count of his zeal and efficiency. After the war he held
a position in the Virginia State Auditor's office at Rich-
mond.

Louis de Fleury was one of the advance guard of
those adventurous young Frenchmen whose ardor led
them to America. He received a captain's commission
from Congress early in 1777, and attracted attention by
his services at the head of a volunteer corps of riflemen.
He attained further reputation as brigade major during
the campaign of that year, and was sent to Fort Mifflin,
near Philadelphia, where the services of an engineer were
needed. He was now promoted to the office of lieutenant
colonel, and had a horse shot under him at the battle of
Brandywine, and, as he had filled the position of aide
major in France, at Steuben's suggestion and with Wash-
ington's approval he was appointed a sub-inspector. The
office of inspector having been greatly crippled by the
jealousy of other officers, Fleury in July, 1778, was given



366 GENERAL WILLIAM VON STEUBEN

second command in a corps of light infantry operating
against Rhode Island, and subsequently command of a
new battalion of light infantry organized by Steuben. He
was the first to enter the main works at the storming of
Stony Point, and with his own hands pulled down the
British flag. He joined Rochambeau's forces when that
general arrived, serving until the close of the war, and
keeping up a constant correspondence with Steuben.

James Fairlie, son of a sea captain in the West In-
dia trade, was born in New York City about 1757, and
entered the Revolutionary army early in the w^ar as en-
sign Colonel Macdougal's New^ York regiment. Subse-
quently he was transferred to Philip Van Courtlandt's
regiment, and assisted in the capture of Burgoyne's army.
The next year he was appointed aide de camp to Steuben,
serving at the battle of Monmouth and accompanying the
general to Virginia. There he was captured by the
enemy but having been exchanged he came north to New-
burg, w^here he ser^-ed until the was w^ar over. We have
already seen that he was a part of Steuben's family in
New York City, w-hen he became claim agent for the
state. Subsequently he w^as clerk of the New York Su-
preme Court, a member of the General Assembly and of
the convention that framed the Constitution of 1823. He
was appointed commissioner of bankruptcy by Jefferson,
and in 1812 Madison offered him the position of Adju-
tant General of the United States, w^hich he did not ac-
cept. His liberality and brilliancy added to a generous
disposition made him a great favorite in society, and he
married a daughter of Chief Justice Yates, of Albany.
When Steuben took charge of his land in the Oneida
Country he presented certain tracts to some of his former
aides, Fairlie being one of the beneficiaries. Later, while
visiting North he noticed a set of Sevres china, which at-



STEUBEN'S MILITARY FAMILY 3G7

tracted his attention. The result was that the FairHe land
and North's china exchanged owners. When Steuben
heard of the transaction he manifested his disapproval by
doubling the shares given to the other aides and turning
what would have been Fairlie's ovejr to North. Mr. Kapp
also gives this affair as the cause of Steuben omit-
ting to mention Fairlie in his will, although there does
not seem to have been anything very reprehensible in the
transaction. Fairlie died in New York City on October
11, 1830, and was buried with military honors.

Colonel William S. Smith was another of Steuben's
aides w^ho lived with him for awhile after the war. He
also served as an aide to Washington, and early in 1785
went with John Adams to England as secretary, from
which country he wrote a series of interesting letters to
Steuben. He afterward married the daughter of Air.
Adams, and was president of the Cincinnati until his
death on June 10, 1816.

Among others whom Steuben mentions with spe-
cial friendliness as his assistants were: Major de Roma-
nai, who accompanied him to America; Alajor De I'En-
fant; Major De Epinier, nephew of Beaumarchais, who
had changed his name from Lepine as sounding more
courtly; Captain De Pontiere, who became captain of
horse under Pulaski; Captain Duval; Colonel Meade;
Messrs. Peyton Randolph and Moore who served him
well in Virginia; Majors Galvan and Villefranche, and
Lieutenant Colonel De La Lanyante, who were Steuben's
engineers at Yorktown, and Major Popham. There are
twenty-one in all, and probably not even the commander
in chief had a more intimate band of devoted followers



368 GENERAL WILLIAM VOX STEUBEN

who loved and respected their superior officer, and, as
we have seen, maintained the closest friendship and, in
some instances, family life with him after the conflict was
over.



CHAPTER XXIV.

THE ARTISTS' FAVORITE.

Original Portraits of Steuben by Peale. Earle, Simitiere, Trum-
*and Pine— Copies and Reproductions.

