Washington Journal., 1942-09-04
An American For Life

70 John Hancock in Boston the Baron
wrote from York:
Please to accept my grateful thanks for all the kindness
you have shown me during my stay at Boston. In this
very moment l enjoy the good effects of it, having taken
the liberty of quartering myself in an apartment of your
house in this town.
Ny journey has been very hard; but the kind recep
ton / have met with from Congress and General Gates
on my arrival here have made me soon forget those past
Now, sir, I am an American, and an American for life;
your Nation has become as dear to me as your Cause
already was.
Feeling themselves accepted as Americans
and full Of high hopes, Steuben and his three
aides OH February 10, 1778, set out for Gen
eral Washington's winter camp at Valley
Forge, riding by way Of Lancaster, the rich
est German settlement. Duponceau wrote
later:
Having arrived at Lancaster early in the afternoon, the
Baron was waited upon by Col. Gibson and other gentle
men, who invited him and us to a subscription ball to take
place that evening IN honor OF ms arrival. Inc Baron
accepted, and we accordingly went. There we saw assembled
all the fashion and beauty of Lancaster and its vicinity.
The Baron was delighted to converse with the German girls
in their native tongue and to dance with them, as we did,
too. There was a handsome supper and the company did
not separate until two O'Clock the next morning.
From some Of the farmers there the Baron
learned Of the famine that recently had be-
fallen the American soldiers at Valley Forge,
so he got a kind Suabian with a homestead
near Lancaster 10 duOpJ Ills ldlIulu uOS.
Azor accordingly was left with him. William
North. who later became Steuben's aide and
adopted son, at that Lancaster ball met the
Baron for the first time. He wrote later:
His reputation had preceded him and those who still
remember his graceful entry and manner in the ballroom,
the novel splendor Of his star with the inscription
ss~Fideiite,', can easily conceive the feelings of his German
countrymen and of their assembled wives and daughters
Thy might indeed, with honest feeling, have thanked God
that they had no reason to be ashamed OF him.
AT Valley Forge AT Last
The fifty odd miles from Lancaster to Val
ley Forge were ridden during the next two
DAYS, bringing the cavalcade there on the day
after Washington's birthday. The General
with his aides, Lafayette, Laurens and Hamil-
ton, all three of whom spoke French, rode out
several miles to meet the Baron and accom-
panied him into camp. There a guard OF
honor was drawn up and saluted. Baron
Steuben deprecated the attention, saying that
he had come as a mere volunteer without
American rank. Washington remarked that
his whole army would be glad to present arms
to such volunteers. The party were first enter
tanned at the Generals headquarters, where
Washington's generals were presented to
them, whereupon they were quartered with
the other foreign officers, of whom there were
several in the camp, including Steuben's
countryman, General de Kalb.
On the following day the ragged troops
we're mustered-less than 300O-and the
Baron had his first opportunity to appraise
their wretched condition. During the next
few days the Commander in Chief had several
long interviews with Steuben, young Laurens
serving as interpreter. Thus Washington,
after his cautious fashion, had a chance to
gauge his guest somewhat. Presently he
wrote to President Laurens in answer to the
letter the Baron had brought: