The Evening critic., 1881-08-16
THE EVENING CRITIC.
BARON STEUBEN.
The Descendants and Countrymcn of
the sturdy Old Patriotic German
20 be Mepresented at Yorktown.
ESTABLISHED AUGUST. 1858.

TO be Represented at Yorktown.
The State Department has of late re-
ceived numerous inquiries as TO whether
there were any living relations of Baron
Stouben, and whether they were invited to
attend the Yorktown celebration, in COM
mon with the descendants of Lafayette.
There arc several relatives of Steuben now
officers in the German army. The follow
ing was sent by Secretary Blaine to Minis
ter White at Berlin, on July 30:
During the darkest period of the Revo-
1utionary war German soldier of character
and distinction rendered his sword in aid of
American independence. Frederic William
Augustus, Baron Steuben, Joined Washing
ton at Valley Forge in the memorable and
disastrous winter of ITS. He attested the
sincerity of his attachment to the pa triot
cause by espousing it when its fortunes were
adverse, its prospects gloomy and its hopes
but for the intense zeal of the people-well-
nigh crushed.
1.-The Baron Stcubcn was received by
Washington with the most cordial well
come, and Immediately placed on duty as
Inspector-General of the army. A detailed
history of his military career in America
would form an epitome of the Revolutionary
struggle. He had served in the Seven
Years war on the staff of the Great Fred
erick, and had acquired in the campaigns
Of that master of military science the skill
and the experience so much needed by the
unframed soldiers of the Continental army.
The drill and the discipline and effective
organization which, under tho commanding
patronage of Washington, were at once i'm
parted to the American army by the zeal
and diligence of Steuben, transformed the
volunteers and raw levies into veterans,
who successfully met the British regulars
IN all the campaigns Of the prolonged con-
test.
"The final surrender of the British army
under Lord CORVALLIS occurred at York
town, Va, on the 10Th day of October, ISL
Baron Steuben bore most conspicuous part
in the arduous campaign which ended so
auspiciOusly for the Continental army, and
1t fell to his lot to receive the first official
notification of the proposed capitulation,
and to bear it to the illustrious commander
in-clief M II ll
"The centennial of that great event in
American history is to be celebrated with
appropriate obscrvances and ceremonies on
the approaching anniversary.
am directed by the President to ten
der through you an invitation to the rep
resentatives of Baron Steuben's family in
Germany to attend the celebration rs guests
of the Government of the United States
You will communicate the invitation
through the Imperial Minister of Foreign
Affairs and will express to him the very
earnest desire of this Government that it
shall be accepted.
Those who come as representatives of
Baron Steuben will be assured in our day of
peace and prosperity of as warm a welcome
as was given to their illustrious kinsman in
the dark days of adversely and war. They
will be the honored guests of fifty mil
lions of Americans-a vast number of
whom have German blood in thar veins
and constitute one of the most worthy and
valuable elements that make up the
strength of the Republic. Intensely de-
voted, with patriotic fidelity to America
they yet retain and cherish and transmit
the most affectionatc memories of Father
land. To these the visit of Baron Steuben's
relatives will have something of the re-
vival Of family ties, while to all Americans,
of whatever origin, the presence of German
guests will afford fitting opportunity of
testifying their respect for that great
country within whose limits are included
so much of human grandeur and human
progress"