Not even the father of his country seems to have
been a greater favorite with the artists of his day than
was Baron Steuben. For a new country America was
pecuharly favored in this respect. During the Revohi-
tionary period there were here at least five painters of
international reputation, of whom four were natives of
this country, and one an adopted citizen. The oldest of
them, Benjamin West, was born at Springfield, Pa., Oc-
tober 17, 1738, and at the age of eighteen began portrait
painting in Philadelphia, going to New York two years
later. In 17G0 he visited Italy, where he remained three
years, and was elected member of the principal academ-
ies. Settling in London his work attracted the attention
both of court circles and the public to such an extent that
he was elected to succeed Sir Joshua Reynolds as Presi-
dent of the Royal Academy, which position he held for
twenty-eight years. His leading work, "Christ Healing
the Sick," was purchased by the British government for
3,000 guineas, and hangs in the National Gallery in Lon-
don. He died on March 11, 1820, and was buried in St.
Paul's cathedral, the only American who lies beneath
that historic fane. He is mentioned here, not because he
is known to have painted any portrait of Steuben, but be-
cause he was a contemporary and instructor of those
who did, and was the leading American representative of
the pictorial art of his time.



370 GENERAL WILLIA^I VON STEUBEN

Charles Willson Peale was born at Chesterfield, Md.,
on x-\pril 6, 1741. He followed the saddler trade at An-
napolis, but having his attention attracted by a portrait
while on a visit to Norfolk, on his return he attempted
to paint one of himself, with such success, that he decided
to improve his talents in that direction. Living at Bos-
ton in 17(iS-9 he received instruction from John S.
Copley, and in 1710 went to London where lie studied
under West, also praticing modeling in wax, casting and
moulding in plaster, engraving in mezzotint and minia-
ture painting. He returned to Annapolis in 1774 and
followed his profession for two years, then removing to
Philadelphia, and became captain of volunteers. He took
part in the battles of Trenton and Germantown, was wath
Washington and Steuben at Valley Forge and was elected
member of the Pennsylvania legislature in 1779. After
the war he collected quite a museum of natural curiosi-
ties, portraits and other art objects, and was one of the
founders of the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts, con-
tributing to seventeen annual exhibitions. An idea of
his versatility may be formed from the fact that he prac-
ticed dentistry, made coaches, harness, clocks, watches
and silverware, besides being a soldier, politician, natur-
alist, taxidermist etc. But his favorite occupation was
portrait painting, for which Washington alone is said to
have given him fourteen sittings, his first portrait of that
gentleman being in the uniform of a Virginia colonel.
He painted portraits of most of the eminent men of his
day, including the presidents down to 1819. Peale was
not regarded as a first class artist, and the value of his
portraits is chiefly historical. It was Peale's custom while
in the army to carry with him stretchers 6x8 inches in
size on which he made sketches of those whose portraits
he intended painting, and it was probably at Valley Forge





STEUBEN, BY PEABE, 1778.



STEUBEN, BY t-IAIITlERE. 1783.





STEUBEN. BY PINE, ABOUT 17S5.



SOLDIERS- MONUMENT, STEUBENVIBBE



THE NEW YORK

PUBLIC LIBRARY



ASTOR, LEN(>X AJS'D

TILDEN FOUNDATIONS

^ L



THE ARTISTS' FAVORITE 371

in the spring of 1778 that he made the outhnes of his pic-
ture of Baron Steuhen reproduced in this book. This
portrait was on exhibition in his Philadelphia museum,
and at his death, February 22, 1827, it with other relics
and pictures of the Revolutionary and Colonial periods
remained in possession of his family. They were offered
for sale in 1854 and being purchased by the city of Phila-
delphia were placed in Independence Hall, where they
now remain.

Massachusetts furnished the third of our artistic
quintette in the person of Ralph Earle, who was born at
Teiceister on ^lay 11, 1751. He moved to Connecticut
while quite young, and painted portraits there in 1775.
On the restoration of peace he went to England and
studied under West, and was regarded as sufficiently
meritorious to insure his election as a member of the
Royal Academy. He returned in 1786 and painted four
historical pictures, the first of the kind executed by^ an
American, viz. : "The Battle of Lexington," "A View of
Concord," "The Battle of North Bridge, Concord,"
"View of the South Part of Lexington." These were
followed by portraits and landscapes, "Niagara Falls"
among the latter, which created quite a furore when
placed on exhibition in London. About this time he
painted at least two portraits of Baron Steuben, one of
which was given to Major William North. From Major
North the portrait has descended to his great grand-
daughter, Mrs. F. B. Austin, of New York City, who is
also the possessor of the Baron's gold-headed cane, the
gold box presented to him by the city of New York, and
his gold watch. The other painting, which by the
courtesy of its present ow^ner is reproduced in this book,
was made for James Duane, and, at his death passed
to his daughter, Sarah Featherstonaugh, from whom it



