Washington Journal., 1942-09-11

L HIS uCAJ OIQtI VI JuG Jay dSuluRIOu
announced General Won Steuben's confirma-
ton as Inspector General, at the same time
praising the troops for their part in the
grand review, to wit:
The Commander in Chief takes particular pleasure in
aequainting the Army that their conduct yesterday afforded
him the highest satisfaction. The exactness and order with
which their movements were performed is a pleasing evi-
denee OF the progress they are making in Military Improve
ment & an earnest Of further laudable Zeal and Emulation.
The General at the same time presents his thanks to
General de Steuben & the gentlemen under him for their
Indefatigable Exertions in the duties of their office, the
good effects of which are already so apparent.
The parole of the day was "Steuben'.
Jealous Resentments
The prominence given to the foreign gen
erals during the May 9th parade and the an
D%ouncement of Steuben's major generalship
aroused much jealousy among the native
generals. Eight brigadier generals, feeling
themselves overlooked, threatened to resign
their commissions.
Already on May 9Th Brigadier General
Varnum, annoyed by the Baron's preliminary
orders for the grand parade, had made a
formal complaint against Steuben in a letter
to Washington:
have observed some time since, the progressive encroach-
ment of a newfangled power, which, if not checked, may
prove destructive to this Army. 1 mean the Office of In
sspector. It was created with the View Of forming the
Troops upon one system of Discipline and Tactics. The
event has fully justified the establishment. But when that
CMSS VI " iNNsb OthOio ~ q LONSh anu icdNc
them in Possession Of Names only, it becomes highly neces-
sary to stand upon our Guard. | shall not at this time
mention the particular Instances which have justly alarmed
every feeling Officer as l am fond Of thinking that Baron
Stupend's Intentions are founded in Honour & Integrity.
But being too much ~prejudiced against the American Off
GERS from an Ignorance of their Abilities he may have
extended his authority further than he otherwise would,
shall content myself with disclosing a Circumstance which
happened yesterday and which, l must confess, filled me
with Horror. The Brigade Inspectors by the Baron's Order
returns of the Men fit for Dutyi The Circumstances induced
me to abhorr this Measure as totally repugnant to every
Military Idea.
There is no record how General Washing
ton dealt with that silly complaint, but it put
him on his guard about considering the
jealousies Of his brigadiers in their dealings
with the new Inspector General. Steuben
was encouraged to devote more time to the
preparation of his "Blue Book" than to per-
sonal inspections of the different brigades.
Now the French alliance with the prospect
1t opened for active campaigning turned the
soldiers minds to something livelier than
daily drill and minute inspections.
First Battle Test of Steuben's Lessons
One month before the sailing of d'Estaing's
fleet for Delaware Bay, whereof the British
Ministry had been warned, it had ordered
General Howe to evacuate Philadelphia the
better to protect New York. A farewell party,
known as La Meschianza, was to be given to
Lord Howe and his officers by the Tories of
Philadelphia.
General Washington after a council Of war,
at which General Won Steuben for the first
time assisted, took up Lafayette's eager pro
posal to take advantage of probable British
tOrpor after the "Meschianza'' to deliver a
stroke. Steuben and de Kalb counseled eau
ton, but Lafayette's eagerness prevailed. He
was allowed to cross the Schuylkill with $500
men and two batteries of 4 ~fieldpieces each
at Barren Hill, some II miles from Valley
Forge.
General Howe, unlike Colonel Rail after
his Christmas revels at Trenton, was not
taken off his guard. Lafayette's foray seemed
like a heaven-sent chance for delivering a
final British blow before retiring from Phila-
delphia. Howe's ablest generals, Clinton and
~Knyphausen, with two divisions were to
pounce on Lafayette at Barren Hill, while
General Grant with 5000 picked troops was
to march around to his rear, cutting him off
from Washington's main army at Valley
Forge. Already there were bets between the
three British commanders, which of them was
to have the youthful marquis for supper,
after he should have been captured.
Lafayette, whose column actually was cut
off from Valley Forge, only managed to ex-
tricate his troops from the trap into which
they had marched, by their superior discipline
under fire, enabling them to wheel and re-
cross the Schuylkill before imminent capture
or humiliation. Holly pursued and fighting
rearguard actions, the Americans got back
to Valley Forge in good order, bringing their
wounded and having left behind no stragglers.
Thanks to Steuben's teachings the main army
there was ready for action at Is minutes
notice. According to a contemporary histor-
ian, w. Gordon, 'sthe orderly manner in
which the Americans r~etreated on this occa-
sion which contributed much fO thnir accap-