THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOK» LENOX AND
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
(;KNKI{AL von STKIHKA'
From Oriuiiial I'V Karl.-, ITSfi
FREDERICK WILLIAM VON STEUBEN
AND
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
AIDi: TO WASHINGTON AND INSPECTOR GENERAL
OF THE ARMY.
WITH ACCOUNT OF POSTHUMOUS HONORS
AT VARIOUS PLACES.
BY JOSEPH B.; DOYLE.
AUTHOR OF MEMORIAL LIFE OF E. M, STANTON,
JEFFERSON COUNTY TWENTIETH CENTURY
HISTORY, ETC.
Under the Auspieces of
The Stanton Monument Association
STEUBENVILLE, OHIO
THE H. C. COOK CO.
1913.
\q!
rW
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
364137B
ASTOR, LRNdX AND
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
^ 1946 L
LIMITED EDITION
THIS EDITION OF LIFE OF GEN. VON STEUBEN
IS LIMITED TO SIX HUNDRED COPIES, OF
WHICH THIS IS
NO. — JS-i^'^^
Copyright, 1913 by
Joseph B. Doyle.
Published October, 1913.
TO THE
SOCIETIES OF THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS
AMERICAN REVOLUTION
WHOSE EFFORTS TOWARDS PRESERVING THE MEMORIES
OF MEN AND EVENTS WHICH SECURED THE INDEPEN-
DENCE OF OUR NATION, HAVE BEEN SUPPLEMENTED BY
ALL THAT MAKES FOR CIVIC RIGHTEOUSNESS AND
GOOD CITIZENSHIP THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY
DEDICATED.
TH£ Ht'W 'I'OKK I-
PUBLIC LIBRARY '
ASTOPx, LF.NCfX AKii
PREFACE
An apology seems scarcely necessary for offering to
the reading public at this time a new biography of Baron
Frederick William Von Steuben. It frequently happens
that one's true place in history is not fixed at or near the
period when the events in which he participated occurred,
but long after, when the lengthening perspective allov/s a
more mature and better judgment of v/hat the characters
v.-ere or what they accomplished. This is true especially
of the Revolutionary heroes. So far as Washington was
concerned there was never any serious doubt as to his
position, although even he did not escape the detraction
of factions or disappointment of friends. But, like the
sun, who.^e influence is so decided that there could be no
question as to it being the controlling factor in holding
and regulating the whole sdar system, Washington'^s
figure looms so far above all others connected with the
Revolution that the superiority so generally accorded
him by his contemporaries has only become more evident
with each succeeding year. Great, however, as he was in
patriotism, enlightened in statesmanship, skilled in mili-
tary affairs, albeit most of his early experience was in the
backv/oods, he v/as but human, and even his most enthu-
siastic admirers will not claim that he could have brought
his wonderful work to a successful issue without the
counsel and assistance of the strong and capable men he
gathered around hm. In fact there could be no better
tribute to his genius than recognition of the fact that in
his mind petty jealousy was non-existent, and that in
chosing his immediate military family especially he rec-
ognized no qualification save loyalty to the cause.
viii. PREFACE
integrity of purpose and ability to carry out the
work assigned. Opinions may differ as to the
relative standing of these associates, but there can
be little doubt as to the two most closely allied
to W'ashington in that memorable conflict whose skir-
mishes, as Napoleon has justly observed, changed the
entire history of the world. These two were Alexander
Hamilton, whose great achievements towards laying the
foundations of this Government we are just now begin-
ning to appreciate, and the subject of this biography.
This latter statement may surprise some who have
regarded Steuben simply as a drillmaster, but it is sus-
tained by a close study of the facts. From the time he
joined the famishing little army at Valley Forge until
he received the overtures for the surrender of Corn-
wallis at Yorktown, he was at Washington's right hand,
planning campaigns, looking after the troops, bringing
order out of chaos, turning defeat into victory, and, on
more than one occasion averting what threatened to be a
fatal disaster. It is saying too much of any one man to
assert that without him the conflict for freedom would
have failed, although it certainly appears as though
Washington was very nearly if not quite in that class, but
where the scales are so closely balanced as they were more
than once during the progress of the American Revolu-
tion, it is not too much to say that had it not been for
Steuben the result at that time might have been different.
