The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-09-03

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Tenfang the peel for freedom throughout the domain
These outbreaks in Massachusetts were but the mntte
= OF te 9istant voice of the thundercloud war; Il
az az tllecte" IN tle Old colonial hall at Philadelphia WI
m me pursuing OF the storm The Rubicon was crossed
me voice oi negotiation and of entreaty was hushe
ire sword and the cannon, and the hayonct were n
chosen arblters. The day he that should stgmat;
the c"iohStS as nurated and impotent rebels or crow
them as successful levolutiOnsts in tr Iorors onsc
human liberty, and the honored champions of the righ
OF an injured people Their lives their fortunes and hc
sacred honor were staked upon the issue.
The mastering squadron and the clattcrinc car
N'ntpourng forth with impetuous speed
AND swiftly forming in the ranks of war
AND the deep thunder peal on neal arar.
And near the beat of the alarming drum
Rouscd up the soldiers ere the nIornIu,, star
wron@ed and outraged people not apt to ponder
The consequences of failure to maintain snccnssrnI -
independent position they rather prone 10 rpsh in
pnlSlvey to the last desperate remedy without summin
up The cost of precpate action Such in part apperc
10 DC the character OF the American movement; and if o,
fathers had thought less boldly ere the nag of liberty ba
oeen given to the breeze and the dogs war let loose on
might not now he, or theirs at least had been
ierred For if turn back the cvcntfl period of IN
sugEie lor national existence cannot but conclud
Iat the Almighty hand had been stretched forth from
ms throne of light to the flag of freedom-
bess the patriots sword That lie who had 'nerved tn
arm of the Bethuan girl to strike the drunken tyrant il
his tent had mbued the patriots of ssseyenyx, viii
tha measure of undyng courage patient perseverance
ana endurance necessary to work ont their glorious
mission. ~ S
The disciplined armies Europe and the raw recruits
america were the combatants The art of was com
me population compared to that of the mother country
was insignificant. With but few executions il w,.
scattered over broad territory, every point of which
from the naval facilities at the command of the wa,
likely TO he assacd Arms, ammunition and all the Other
appointments necessary to successful warfare could not be
readily oblaned the of the country were moi
commensurate with the demands Of the little army
Nothing in short seemed full the glorious purpose
but the great heart beat for liberty: that was t
ana nerved the Sod RS for the contest The first
and second year Of the struggle brought little else than
TGafa disasters were with the American White
rams at Fort Washington and Fort Lee not less uu
anu dscouraging were the results upon the
bloody plain of Germantown and the crmsoned hanks of
le braHywne, and the great Washington retired into
Wtr quarters with the remnant of his tattcred forces
at valley Forge in the winter of II under circumstances
mander. ''e' OoA'
1t is not purpose here dwell upon the condition of
dhalrs al that gloomy period Young history Ihavp
not the time, if had the right to trespas upon your a
thence TO that end Suffice it to say that the crisis hung
like funeral pail before the vision of the peopp and thc
murmuI OF complaint had broke against the ear of
tne nation beneiactOr But the fire that been kin
died in the heart of Washington the dawn of the
luton still burned with the tcrvor of its earliest rlows
ana ms stern purpose was not at all shaken by black
ness OF the cloud which hung and seemed about TO
burst upon and to blight the hopes of freedom
The darkest hour is that which precedes breaking in
OF the morn of light. The civilized world looked unon
the condition Of affairs in America and whilst the old
governments OF monarch and dcspoS delighted with
the dark picture their subjects wifi ra,t
people VINO were struggling in unequal liberty
and independence Freedom has in all places at all times
advocates In the midst of the blackest despotsm the
the surface Its devoees had raised the oueson-if il
snail be stricken down, and be tamped beneath the iron
heei OF tyranny, in Amcrica-whcrand where shall it
agh raise ITS head and assert its prerogatves Its tones
OF appeal to man. regardless of birthplace or rank had
egh her9 ana resPon led to by Lafayette and De Kalb
and Pulaski and koclusko and Fersen and other friends
in France, and Ireland, and Germany and Poland
Its trumpet voice. too fell upon the of the ntrep
German soldier, Frederick William Augustus Baron
de Steuben the man of all others whose services the
cause of freedom most needed this critical
There were brave and willing hearts for the combat hut
the cause had most sadly suffered for the want of military
training and discipline Stcuben the soldier for that
crisis in the Of the revolution lie had been a vete
ran commander and discpnarian in the scverest school
IN whlc soldier had ever been tried He had served with
distinction as Aid under the greatest soldier that had
then ever lived since the Introduction of modern warfare
1t under the stern and ntrepid and never Welding
Frederick H. of Prussia who for several years without
an ally, maintained unequal contest, and successfully
resisted the combined armies of Austria France Russia
sweden, anu the greater part of Germany.