372 GENERAL \VILLIA:\I VOX STEUBEN

descended to her grandson, G. W. Featherstonaugh, of
Schenectady, N. Y., the present owner. The portrait,
considerably dimmed by age, is three-quarter size, and
shows the face nearly full. It exhibits the Baron in full
regimentals, his right hand extended and resting on the
hilt of his sword. The Order of Fidelity is suspended
around his neck, and the ''Cincinnati" on his left breast.
The Hudson river and West Point hills are seen in the
background. In the left hand corner of the painting un-
der the guard of the sword, in red letters appear the
words: "Ralph Earle, Pinx., 1786."

Pierre Eugene du Simitiere was a native of Geneva,
Switzerland, and emigrated to the West Indies about
1751. In 1770 he went to Philadelphia, and became
noted as a collector of curios. Two years later he was
elected a member of the American Philosophical Society,
and in 1782 he opened his collection to the public under
the title of American museum. He was a very popular
portrait painter, and among his sitters were Washing-
ton, Steuben, Jay and nearly all the noted men of that
period. These were engraved by Benjamin Reading and
published in London in 1783. He also painted miniatures
in water colors, and was commissioned by Congress to
design a seal for the new American republic, but of the
two designs submitted neither found acceptance. Re-
cently Dr. R. M. Griswold, of Kensington, Conn., be-
came the possessor of a rare copper print of du Simitiere's
portrait of the Baron reproduced elsewhere. Simitiere
died in Philadelphia, in 1784.

Prominent in this company of Revolutionary artists
was John Trumbull, son of the Governor of Connecticut,
born at Lebanon on June 6, 1756. He w^as a graduate of
Harvard College, in 1773, and was specially useful to
Washington as an aide in sketching the British works



THE ARTISTS' FAVORITE 373

about Boston. Afterwards he was appointed adjutant
under Gates, but resigned the next year, and in 1780 went
to London and began studying under West. During the
Arnold-Andre imbrogho he was arrested as a sort of
hostage for the latter, but released after eight months
confinement on condition that he return home. He did
so, but w^ent back to London and re-entered West's
studio, where he painted a number of historical pictures.
In 1789 he came back to America to secure portraits of
prominent Revolutionary generals for a series of histor-
ical paintings. Among them was that of Steuben, which
appears in his great painting, "The Surrender of Corn-
wallis." For this with three other paintings, ''Declara-
tion of Independence," ''Surrender of Burgoyne," and
"Resignation of Washington at Annapolis," each 18x12
feet, ordered by Congress to be placed in the rotunda of
the capitol at Washington, he received $32,000. The
figure of Steuben on horseback in the Cornwallis picture
has been made a favorite subject for engravings. Trum-
bull died in New York on November 10, 1843.

Robert E. Pine also appears to have painted a por-
trait of Steuben which became the property of the United
States Government, and was destroyed when the British
burned the capitol on August 2-1, 1814. Pine was born
in England about 1730, and came to America after the
war for independence with the special object of securing
the portraits of leaders in that conflict. He died in Phila-
delphia in 1788. A copy of his Steuben portrait which
appears elsewhere, bears a close resemblance to Peale's
work.

In the Governor's room of old City Hall, New York,
hangs a portrait of Steuben the frame of which contains
the inscription, "After Stuart by Marsiglia." Gilbert
Stuart, who is doubtless the artist referred to, was born



374 GENERAL WILLIAM VON STEUBEN

at North Kingston, R. L, on December 3, 1755, and died
in Boston on July 27, 1828. Following the example of
his predecessors he went to London in 1775 and studied
under West. Returning to America in 1793 he attained
distinction as a painter of eminent men, his Washington
portraits having been generally accepted as the standard
presentation of the Father of His Country. It is not im-
possible that he might have painted Steuben during the
winter of 1793-4, but we have no direct evidence of that
fact, and if there was any such portrait it has disappeared.
An exhibition of 751 of Stuart's pictures was given in
Boston in 1880, ir. which there was none of Steuben. In
fact the official report of the exhibits in connection with
the centennial celebration of Washington's inauguration
in 1789, refers to this portrait as a reproduction of
Earle's, the copyist having omitted certain details in the
dress including the watch chain and also the scenery in
the background, which is a characteristic of Earle's por-
traits. It may be added that the New York branch of
the Cincinnati has a copy painted by John Schuyler, and
the Oneida Historical Society one by M. B. Ray.