Prof. G. W. Greene in his able monograph, declares that:
*'In the military history of our Revolution, if we class
men according to their sen^ices, no one after Washington
and Greene stands so high as Steuben. For the services
which Lafayette rendered, important as they were, were
rather the effects of influence and position, rather than of
individual superiority. All that Steuben owed to posi-
PREFACE ix.
tion was the opportunity of action, the action itself was
the fruit of his own strong will and thorough knowledge
of his service. He was the creator of our regular army,
the organizer of our military economy. The impress
which he made upon our military character remained
there long after his hand was withdrawn. His system of
reviews, reports and inspection gave efficiency to the sol-
dier, confidence to the commander, and saved the treasury
not less than $600j?(,000."
Although professing liberal principles it is not
claimed that when Steuben first turned his thoughts to-
wards America he was actuated solely by the philanthrop-
ic desire to aid a struggling cause. He was still com-
paratively a young man, and doubtless had his ambitions,
but his every action proves the absence of any low mer-
cenary motive, and from the day he set foot on American
soil he embraced the patriot cause with all the ardor of
his nature, in which no discouragements ever caused him
to falter for a moment. The tardy pecuniary recognition
which he received for his services fell far short of what
he had given up when he embraced the American cause,
so, that, following the example of Washington, he may
be said to have served this country entirely without com-
pensation.
His recent citizenship naturally precluded Steuben
from taking a leading place along with Washington and
Hamilton in the formation of a permanent Government,
but this did not prevent him from manifesting an active
interest in the matter, and assisting by his counsel and in-
fluence towards the preparation and adoption of the Con-
stitution.
Sketches of Baron Steuben have appeared from time
to time in various publications, and in 1S59, Friedrich
Kapp published a biography which was the result of sev-
X. PREFACE
eral years industrious and painstaking research. Him-
self a German he visited this country and made a thor-
ough investigation of the Baron's vohmiinous papers as
well as consulting other original authorities, and the re-
sult was a work that will always be a valuable standard
of reference. But the very detail and thoroughness of
this task has prevented its popularization to the extent
that the merits of the work deserved.
As the city of Steubenville, Ohio, has been honored
by the gift of a portrait of Steuben by one of her artist
sons the present is regarded as an opportune time for a
presentation of the great German's life to the people
whom he served so well and so faithfully. While acknowl-
edgmen.ts are freely due to pre-existing publications, with-
out whose aid the present vv'ork would have been hardly
possible, yet advantage has been taken of all available
new material, in a manner which it is hoped will add to
the value of this production.
Some space is given to the efforts of Beaumarchais
in behalf of American independence, not only because h(s
furnished the means which enabled Steuben to come to
America, but because his activities have been largely ^
sealed book to American readers, the historians generally
dismissing the subject with a line. A publication in the
fifties entitled Beaumarchais and His Times, wherein
original documents are first published, demonstrates that
this curious character exercised more influence on French
politics than has been generally been supposed, but al-
though this book was translated into English it is now
rare and out of print. From it we have gleaned much
valuable information.
If this biography shall in a measure result in aiding
ever so little in giving Baron Steuben his true place in the
PREFACE xi.
history of our revolutionary struggle, the writer will be
more than satisfied.
It may be added that the original pronunciation of
the Baron's name was Stoyben with the accent on the first
syllable, but the American use has Anglicised it into Stoo-
ben, retaining, however, the original accent. The prac-
tice in some quarters of accenting the second syllable
either of the Baron's name or of the city of Steubenville
is without any v^arrant of authority.
In addition to the authorities mentioned above and
others referred to later, special acknowledgment is due
Dr. R. M. Griswold, of Kensington, Conn. ; George W.
Featherstonaugh, of Schenectady, N. Y. ; Wm. M. Storrs,
Corresponding Secretary of the Oneida Historical So-
ciety, and C. M. Underbill, Librarian of the Oneida pub-
lic library, for valuable assistance, and to Charles P.
