The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-12-07

THE REFORMED CHURCH SHOULD HON.
OR HIS MEMORY.

J THE REFORMED CHURCH SHOULD Hon
: OR HIS MEMORY.
We believe it was Horatio Sew
mour who first suggested that i
would be eminently right and prop
: er to invite the Steubens as well a
the Lafayetts, to the centennial an
niversary of the surrender OF Corn
wallis at Yorktown. We are glat
that the suggestion was carried int
practical effect, no matter whence i
came.
Years ago, Mr.. Seymour pro
nounced a glowing eulogy on Gener
J al Herkimer and the sturdy German
colonists who fought and fell with
him on the bloody field of Oriskany
The orders of the day and battle cry
of Herkimer, so full of inspiration
to his yeoman, rang out the rich
round accents ofthe German tongue
Perhaps Mr.. Seymour's residence
at Utica, the old Fort SCHUYLER, in
Oneida aounty, N. Y, so near the
manor and last resting place of the
gallant old Baron, has caused him
to take special interest in what even
concerns the memory and fame OF
| Steuben as well as other heroic Ger
man spirits who bore an honorable
part in the war of American Inde-
Ipendence. But this as it may, he
deserves our grateful thanks for
helping to do justice to the German
and Dutch elements of Colonial and
Revolutionary days. Too often
have Yankee historians ignored
these important factors in our ma
tional history, and alas we who
ought to have embalmed their Inem-
ories by recording their worthy
deeds, have neglected to perform the
sacred duty.
Frederick William Steuben was
a leading spirit in our war of Inde-
pendence, one who did effective SER
vice in the darkest hours of the
struggle, one who above all others
brought order and discipline out of
confusion, and not only paved the
way to final victory, bat himself
commanded in the trenches OF
Yorktown when the proud Cornwall
lis was forced to surrender his army
of veterans.
All descendants of German ances-
tors, and we ofthe Reformed Church
in particular should beinterested in
all efforts to, Honor the memory of
Steuben. He has of old Reformed
stock, and was himself q ruling eld-
er of our church on Nassau street
New York, when he died in 1891.
His noble ancestors were identified
with the Reformation from the be-
ginning. One OF his grandiathers
was an eminent theologian, and
wrote an liable commentary on the
New Testament and the Apocalypse"
Ills father was educated at Halle,
and with two elder brothers entcredi
the military service of Prussia and
served with distinction as Major of
Engineers for forty-seven years
Our newspapers talk as ii the
Sleubens recently in this country as
the honored guests of the nation,
were the descendants of the distin-
guished Baron. But this mistake
The Baron was never married and
left no descendants. Theguests be-
long to the other branches of the
oteuben family. 1t was in response
to the advice OF st. Germain, French
Minister of War, the Prince de
Montbarey and Prince Louis Will
lam of Baden, who was then Lieu
tenant General in the service of Hol-
land. that Steuben decided on offer
ing his services to the STRUGGLING
colonies in order to give the citizen
soldiery that efficiency of discipline
without which they could never cope
with the British regulars.
Before leaving for America, he Sc
cured the consent of Frederick the
Great to transfer to one of Steuben's
nephews (the Baron Won Canitz) his
canonry of Howelberg, which
brought him annually. an income of
1900 livres. and which was regarded
as sort of pension for services and
wounds received in the Prussian ar
my in that momentous period when
old Fritz laid the foundation of his
countrv's greatness.
Steuben left brother and sister
besides the two uncles already men
toned as his fathers elder brothers
in Prussian service. St. Germain
and Count Vergennes felt that with
out reform in the organization of the
American army, the money and
stores of France would be given in
van to help the struggling colonists
against the mother country and
powerful rival of France. And
Steuben was the man to whom they
turned and whose services in this
important capacity doubtless aided
greatly in the end to secure the
much needed help of the French
army and navy to wind up the war
in the capture of CORVALLIS.
The German pop ulation in Lam
caster and other parts of Pennsylva-
MIA. gave Steuben grand ovation,
and his heart was cheered to hear in
the new world female voices speak
ing in the sweet accents of Father
land. The army was in sorry
plight when Steuben appeared at
Valley Forge, and began the duties
of Inspector General. Out of the
original force of II 900 there were 3,
9S1 without clothes enough to
mount guard or appear on parade.
Through desertion and disease only
5O12 were fit for duty. Muskets,
fowling pieces and rifles were found
in the same company, many of them
too rusty for use.
Nav 24th, Steuben began work
by selecting 100 men with whom he
performed the duty of drill sergeant
until each of them could serve in
that capacity to other squads.
April 29th, the army for the first
time since the war executed grand
military maneuvres. On the 5th
/ of Nov Conoreea appointed Gfeuhap