woods, with his mar
tial cloak around him." and the star flash
ing ON his breast, they laid the old warrior
down to rest lie sleeps well beneath the
soil he helped to free
His stormy career was over, and he who
had passed his life on the battleG field, had
not II flag TO droop over his hearse, or II
soldier to discharge farewell shot over his
grave. A nation seemed to have bIottcd
him out from its memory, and left him to
die alone, forgotten, unhonorcd, A Re
public may prove ungratcfuI,' and refuse to
erect a monument to the memory OF the
departed patriot and warrior, but the peo-
dle of tie land which he helped to free will
cherish his many virtues with Iiliol tender
ness and affection.