Filson for illustrations.
Trusting that this w^ork may do something, if ever
so little, towards locating Steuben's true place in history
it is given to the public.
J. B. D.
Steubenville. O., October, 1913.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 1
CHAPTER I.
THE VON STEUBENS 5
A Family of Soldiers. Rise of the Prussian Monarchy.
Baron Von Steuben's Birth and Early Career. Prom-
inent in Seven Years' War. Humiliation of France.
Retirement. Momentous Visit to Paris.
CHAPTER n.
A CRITICAL PERIOD 22
Rise of a Romantic Character. Beaumarchais and the
American War. Inside Movements of the French Court.
A Politico-Mercantile House.
CHAPTER HL
STEUBEN AND BEAUMARCHAIS 38
Germain's Plans Disclosed. Meeting of Steuben and
Beaumarchais. Former Concludes to go to America, the
Latter to Furnish Funds. Beaumarchais Subsequently
Faces Bankruptcy and Death.
CHAPTER IV.
JOURNEY TO AxMERICA 62
An Eventful Voyage. Storms, Fire and Mutiny. Recep-
tion at Portsmouth and Boston. Journey to York. The
Continental Congress. Resume of that Body and its
Authority. Desperate Condition of the Colonies.
CHAPTER V.
CONGRESS AND VALLEY FORGE 79
Final Arrangements Made. Departure for the Army.
Terrible Condition of the Troops. Supplies and Dis-
cipline Equally Absent. Enormous Waste. Welcomed
by Washington. Appointed Temporary Inspector. Rad-
ical Reforms Introduced.
CONTENTS xiii.
CHAPTER VL
DRILLING THE ARMY 92
Steuben's Success at Converting a Mob into Soldiers.
Commendation of Washington. Congress Fixes His
Status. Official Jealousy. The French Alliance.
CHAPTER Vn.
FROM VALLEY FORGE TO MONMOUTH 101
Howe Evacuates Philadelphia. Movements Across
New Jersey. Battle of Monmouth Court House. Trea-
son of Lee. Steuben's Well Drilled Troops Turn De-
feat Into Victory.
CHAPTER Vni.
REMODELING THE .aRMY 124
Steuben's Dissatisfaction. Desires a Position in the
Line. New Code of Army Regulations. Printing Dif-
ficulties.
CHAPTER IX.
CAMPAIGN OF 1779 139
Steuben Reviews the Situation. Barbarous Raids.
Value of the Bayonet Demonstrated at Stony Point.
Visit of the French Ambassador. Suggestions For the
Future.
149
CHAPTER X.
A YEAR OF EVENTS
The George Rogers Clark Expedition. Victories of
Paul Jones and the Navy. Spain Enters the Struggle.
Troubles in the South. Paper Reforms. Bad Condi-
tion of the Army. Steuben's Continued Efforts.
Gloomy Prognostigations.
CHAPTER XL
A DISASTROUS PERIOD 163
Reverses in the South. Loss of Georgia and the Car-
olinas. The Army Almost Discouraged. Equipoise of
Washington and Steuben. Incompetency of Congress.
The Baron Outlines Plans for the Future. Treachery
of Arnold. An Interesting Incident.
^^iv. CONTEXTS
CHAPTER XII.
SHIFTING OF THE CONFLICT 189
Seat of War in the South. England Adds Holland to
Her Enemies. At War Against the World. Greene and
Steuben Sent to Virginia. Former Assumes Command
of the Southern Armies. Appeals to Steuben for Help.
Desperate Condition of Affairs.
CHAPTER Xni.
ARNOLD'S VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN 201
Inva=ion of the State via James River. Capture of
Richmond. Steuben's Efforts to Save the Dominion
Without Men or Supplies. Arnold Retreats and is Be-
sieged at Portsmouth. Virginia's Loyalty to the Pa-
triot Cause. Still Aiding Greene.
CHAPTER XIV.
GREENE AND STEUBEN 217
Their Operations in the Carolinas and Virginia. Vic-
tories ?nd Good Generalship Recover the Carolinas.
