Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-02
Capital Sidelights
ny WILL p. KENNEDY.

We are approaching the bicentennial,
on November Is, of Baron Won Steu-
ben, to whom Gen. Washington gave
especial credit for the victorious out
come of the American Revolution, and
who, In fact, while commanding in the
trenches, first received Lord CORVALLIS
offer of surrender at yorktown, the
sesuuicentennial of which Is to be
impresSively celebrated next year. In
cornmemoration of this bicentennial
there is now In use postage stamp
bearing the likeness of Baron Won
Steuben, which was issued last Sep
TENDER, and local celebrations are to
be held far and wide throughout the
country.
Under date Of October 10, there APP
peared in the newspapers cable from
| Berlin saving, THE Steuben Society
in connection with the generals birth
day anniversary convoked a meeting
| in the Reichstag Building today to
[ commemorate Won Steuben's services
| to Germany and the United States"
and mentioning that there were pres
ent many distinguished men, and also
descendants of Steuben.
| In order to keep history straight.
| Representative r. Walton Moore of
| Virginia, who has made a careful
study of Won Steuben'S career because
SO large a portion of his aid to the
American cause was in Virginia, calls
| attention that this dispatch was in
accurate in making reference to
| descendants of Won Steuben, since he
came to this country without being
married, and remained single to the
time of his death.
Representative Moore also points
| out that it would seem that those who
were responsible for the meeting In
Berlin were likewise in error if they
assumed that he was born on October
| 10. For a time there was uncertainty
as to the date of his birth. but from
a most careful investigation made
years ago by his principal German
biographer, Friedrich Kapp, it came
to be known that he was born on
November Is. 1880, at Magdeburg, a
large Prussian fortress on the River
Elbe, and this has been accepted by
subsequent writers as the true date.
Thus the 2O0th anniversary of his
birth Is still a fortnight away.
It is possible, however, that it was
the purpose Of the meeting In Berlin
to commemorate Steuben's service at
yorktown, where CORVALLIS surren-
dered october 19, 1881. Regarding
that event, 1t Is stated that to Steuben,
who was then commanding in the
trenches, the offer of CORVALLIS to
surrender was first made: that the
following day Lafayette sought to re-
lieve Steuben from command, but the
latter stated he must remain because
1t was the custom that an officer re-
ceiving such an offer should continue
in charge until the conclusion Of the
negotiations and that this view Sc
cured Washington's approval. So
Steuben held the front until the terms
Of surrender were finally arranged.
If there was any serious doubt about
| 6n fTTi0 af
and soldier, it would disappear in the
light of Washington's unreserved COM
mendation Of him after the Revolution
ended and the treaty of peace was
signed. Washington, having taken
leave Of his officers in New York,
journeyed to Annapolis to return his
commission as commander in chief to
the Congress, which was in session at
that place. On the morning Of De-
cenber %, 1888, just before his recep-
ton by Congress Washington wrote
Steuben as follows: This is the last
letter shall write while I continue in
the service Of my country. The hour
! Of my resignation Is fixed at IL today
after which shall become q private
citizen on the banks of the Potomac
Although have taken frequent
opportunities both in public and In
private of acknowledging your great
| zeal, hJ0cLtlOH dIIQ QAlBclCS per
forming the duties Of your ONCE, yet
wish to make use of this, the last
moment Of my public life to signify
in the strongest terms my entire appro-
baton Of your conduct and to express
my sense of the obligations the public
Is under to you for your faithful and
meritorious service"
In his grateful reply TO this letter
Steuben, who had never faltered in his
confidence in and devotion to Wssh-
J ington, realizing the Importance to be
, attached to such deliberate and sig
niflcant praise by the leader of the
Revolution, spoke of WASHINGTON
letter as "the most honorable testi-
/ mony which my service could have
, received"
Frederick the Great and Washington
were the two outstanding military mer
, of their period. and Steuben was the
only soldier who served conspicuously
under both Of them. This fact wa:
, stressed In his reply to Washington
letter, when he said: AFTER having
/ studied the principles of the military
art under Frederick the Great and pu
them into practice under Washington
after having deposited my sword under
the same trophies of victory with you
and, finally, after having received this
last public testimony of your esteem
there remains nothing for me tC
desire"