Washington Journal., 1942-09-04

circumstances. He win not give us the perfect instructions
absolutely speaking, but the best that we are in a condition
to receive.
Steuben Told The Truth
For Washington's enlightenment Steuben
took an early opportunity to disabuse Lau-
rens of the erroneous impression that he had
been a lieutenant general under Frederick
the Great. Accordingly Laurens wrote to
his father:
1 must tell you tho by the bye, that Congress has
mistaken his rank in Prussia. He was there lieutenant
general quarter maitre, which in good English is deputy
quartermaster general. He had never any higher rank in
the Prussian service than that of acting solonel. But he
was lieutenant general of the Margrave de Badens troops
after he had retired from the Prussian army in disgust.
Baron Steuben himself, in a later letter to
Henry Laurens, corrected Johns error about
his supposed command over the Margrave
OF Baden's troops, thus:
stThe rank of Lieutenant General, which hold in the
Circle of Suabia, could not give me the least objection
against my accepting that of Major General among you
but 1 submit with the greatest confidence to all the desires
of His Excelency, the Commander in Chief. My only
Ambition is to reap Lawrels (sic) in your Fields, no matter
in what rank. The Glory of America will be mine and
your Liberty shall make my Happiness"
So Washington was undeceived about Steu-
ben's past. For the present he availed HIM
self eagerly of the veteran warriors superior
military experience and of his talents and in
OCIdU1SdDlC lllllobly 90 Oil OISdnlLCI.
the future he determined, whenever the way
could be cleared, to try to get Congress to
make Steuben inspector general OF the army.
la the meanwhile he meant to employ him as
a volunteer wherever he was most needed,
either in the camp while waiting, or in the
field, should active operations develop. Be
cause of the native generals jealousies of
the foreign military adventures among them,
the question of this newcomers American
rank wisely was left in allegiance. For the
moment Washington begged the Baron to
help him as a volunteer inspector, serving
without pay or definite military status. By
virtue Of the Baron's former military rank
in Europe every one in the Army Of course
recognized Won Steuben as a general.
An Augias Stable
Baron Won Steuben pitched into his new
job Of cleaning out the veritable Augias
Stable, as which the Continental Army could
then be described, with a will, toiling like a
shavetail lieutenant anxious to add a silver
bar to his shoulder-stripe. He rose at three
III the morning and kept at it until nightfall,
day in and day out, without any holiday.
As foretold to him at Lancaster, he found
Washington's troops at lowest ebb,-starv-
ing, in rags, i'll sheltered, undisciplined, their
ranks depleted by sickness, expiring enlist
ment and assertions. Threatening them with
in striking distance lay superior numbers Of
wellfed and well disciplined Redcoats, billeted
IL comfortable quarters at Philadelphia.
Lack of initiative only kept the British com
mander from bouncing on the ''raggamuffin
rebels" and chasing them from their miser-
able novels out Of Valley Forge.
From the other foreign officers, who were
ready to quit, Steuben learned what awaited
him. General de Kalb told him that the men
Of his Division had received no rations since
four days and the horses had been without
fodder six days. On taking command, de Kalb
found his officers and men without any notions
Of guard duty or reconnaissance When he
posted s~entinels the undisciplined men often
left their posts, finding themselves unrelieved
by their officers on guard. These frequently
we're without military experience or the rudi
ments Of schooling. There were more colonies
than captains, and more captains than lieute-
nants or sergeants. Wagon masters called
themselves colonies. The blacksmith who shod
de Kalb's horse was a captain. Pay had been
outstanding for months at a time. When the
men were paid at length, it was in deprecated
paper money, almost worthless. De Kalb,
who had not yet received his monthly pay of
$3.50, had to pay 242 dollars for one week s
personal rations Of milk and butter. Yet the
commissaries and suffers grew rich. De Kalb
had written to his wife in France that he was
ready to quit the American service and come
home.
Steuben Was Appalled,
Won Steuben, veteran campaigner that he