A.rnokl Bottled up in Portsmouth and Cornwallis in
Wilmington. Arnold Saved Through Refusal of the
French Commander to Co-operate. Arrival of Lafay-
ette. Steuben Still Has the Burden. Second Foray up
the Tames— Capture of Petersburg and Richmond.
CHAPTER XV.
THE WAR IN VIRGINIA ^ 235
Lafayette Ordered to Steuben's Assistance— Cornwallis
move= Northward— Steuben Prepares to Oppose ^^""n— -
^Iaga7ines of Supplies Formed and Recruits Gathered
Lafavptte Retreats to Fredericksburg — Steuben Extri-
cates Himself from Pomt of Fork— Important Stores
Saved— Brilliant Tactics— Cornwallis Outwitted—
Steuben Gives u]) Going South, and Requested to Join
Lafayette.
CHAPTER XVI.
APPROACHING THE CLIMAX
Steuben Joins Lafavette and Forces Cornwallis to
Leave Richmond— Retreat to Williamsburg— Steuben s
Illness — Arrival of Washington and Siege _ of York-
town— Steuben Assigned a Command — Closing up the
Trenches— Receives a Deputation from Cornwallis-
The Surrender.
249
CONTENTS XV.
CHAPTER XVII.
YORKTOWN AND AFTER 269
Review of the Political Situation — Strength in Weak-
ness — Adoption of the Articles of Confederation — A
Rope of Sand — Controversies With the Virginia Au-
thorities — Vindication of Steuben — Financial Difficul-
ties — Attack on New York Discussed — Peace Negotia-
tions — France and Spain Suggest the Alleghenies for
the Western Boundary — Steuben Appeals to the King
of France.
CHAPTER XVHI.
DISBANDING THE ARMY 293
Difficulties of the Officers — Peace Officially Announced
— Parting Scenes — Testimonials to Steuben — Plans a
Alilitary Academy — Visit to Frontier Posts — Washing-
ton's Farewell Letter — A Belated Tribute.
CHAPTER XIX.
SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI 310
Organized by Steuben — A Storm of Opposition — Pre-
senting Claims to Congress — A Wearisome Task —
Adoption of the New Constitution — Tardy Justice.
CHAPTER XX.
LIFE IN NEW YORK 328
Activity in Public AlTairs — Plans for a Regular Army —
Popularity with the People — His Memorial on the
Banks of the Ohio— A Western Land Project— Sugges-
tion Concerning Prince Henry — Washington's Inaugu-
ration — Social Distinction — Wit and Generosity.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE NEW CINCINNATUS 339
Character of the Baron's Grant — Liberality to Set-
tlers—Visit from Relatives — Politics and Literature-
Preparing for War — Important Commission — Farm Life
and Future Prospects.
CHAPTER XXII.
THE LAST ACT 349
Unexpected Death of Steuben— Stricken by Paralysis —
A Melancholy Funeral— The Baron's Will— Desecration
of His Grave, and Final Resting Place.
xvi. CONTEXTS
CHAPTER XXIII.
STEUBEN'S MILITARY FAMILY 356
North, the Founder and Namer of Fort Steuben —
Walker — Duponceau — Fish — Ternant — Davies — Fleury
— Fairlie — Smith and Others.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE ARTISTS' FAVORITE 368
Original Portraits of Steuben by Peale, Earle. Simi-
tiere, Trumbull and Pine — Copies and Reproductions,
CHAPTER XXV.
POSTHUMUS HONORS 374
Eulogies and Memorials — Monuments at Grave and
Washington — Andrews's Portrait of Steuben †” Portraits
of George Rogers Clark and James Wilson by Filson.
APPENDIX.
THREE WARS CELEBRATION 381
Semi-Centennial of Most Northerly Invasion During
the Civil War — Unveiling cf Portraits — Dedication of
Monuments and Cannon — Unveiling Maine Tablet.
ILLUSTRATIONS
GENERAL VON STEUBEN .... Frontispiece
From Original, by Peak, 1786.
Facing Page
PORTRAIT OF STEUBEN, BY ANDREWS ... SO
In Public Library, Steubenville. O.
