Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-04
Capital SideIights

The bicentennial anniversary last
month OF Baron Won Steuben, who was
such a tower of strength to Washing
ton in the Revolution, has prompted
many eulogies in Congress.
Very much has been written Of Steu-
bens career and what he accomplished.
A vivid summary of 1t is contained in
an essay by Col. S. G. Vestal, now chief
Of the historical section at the Army
War College here.
In Germany he was one of the most
trusted officers of the Prussian King,
and toward the close of the Seven
ears War was an aide-de-camp on the
Kings personal staff. and one of a
group of young officers selected to study
military tactics under Frederick's per-
sonal supervision, and at the conclu-
sion of the war was guaranteed an
income by the King.
From the time he arrived in America
and began his active service in the
Winter of 1778 at Valley Forge, he
proved indispensable in organizing,
training and disciplining cae Army. The
opposition he met at the start in his
work of persistent drilling, reviews, re-
ports and inspections, vanished when
the flue results began to be seen, and
due to his efforts it was q coherent and
valiant army that marched from Valley
Forge in the Spring to resume active
operations From this on, as Col
Vestal points out, the Army was q
match, man for man, for the best
British troops. as shown at Monmouth,
where, except for Gen. Charles Lee,
Clinton might have suffered the same
fate as Burgoyne and Corvallis; at
Stony Point, where an American column
stormed the works with unloaded mus
kets and took them at the point of the
bayonet; at Guilford Courthouse, where
single regiment of Continentals over
came two enemy regiments each larger
than itself; at Eutaw Springs, where
the Americans swept the field with the
bayonet, and at Yorktown, where
Hamilton's column of assault took the
enemy redoubt with unloaded muskets
and fixed bayonets.
With reference to the Battle of Mon
mouth, 1t is well known that Washing
ton mainly depended upon Steuben to
reform the army which had retreated az
Lees direction, and to carry on the
battle successfully. Steuben was one of
the large number of witnesses who
testified before the court-martial of Lee
which followed the battle. and, because
OF Lees severe structures on his testi-
mony, challenged the latter to q duel,
which was declined with the explana-
ton that there had been no intention
TO reflect on Steuben's courage. AS
!urther illustrating Washington's faith
IN Steuben, after Gates was defeated at
Camden, in 1780, Washington consulted
Steuben, and, on the basis of advice
which Steuben gave, selected Greene and
Steuben, who were very close friends,
to go to the South. But 1t was later
determined that Steuben should stop in
Virginia to collect men and means and
send them southwark to Greene. Al
though Steuben never joined Greene in
MS campaign, he was back of the VIC
tories that were won, for Greene relied
almost entirely on the troops that
Steuben furnished him.
Steupen was no mere soldier Of for
tune. He came here convinced of the
justice OF the American cause. Whole
heartedly committed to its support, he
never faltered because of being poorly
compensated during the years of his
service or because Of adverse criticism
from which he and no other actor in
the drama could completely escape. In
declaring his purpose never to yield, on
one occasion he wrote to Congress:
When 1 drew my sword I made
solemn VOW that only death could com.
pei me to give up before Great Britain
would recognize the American Inde-
pendence."
Having identified himself with
America, he remained an American
throughout his life, becoming q citizen
OF the State of Pennsylvania, and he
exerted himself with activity and vigor
In many directions to speed the inn
provement and progress Of his adopted
country. He prepared for Washington
wise plan for disbanding the Army,
which for lack of money could not be
carried out. He submitted to the
Secretary Of War a plan for a military
academy, which is substantially the
plan in effect at West Point. He sug-
gested the founding of the Society of
the Cincinnati, and presided at the
meeting by which it was organized. and
was president of the New York chapter
OF that society. He was also president
OF the German Society of New York.
and regent of the university of the
State, and, when war with England
seemed possible in 1894, New York
placed him at the head of the Commits
sion appointed to prepare that city for
any attack which might be made.
Born In November, 1880, two years
before the birth Of Washington. Steuben
died on November %, 1894, 3 few wears
In advance of the death of his great
friend and admirer Since then nonu-
ments have been erected here and else
where to honor him as one of our
famous soldiers and citizens,