The Placer herald., 1857-07-25
The Grave of Steubeu.

About five miles from the village Of Steu.
ben, N. Y, and in the town of that name,
is the grave of Baron Steuben. In a FIVE
acre woodland, on hill fenced in, so that
the cattle can not enter, quietly rest the re-
mains Of the Prussian patriot and hero. The
grave is in the middle of the wood, and was
once covered by monument, plain slab,
with the following inscription: "Major,
General Frederick William Augustus Bar
on Steuben." We visited the grave recent
ly, 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 grea: 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 gallant patriot, with nothing
to mark his resting place but ruined mass
of mortar and stone.
Baron Steuben was aid-de-camp to the
King of Prussia-he was receiving salary
Of $4,000 year at the time of the Revol-
utionary struggle-his sympathies were en-
listed in behalf of the infant colonies, and
he left his home and his situation to serve
in the American cause, and take the lead
of our armies. He was an able general and
an experienced tactician, and rendered inval-
liable service to our country. Soon after
the close of the war, Steuben retired to
private life, and for seven years endeavored
to prevail on Congress to remunerate him
for his services. At length he received a
salary of So, 500 year, only half of that
which he relinquished thirteen years be-
fore, 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 ceard off sixty acres of
land, erected log house, and sat down for
the remainder Of his life. With his trusty
servants and few frien!s, who still clung to
hlm with more than fiIia affection, he
watched the current of his years drift peace
fully away, without sigh for the splendors
of royalty he had left behind in the
world.
A tree near the spot where his dwelling
stood, was a tavorite of his and under that
tree, in summer he used to pass many of
his hours. He expressed a wish to be bur-
led under the tree where he had 50 often
rested while living On the 25th day of
alysis, and lived but three days afterwards.
He directed, just before his death, that he
should be buried in his military cloak,
with the star of honor. which he always
wore, placed on his breast. His weeping
servants and few rustic neighbors formed
the procession to his solitary place of bur-
ia, and there, in the still woods, with his
martial cloak around him." and the star
flashing Gu his breast, they laid the old
warrior down to rest. He sleeps we'll be-
meath the soil he helped to free.
His stormy career was over, and he who
had passed his life on the battle field, had
not flag to droop over his hearse, or a
soldier to discharge farewell shot over his
grave. A nation seemed to have blotted
him cut from its memory, and left him to
die alone, forgotten, unhonored A "Re
public may prove ungratetu," and refuse
to erect a monument to the memory of the
departed patriot and warrior, but the people
of the land which he helped to free, will
cherish his many virtues with filial tender
ness and affection.