JONATHAN STEUBEN'S BIRTHPLACE .... 80
CONGRESS HALL, YORK, 1778 80
VALLEY FORGE, CAMP OF SOUTHERN REGIMENTS 94
VALLEY FORGE. WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS 94
MARCH OF WASHINGTON AND CLINTON .
ACROSS NEW JERSEY 112
MONMOUTH BATTLE GROUND ..... 118
STEUBEN'S HEADQUARTERS AT MIDDLEBROOK . 118
WEST POINT IN 1780 156
VERPLANCK HOUSE 156
STEUBEN'S VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN ... 194
HANOVER COURT HOUSE, VA 208
BLANDFORD CHURCH, \^A 208
CHARLES P. FILSON 240
ELIPHALET F. ANDREWS 240
SURRENDER OF CORNWALLIS 262
WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL
VALLEY FORGE 308
XVlll.
ILLUSTR/YilONS
FORT STEUBEX. FROM THE OHIO RIVER
STEUBEXVILLE. O.. BUSINESS SECTION
FORT STEUBEN, GROUND PLAN .
STEUBEN'S WOODLAND HOME .
OSWEGO AND FORT IN 1794 .
WM. NORTH'S HOUSE AT DUANESBURG
FEATHERSTONAUGH MANSION .
at DUANESBURG ....
STEUBEN PORTRAIT. BY PEALE
STEUBEN PORTRAIT, BY SIMITIERE
STEUBEN PORTRAIT, BY PINE
SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, STEUBENVILLE,
STEUBEN'S FIRST MONUMENT .
STEUBEN'S SECOND MONUMENT
STEUBEN'S MONUMENT AT WASHINGTON
GEN. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK .
HON. JAMES WILSON
GEN. JAMES M. SHACKELFORD .
GEN. JOHN H. MORGAN .
MAP OF JEFFERSON COUNTY. O.
Showing most Northerly Invasion of the Civil Wai
MAINE MEMORIAL TABLET
JEFFERSON COUNTY COURT HOUSE
Decorated for Three Wars Celebration.
O.
308
332
332
346
346
358
358
370
370
370
370
376
. 376
. 376
. 380
. 380
. 384
. 384
. 388
. 388
. 390
GENERAL WILLIAM VON STEUBEN
GENERAL WILLIAM VON STEUBEN
INTRODUCTION
The differences which arose during the second half
of the eighteenth century between Great Britain and her
American colonies were not long in attracting the atten-
tion of observers, both civil and military, in continental
Europe. Britain was coming to the front as a world-
power, and no important movement within her borders
or in any part of the world which acknowledged her su-
premacy, could fail to interest those nations which had
contended with her for mastery, or associated with her
as allies. Even though there was no general comprehen-
sion of the doctrines asserted by the restless Anglo-Sax-
ons beyond the ocean, the mere fact that these pioneers
challenged the authority of the Mother Country, no mat-
ter to what extremes it might be carried, was sufficient.
Less than a century before England had established par-
liamentary government on a firm foundation, but on the
continent absolutism ruled from the Arctic Ocean to the
Mediterranean. Theorists and Utopians existed, but they
were beyond the realm of practical government. The
term, "Soldiers of Fortune," still retained its liberal mean-
ing, and when George III. later sent a detachment of his
2 GENERAL WILLIAM VON STEUBEN
Hessian mercenaries into the colonies, he only did what
any other ruler in Europe would have done as a matter
of course. It received no condemnation outside of Eng-
land, at least, in government circles. Even the brutality
with which these levies were made excited scarcely a re-
monstrance beyond the immediate sufferers. Subjects
were simply chattels to be exploited for the benefit of the
ruler, and more than a peasant uprising was necessary to
convince tlie powers that were, that the people had some
rights which rulers were bound to respect. There had
been rebellions previous to this, when the central govern-
ment, weak and decaying, had not sufficient vitality to
control the extremities or the designs of ambitious lead-
ers, or when a certain class, goaded to the quick by op-
pression and outrage, made a fruitless effort to break its
bonds, and there were mutterings of a coming storm in
France, but the w^orld had not yet grasped the conception
of going to war for an idea, especially the idea of protest-
ing against taxation without representation. So, as we
have said, the conflict attracted attention not only from the
position of the parties but from the novelty of the princi-
ples involved. When it became evident that the question
could not be solved without recourse to arms, and that
the American patriots wxre not averse to receiving foreign
help in their struggle, the situation powerfully appealed
to three classes of individuals. First: the Utopians of
that day, who thought they saw in America the rise of a
new star whose beams should diffuse the light of liberty
over the whole world. Second, the soldiers of fortune
already mentioned, who had no hesitancy in enlisting
under any banner which gave promise of a profitable re-
turn. Third, men trained to the profession of arms, who,
while not altogether unmindful of their material interest,
yet sympathizing with the cause in which the colonists
INTRODUCTION
were engaged, were ready to share its hardships and
its perils, determined to render it true and loyal service
without regard to the final outcome. In this last class
we can safely place Frederick William Augustus Henry
Ferdinand Von Steuben, generally known by his familiar
title, Baron Von Steuben.
