The National tribune., 1881-10-22

BARON STEUBEN.

BARON STEUBEN.
Seven German army othcerS descendants VI
relatives of Baron Steuben, are III TINS country
ON a visit to attend the Yorktown centennial
festivities as guests of the United States. The
services rendered by their distinguished ancestor
were of great value 10 the Continental army, and
il is eminentIy fitting that the Republic should
extend a grateful recognition. When Baron
Stauben reached this country in 1777, he was
already a veteran soldier of torty-seven, trained
to military service from his youth. He had won
his way under that famous captain, Frederick
the Great, from a cadetship to the position of
grand marshal, exhibiting his skill and courage
in the remarkable campaigns which established
the fame of that remarkable monarch. He fought
at Prague and Rossbach in. 1855 at Kay and
Kunersdorf i'll 1859, being wounded in the last
named engagement 1t is probably not saying
too much to claim for him the credit of having
had the most thorough military training of any
officer who participated in the revolutionary
struggle.
On arriving in this country he rendered his
services to Washington and to Congress- and was
directed by Congress to join Washington at
Valley Forge. There he found our army in ter
rible restitution and sadly lacking in organza-
ton and discipline He knew, from experience,
what ii waS for an army to suffer for lack of sup
plies and OF pay. This fact did not trouble him.
But he recognized the danger of decentralization
from defective organization and discipline. He
was appointed InspectOr-general, and he set to
work energetically to reform the whole military
department. 1t was arduOus undertaking,
extending to every branch of the service, system
atizing and putting checks against fraud in the
quartermaSter and commissary departments,
equaliZing brigades and regiments, so far as pos
sibIe, and finally instituting a strict drill by
which the grumbling and discouraged men were
kept busy and were prepared for efficient service.
General Washington, in selecting Steuben to
dertake this work, the need OF which he sadly
appreciated, gave an added proof of his capacity
az Commander-in-chief The Baron in carrying
ont his scheme found it necessary to prepare
manual of drill and discipline, which was ap-
proved by Congress. and was Of great service.
in the field, also, he acquitted himself with
great credit. Atthe battle Of Monmouth although
serving as a staff officer he had command sud
denly thrown upon him. and handled it with
ability. At Yorktown he was the only officer
who had ever been present at regularly con-
planning fell upon him. He was in command Of
a division in the trenches when the first negoti-
ations for surrender were made
General Washington left many evidences of the
very high regard in which he held his German
friend. But no more forcible proof could be
given of this than the fact that WashingtOn's last
act, before reSigning the command of the army,
was to write the following letter to the Baron:
ANNAPOLIS, December %, 1888.
Ny dear Baron: Although have taken fire.
quent opportunities, both in public and i'll private,
of acknowledging your great zeal attention, and
abilities, in performing the duties of your Office
yet ] wish TO make Use Of this last moment of
my public life to signify in the strongest terms
my entire appreciation Of your conduct and to
express my sense Of the obligations the public is
under to you for your faithful and mertorious
services. This is the last letter l shall write
while l continue in the service of my country
The hour of my resignation is fixed at twelve to-
day. after which shall become a private citizen
on the banks of the Potomac. where shall be
glad to embrace you, and testify the great esteem
and consideration with which | am, my dear
Baron, &C.,
GEORGE WASHISGTOS.
It should not be forgotten at this time, that a
granddaughter of Steuhen, an officer in the Prus-
sian army, came to this country during the late
struggle for the Union, enlisted in New York
regiment, in which he received commission. and
was killed 1T Spottsylvania Court House while
bearing the cOlOrs OF the regiment which he had
seized and carried to the front during a moment
airy panic, thereby rallying the men
AT THE REDOUBT.
History records the fact that the first sword
that flashed in triumph above thecaptured heights
Of Yorktown WIS an American sword. Orders