The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-28
Steuben.

There is bronze statue of the Baron
vow SrEUBEN, the distinguished Ger
man General OF the American Army
i'm the Revolution. in one of the public
places Of the Prussian city Of Pots
dam. 1t WIS given to the municipal
ity in 1911 by the Congress Of the
United States In recognition of a
gift by the German Government to
this country Of statue Of FREDERICK
the Great. The statue of the Prus-
sian monarch has been placed in re-
tirement at Washington since a state
Of war was declared to exist between
the United States and Germany and
now the irate people of Potsdam pro-
pose to conslgn the counterfeit pre-
sentiment Of good old STEuBEN to the
melting pot.
If they carry out their destructive
project they will dishonor Germany
rather than harm America. Why Ger.
mans should object to a tribute to a
German soldier is not easy to per-
ceive.
FREDERIcK WILLIAM AUGUSTUS,
Baron Won SrEUBEN. was a veteran
Of the Seven Years War and had at
talned the rank Of a General officer
under FREDERICK the Great when in
ITS he presented a letter of intro
duction from DIR. FRANKLIN to Gen.
eral WASHINGTON and requested per-
mission to enter the American mill
tary service even in the capacity Of a
mere volunteer, II no other arrange
ment could be made. WASHINGTON
referred the request to Congress APP
provingly; STEUBEN was directed to
join the army at once in its winter
quarters at Valley Forge, and by the
coming Of spring he had already so
demonstrated the value OF his SER
vices as n disciplinarian and tactician
that he received permanent appoint
ment rs Inspector-General of the
Army with the rank Of Major-General.
At this period, more than ever be-
fore, the Americans were called upon
to contend with European methods of
open warfare to which they were I'M
accustomed: and the requisite disci-
pline was lacking among the troops
and tactical knowledge ON the part of
their officers These defects the abil-
ity and experience Of SrEUBEN en-
abled him to remedy; and WASHING
TON early testified to the success of
his efforts in these directions. For
this service STEUBEN Is entitled to a
high place among the Generals of the
American Revolution.
STEUBENs work, however, was not
only that Of the organizer and discl.
plinarlan. He saw much active ser
vice in the field, being present at the
Battle of Monmouth, resisting the
British incurson into Virginia under
BENEDICT ARNOLD and participating
In the siege and capture of Yorktown.
In none of the colonies were his SER
vices more highly appreciated than in
New York, where the Assembly In
1856 voted him a quarter of town
ship-16,0O0 acres-Out of lands lately
purchased from the Oneida Indians.
On this tract he made his home as
long as he lived. Out Of the sixty-one
counties of New York twenty-five
have been named after persons, and
one Of the largest of these Is named
after Baron STEUBEN.
The Baron spoke French but never
mastered English perfectly. An anus
Ing anecdote in SPARKs's american
Biography" Illustrates the extent OF
his knowledge of our tongue. Once
when dining with the Commander-jn-
Chief Mrs. WASHINGTON asked him
how he occupied his time, now that
his duties had become less pressing.
II read and play chess, my lady" said
the Baron, 'and yesterday was In
vited to go q fishing 1t was under
stood to be very fine amusement.
I sat in the boat two hours, though
1t was very warm, and caught two
FISH" Mrs. WASHINGTON asked what
kind. "Indeed. I do not recollect per.
fectly," replied Baron STEUBEN, "but
one of them was a whale" "a whale,
Baron, in the North River?" ex,
claimed his hostess. "Yes, on my
word, very fine whale, as that gen.
tleman informed ME. Did you moi
tell me it was whale. Major" IAN
eel, Baron" responded the Major. 81
beg your pardon, my lady," Baron
SrEUBEN protested, "but the gentle