CHAPTER XXV.



POSTHUMUS HONORS.



Eulogies and Memorials — Monuments at Grave and Washing-
ton—Andrews's Portrait of Steuben— Portraits of George
Rogers Clark and James Wilson by Filson.

Mr. Kapp in drawing a comparison between the sim-
plicity, and we might ahnost say the poverty of the pro-
ceedings at Steuben's grave, and those of his European
companions who were buried with all the splendor and
brilliancy that royalty and military pomp could afford,
concludes that after all Steuben was more fortunate than
they. With the last salute that roared over their graves,
they are forgotten; the glory and enjoyment of their
deeds belonged to the crown under which they served;
their names are merely mentioned in the works of some
local historian. But Steuben, in spite of hardships and
neglect, by drawing his sword in behalf of American
liberty connected himself with the greatest event of mod-
ern history. His name is as lasting as that of the Ameri-
can Revolution, and only glows the brighter as his old
world contemporaries sink into everlasting obscurity.

There were those, however, who did not delay to
render their tribute of honor to the distinguished dead.
The German society of New York, already referred to,
adopted a eulogy to his memory, and as a mark of re-
spect resolved to wear mourning insignia for six weeks,
and attend an address to be delivered by Rev. De Gross
in the Reformed German Church in Nassau street on the
following Sunday afternoon. There were numerous
private testimonials from distinguished men, as the fact
of Steuben's death became generally known, for news



376 GENERAL WILLIAM VON STEUBEN

traveled slowly in those days. Colonel William North at
his own expense, placed a mural tablet in the church above
mentioned, and when this property was sold to the Bap-
tists it was taken to the new building in Forsythe street.
It lay there for awhile unmounted until the termination
of a lawsuit which the congregation was having in re-
gard to its property. When the matter was settled Abra-
ham Berky had the monument restored and placed in
proper position. It consists of an obelisk slab and square
frame of blueish clouded marble. The urn at the base
bears a representation of the Order De Fidelite, with
an inscription by Col. North.

At last the people of Oneida County, or at least a
portion of them, seemed to realize that some little respect
v\'as due the remains of the hero w4io had died and was
buried in their midst. Largely through the influence of
two women. Miss Sophia IMappa and Bertha Der Kemp,
assisted by descendants of other old friends funds were
raised sufficient to procure a modest cenotaph, and when
Lafayette visited the United States in 1824 he was in-
vited to deliver an oration at its dedication. For some
unexplained reason he declined, and the humble monu-
ment was dedicated without his assistance. It w^as a sim-
ple tablet eight feet long by four feed wide, and a foot
in thickness, resting on four stone walls with pilasters.
It bore the words, "Major General Frederick William
Augustus Baron de Steuben." An address was made by
Rev. Mr. Pierce, a Unitarian pastor in Olden Barneveldt.

As a modest tribute from friends and neighbors no
fault could be found with this memorial, but as the years
rolled on the foundation began to crumble, and it became
apparent that unless some measures were taken for its
preservation the structure would soon be a ruin. When
public attention was called to the matter it was felt that




sil^.. ^..,



Over Grave, Oneida CuuntN. N. V., 1N2I.





STKUIJENS ^lOCONI) AIOXL'M ]-:i\T
Over Grave, IS 72.



JMONU.MKXT AT WA^^HIXCIOX. 1;»1U



THE r,-f..'.v VOKK
PUBLJC LIBRARY I

TILDEK MONDATIONS



POSTHUMUS HONORS 377

while Steuben was not a seeker after post mortem hon-
ors a testimonial should be placed over his grave which
might in some measure at least be expressive of the feel-
ings of subsequent generations towards the man who had
contributed so largely towards securing their indepen-
dence. The first formal suggestion in that direction came
in the shape of an appeal to the Germans of the United
States for funds to erect a monument to Steuben. This
appeal was published in December, 185 G, in the St.
Charles Democrat, a Missouri country paper. The sug-
gestion was favorably received, especially by German so-
cieties throughout the country, and by means of enter-
tainments and other sources between five and six thous-
and dollars was collected. There the matter rested, and
the outbreak of the Civil War sooii after occupied men's
minds to the exclusion of all other objects. In the later
sixties the project was again revived. Additional funds
were secured, and aided by an appropriation from the
state of New York, the monument was begun in earnest.
On June 1, 1870, the cornerstone was laid by Governor
Seymor in the presence of a large assembly.