Fortunate-most for this country was it, that in its
gloomest hour, whilst the flag of freedom and
bloody yet still flying, Baron Steuben abandoned the
home of his nativity and the comforts that surrounded
him. to offer his sword and if needs he his blood in
cause or ON the altar Of human liberty Nodesperae
Vehturcr was he That had nothing to lose and all to win
lie was solder-csScntially SOldcr-and such had
acquired reputation that the proudet might envy He
had won honorS and rank, and titles and the time
when his services invoked in behalf of bleeding lib
erty, his official position unde Prince Charles of Baden
secured for him more than comnrrncv Ills rnnnation
brave soldier disciplined the science of war was
known in Europe and brilliant offers had been
by the King of Sardinia and the Emperor Austria in
These all he abandoned refused and came to America
then poor America in its fight as voun.
teer IN the armies desperately battling freedom
On the 10Th of September 1777, under assumed name
he embarked at Marseills in French and
cGmber following On the sixth of the month he
addressed the following communication to Congress
Volunteering his services in the armies of the United
States:
"Hon Gentlemen.-Thc honor of serving respectable
nation engaged in the noble enterprise of defending its
rights and liberty is the only motive that brought
II lsE tlsr risI,s
come here from the remoteSt end Germany at NV own
expense, and have given honorable lucrative
rank have made no condition with your deputies in
France, nor shall make any with you. My only
ambition is to you volunteer to desire the con
hdence of your general-in chief, and to follow him
In all his operations, as | have done during
pagns with the King of Prussia; two and TWEEN
ty years passed at such school give me right
of thinking myself in the number of experienced officers
and if possessor of talents in the art of war
they should be much dcarcr if could employ them
in the service republic such as hope soon to see
America should willingly purchase at my whole bOod's
expense the honor of seeing day my after those
of the defenders of your liberty Your gracious accept
ancc will be sufficient for me and / ask other favor
than to be received among your officers dare hope you
VIII agree with this request and that you will be
good as to send me your orders to Boston where shall
expect the and accordingly take convenient measures
81 have the honor to be- with respect honorable gentle
men, your most obedicnt and very humble servant,
How beautifully does the soldier tell story his
heart to the National Congress My only ambition is
you volunteer deserve the confidence # your
general chief and to follow him in all his operations
l have done during seven campaigns with the King of
Prussia And further 81 should willingly purchase at
my whole blOods expense the honor of seeing day
my name after those of the defenders of your liberty
Great spirit! thy ambition gratiiied He had
the glory Of serving under such chief Washing
tom and more than this he had the glory being honored
and iOced by the great and best patriot that the light
OF heaven broke upon Yes he appreciated and
honored and loved by Washington as the letters of the
latter official and private amply evidence; and that
legacy richer than nations diadem. He did live to
fight the end the battles American independence and
his recorded without nrpiudce of birth
among the brightest that made the revolutionary gal
aXy.
Congress readily accepted his services adopted comp
mcntary resolution in connection herewith and SubSc
quently, at the earnest solicitation of General Washing
ton appointed him Inspector General of the army with
the rank and pay of Major-Genera
He had already joined the army under the immediate
command of Washington at the memorable camp Of Val
ley Forge. What the condition of the American army
at that time let history Reduced a
handful in point 0fnumbers, half clothed and lshecred
from the nclemcncy the weather. they owed their pre-
servaon the suppineness ignorance of enemy
The Baron frequently declared European army
kept together under such dreadful deprvatons
Discipline relaxed and the performance OF military
duties frequently postponed from the necessity Of employ
ing the soldiers in excursions to daily subsistence
fhe Irregularities of conduct arising from the want
equipments and necessities heightened by the officers
Ignorance of military system and by the short periods fo
which the men enlisted Many Impractical even
in the manual exercise and none understood the evolu
ons requisite for the proper arrangement of troops in the
open field Utter carcessness prevailed in the of
and equipments and great waste made of their scn
der means from the want of proper rules by which
countability for losses might be pushed indvid
uals.r
Out of such materials to produce well disciplined ant
effective corps indeed herculcn task but the hardy
and perseverng soldier who had followed Frederick wa
not TO be dsmayed by these exhibitions The ympathie
of his noble nature stirred in behalf of the il
which he just then engaged. He truly and essen
tally German in his characteristics of determination t.
pursue task when begun. and of perseverance to
the end. He instructed both officers and in all The
movements necessary the field of action and in tn,
use and preservation Of arms He introduced system ant
economy in the disposition of the army supplies and reg
uarity in every department Of the service lie hrGugh
science and order out Of ndiscpline and confusion Hi
labors were ncesSant and under his rigid system Of dis
cipline great and sauary change visible il
the army.
The result ofhs teachings acknowledged and prac
tically manifested in the memorable battle of Monmouth
which succeeded the breaking up of the camp Nale
Forge. The historian that WaShington there rlie
his men while in full retreat and brought them actio
under the very blaze of the enemys guns They wheeled
like veteran troops into their place and then stead
on the foe Steuben, during the action, employed il
accommodating the enemy and forming the troops and
accustomed had the soldiers become his orders that the
Obeyed them in the very heat of the engagement as
curately they would have done drill. Hamilton