New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-04-23

met a. each others quntsrs oao sometimes a. Zen.
WsshpgtOnF, where the evening visa speot IN con-
versstioD Over s cup Of tie or coffee. There DO
ieVees or formal sources, no fsnCing and playing, OF
anussneGts Of any siad. eKcept slns1g. Every gen
tleusn or lsoy VII, ocui slg WA called 1Pon IN
turn tor a song.
steuben Immediately commenced bis duties as
Inspector General although 1t was no! till few
week, after that be received bis commission from
Cospress Hi. mode Of operation ia thu, described
by himself;
al commenced operations By drafting one hundred
AID twenty men rom the line, whom | formed mo =
guard for the GeBctal-in-C Chef / made tots guard
my military school. | drilled them myself twice s
day: ard TO remove that English prejudice which
sofue officers entertained namely, that 10 drill re-
crut Sergeants day and beneath the station OF
an officer often took the musket sysef 10 shOw the
mep the manual exercise which wished TO Introduce.
Az my inspectors were present at each drill. We
marched together vhesles, ETC., etc snd 10 fort
night ny company knew perfectly how 70 bear arms,
bad military air knew how to march, to form IN
column, deplOy, and execute some little maneuveIs
with excellent precision.
cit must be owned bat they did not know much Of
the manual exercse and / ought 70 mention the rea-
sors why departed altogether from the general rule
Of all European armies, and commenced with the
manual exercise in drilling recruits like children learn
il 2 their alphabet. In the frs. place, hsd no time
20 d. otherwise. In our European armies man who
hes been drilled for three months is called recruit
here in two months must have soldier. In Europe
We had number of evoluons very pretty to look at
when well executed, but in my opinion absolutely use
lees 90 far as essential objects are concerned ln
Prussia 10 fire and charge several times minute IS q
matter OF boast the consequence IS that the men, when
they ere using ball cartridge often load badly. A
company is drilled for long time in platoon firing,
and the the firing resembles the nolse OF can
non shot, the better It H."
The difficulty of no. being able to give the word
of command in English, az well as many Others of
eyery name and nature, were soon overcome by
the energetic Baron. This is shown in sketch
Of Steuben by bis favOrite sid-de-csmp, and
intimate friend, William North:
Certainly it was brave attempt Without
understanding a word OF the English language, to
think Of brip gpg men, born free, and joined together
TO preserve their freedom TO strict subecton; to
obey without word, look, the mandates OF a
master that master once their equal, or possibly
beneath them, in whatever might become q man IL
was brave attempt which nothing but virtue, or
hghrsised hopes Of glory could have supported. AT
the frs. parade the troops neither understanding tne
word Of command, nor how to follow in enlargement
to ghich they bad not been accustomed, even with
the instructor 8: their head were getting fast into
confusion. At this moment, Captain Is. Walker, then
OF the second NtwYork regiment, advanced from his
platoon and offered his assistance TO translate the
orders and interpret to the troops. ~ said the
baron had seen angel from heaven, should not
have more rejoced.' The officers in the army who
spoke French and Dglish huenuy were indeed very
few in number-hOW few were so capable OF giving
assistance TO the baron in the formation OF HE system
Walker became from that moment his sd-de-csmp,
ard remained 20 the end OF the baT0ns life his dear
and most worthy friend. From the commencement OF
instruction, no time, no pains no tagne were Thought
too great, IN pursuit Of this great object Through
the whole of each campaign, when troops were to
maueuver and that was almost every day, She baron
rose at o'clock while his servant dressed his hair,
he smoked single pipe aud drauk one cup OF conee,
nd 18th nr with
suite gslloped to the parade. There was 10 waiting
for a tardy aid-de-oamp, and those who followed
wished they bad not slept. Nor was there need OF
Gliding when duty was neglected or military etiquette
Dfripged, the barons look wss quite sufficient. IL
was question why, in the first instance our troops
had been put to the performance OF the great
maneuvers. beg pardon for calling them great, but
they were great TO u.s. for we were ignorant. Bands
exercise and Symmess military guide were almost the
only poor and scanty sources from which we drew.
To the question: 1t was answered that in fact there
was no time to spare 10 Learning the mnutla-the
troops must be prepared for instant combat that on
field of battle how to display or fold column or to
change front, of the first consequence; that the
business 10 give the troops relish for their trade,
a confidence in their skill in the performance OF
complicated evolutons that, even If time permitted,
the ofcers copying the bad example set them by the
Brtieb of referring all Instruction to the sergesns,
would feel themselves degraded IN a,tendlng 10 an
awkward squad. But the time will come, said ne,
when better mode Of thinking will prevail then
we will attend to the Z OF the profession
This prophecy was amply fulfilled. a year or two
alterward the baron said TO ne: DO you see there
Sir, your colonel nstructing that recruit thank
God for that"
Wehaye no space to follow the active services of
Sttuben through the remainder OF the war; but
ample proof il here given that he was no less brave
on the battle field, than punctilious on the parade.
His choerc temper often made him enemies; nor
was his obstinscy at all adapted to the work of
Cancellation; professional Jealousy embittered per-
sonsl hostility; but il is now clear that stain rests
upon his character; and bis memory will be cherish
ed as that of brave and honorable man.
Upon the establishment Of peace in 1883, Steu-
ben had nearly reached his City fourth year; he was
too old to engage in any new pursuits of q civil
character and feeling that he could be Of no further
u.e in America, proposed to return to Europe, and
spend the remainder of his days in retirement. But
he had large claims upon Congress, which was in
arrears for the payment of his services during the
war, and when at length he succeeded in obtsinng
settlement in 1890, he was unable on account Of
his debts, to leave the United States. He accord
ingy decided to devote himself to the cultivation of
tract of land in Oneida County, n. Y, Of which
be had received grant from the Legislature Of the
State.
Soon after ressDing his commission, he returned
to New-Yori, where he rented a country house in
the middle part of the island, in which he lived
with his old companion in arms. Here he spent
the little money he had left; his companions soon
went away to establish themselves in more eligible
situations, and he remained alone in his solitary