The organizations present included the Citizens'
Corps of Utica, wnth band, and the New York Lieder-
kranz, thirty-five in number. After prayer in Welsh by
Rev. Robert Everett, S. Karl Kapff, representing the
Schutzen Society of New York, gave a breif sketch of
the movement. An address of welcome on behalf of the
people of the hamlets of Remsen and Steuben was de-
livered by D. M. Crowell, followed by the ode "Der
Tagdes Henen," by the Liederkranz. The Prussian na-
tional hymn preceded the placing of the cornerstone, after
which, on the suggestion of Governor Seymour a vote of
thanks was tendered the Welsh society for the manner in
which it had carried out the directions of Mr. Walker for



378 GENERAL WILLIA^I VOX STEUBEN

the care of the grave and its surroundings. General
Franz Sigel closed the exercises with an address in Ger-
man.

The monument, which w^as unveiled by the represen-
tatives of the Steuben Monument Association in the sum-
mer of 1872, was designed and built by Henry Reck, of
New York. It is a square massive structure with a base
of Trenton limestone, upon which rests a block of dressed
granite. On the front of the granite block a laurel wreath
is cut in relief having in its centre the single word
''Steuben." The base is fourteen feet square, and the
total height is fifteen feet. Four parrot guns are placed
en reverse at the angles of the base, with a pile of cannon
balls between. Fragments of the original monument
were left at the base of its successor, and the primeval
forest stands closely around. Tw^o handsome pillars,
however, indicate the entrance to the burial place, and a
well defined trail through the woods leads to the monu-
ment.

Congress having appropriated $50,000 for that pur-
pose a large monument crowned by a bronze statue of
Steuben was erected in Lafayette park in Washington,
which was dedicated with imposing ceremonies on De-
cember 7, 1910. A replica of this statue was erected at
Potsdam, Prussia, which was unveiled on September 2
of the following year.

In the cloister, or "Porch of the AlHes," connecting
the Washington Memorial Church at Valley Forge with
the Museum of American history, one of the bays has
been erected by the National German Alliance to the
memory of Steuben.

On October 2, 1911, Eliphalet F. Andrews, the cele-
brated artist who had previously donated large portraits
of President lames A. Garfield, Hon. Edwin M. Stanton



POSTHUMUS HONORS 379

and Hon. Benjamin Tappan to his native city and coun-
ty, wrote from London, where he was temporarily so-
journing, to Hon. F. H. Kerr and J. B. Doyle, offering
to add to the already valuable collection in Steubenville
a life-size portrait of General Von Steuben. The
Stanton Monument Association, of Steubenville, had just
completed a series of the most interesting and successful
demonstrations in the history of the upper Ohio valley
in connection with the dedication of the bronze statue
erected to the memory of the great War Secretary in his
native city, and it was deemed the most appropriate or-
ganization to take charge of the picture and unveil the
same with suitable ceremonies. The portrait w^as
finished early in 1913, the Earle-Featherstonaugh paint-
ing being taken as the basis. It is not, how^ever, a copy,
but the product of the artist's own ideas, aided by other
portraits and such historical information as was avail-
able. The figure is a standing one, three-quarter length,
with the right hand resting on the sword hilt, and the
left gloved and holding a glove. The rich Continental
uniform in blue and buff makes a pleasing combination,
showing to advantage the society decorations already de-
scribed. Lace cuffs indicate a contrast to the fashions of
to-day. The Baron is apparently standing in front of a
balustrade partly covered with heavy foliage, w^ith the
Hudson and West Point back. It is the most brilliant
of Mr. Andrews's portraits.

About this time Charles P. Filson, of Steubenville,
offered to paint a companion picture, being a portrait of
Gen. George Rogers Clark, the conqueror of the North-
west territory, and for several years a resident of the
upper Ohio valley. Arrangements were made with the
same artist for a portrait of James Wilson, grandfather
of the President of the United States, who resided in



380 GENERAL WILLIA^I VOX STEUBEN

Steubenville for thirty-five years, was editor of the
Herald newspaper, member of the Legislature and Com-
mon Pleas Court. Here was born Joseph Wilson, father