STEUBEN'S LIEE AND WORK
CHAPTER I.
THE VON STEUBENS
A Family of Soldiers— Rise of the Prussian Monarchy— Baron
Von Steuben's Birth and Early Career— Prominent in Seven
Years' War — Humiliation of France— Retirement — Momen-
tous Visit to Paris,
The family from which Baron Steuben claimed de-
scent traced a definite genealogy back for a period of at
least six hundred years, and the name was variously
written Steube, Stoebe, Stoyben (the present pronuncia-
tion) and finally Steuben. Mr. Kapp, who has been most
industrious in tracing this genealogy, first hears of the
Steubens in Franconia, one of the duchies of mediaeval
Germany Iving along the river Main, and south of Sax-
ony. In the early part of the thirteenth century a por-
tion of the family, at least, came into Mansfield, naw a
part of Saxony, where they took up their abode, and
were classed among those feudal noblemen invested with
manors and estates. Conveyances of real property and
other important legal documents attest their position in
the community. The Steubens ranged themselves on the
side of the Reformation in the sixteenth century, and
seemed to have attached themselves at an early date to
the Electors of Brandenburg, predecessors of the Kings
of Prussia. In the course of time they lost most of their
6 GENERAL WILLIAM VOX STEUBEN
landed estates, and it is chiefly as soldiers that they have
left a reputation to posterity.
Without going into their transactions in detail we
come to Ernest Nicholas Von Steuben, a captain under
the German Emperor, Ferdinand II., during the thirty
years' war (1618-1648). It would be a puzzling and un-
profitable task to attempt to unravel European and espe-
cially German politics during this period. A reference,
however, to the general situation may assist the reader in
understanding the condition of affairs in these and subse-
quent years.
''The Holy Roman Empire," revived by Charle-
magne, still existed so far as its name was concerned, but
it had long since ceased to have any connection with
Rome, and it would require a rather broad definition of
the term *'Holy" to thus describe it. The great heredi-
tary kingdom founded by the Emperor of the Franks had
degenerated into a loose confederacy of Teutonic states
held together by an elective monarchy, but which were
so nearly independent that they not only waged war
against each other, but sometimes against the empire
itself. The succession in the provinces, however, was
hereditary except in the case of ecclesiastics, and upon the
death of an emperor, sometimes before, his successor was
chosen by seven Electors, they being the Archbishops of
Mainz, Cologne, and Trier, and four lay magnates, the
palatine of the Rhine, duke of Saxony, margrave of
Brandenburg, and King of Bohernia. They were not
obliged to choose one of their own number or even an
inhabitant of their own provinces, in fact, choice of a non-
resident ruler was the more usual custom. Francis I, of
France; and Henry VIII., of England, were both com-
petitors for the Imperial crown when Charles V., mem-
ber of the Austrian House, of Hapsburg and King of
THE VON STEUBENS 7
Spain (Charles L), was the successful candidate, in 1519.
At that time Spain claimed all the American continent
except the eastern part of South America, which the Pope