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Baron Frederick William Augustus Henry Ferdinand Von Steuben

This thriving, progressive community of 40,000 in the In March 1778, he began drilling the inexperienced soldiers year 1947, with its mills, its factories and its stores, stands at Valley Forge; and by May, he was made inspector gen- today as it has stood for the last 150 years, a living monu- eral or drillmaster of the Continental army. ment to one of the great men whose labors and sacrifices Adapting Prussian military ideas to the needs of his created the nation of which this city is a small yet proud part. pupils, Von Steuben soon made soldiers of his farmers and Baron Von Steuben was a soldier. While he was still clerks. Results of his work were shown in the next cam- living and the United States but a few years old, his name paign, particularly at Monmouth, where he rallied the dis- was given to a rugged little outpost in the wilderness; a ordered, retreating troops of General Charles Lee. His significant honor in a land whose heroes and traditions "Regulations' for the Order and Discipline of the Troops were the men of the day and their contemporary deeds. of the United States" were of great value to the army. court martial which Von Steuben was born in Magdeburg, Prussia, Septem- Von Steuben was a member of the tried Major John Andre in 1780. After General Horatio ber 17, 1730, the descendant of a noble family, which for Steuben was placed in com- generations had produced soldiers. He followed the pro- Gates' defeat at Camden, Von mand of the district of Virginia with instructions to collect, fession of his ancestors. From his fourteenth year, Von organize, discipline and expedite the recruits for the South- Steuben led a soldier's life. ern army. Frederick the Reared in the rigorous military school of In April 1781, he was superseded in command of Virginia himself that he attract- Great, Von Steuben so distinguished by LaFayette and later 'took part in the siege of Yorktown. ed the attention of King Frederick. He was appointed aide- After the war, New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New de-camp to the King in 17612. Jersey gave him grants of land for his services. Congress Resigning from the army after the war, Von Steuben passed a vote of thanks and gave Von Steuben a gold-hiltcd became grand marshal at the court of the Prince of Hohen- sword in 1784, later awarding him a pension of $2,500. zollern-Hechingen. After serving 10 years with the prince, Retiring to one of the grants, a township in Northern he accepted a similar position at the court of the Margrave New York, Von Steuben spent the remainder of his life in of Baden. a log cabin within the present limits of the city of Utica. Britain's American colonies were revolting and France He died there November 28, 1794. was aiding them. Von Steuben's old friend, the count of Monuments have been raised to his memory in Utica St. Germain, then French minister of war, persuaded him and Washington, D.C. A city has been reared on the bank to go to the assistance of the American colonists. of the Ohio, perpetuating his name and honoring it through Arriving at Portsmouth, N.H., on December 1, 1777, loyal service to the United States Von Steuben helped bring Von Steuben offered his services to Congress as a volunteer. into being.