Frederick William von Steuben and the American Revolution, aide to Washington and inspector general of the Army

Front matter

CORNELL

UNIVERSITY

LIBRARY

Preface

An apology seems scarcely necessary for offering to the reading public at this time a new biography of Baron Frederick Vv^illiam 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 perspecti-f e allows a more mature and better judgment of what the characters were 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, whose influence is so decided that there could be no question as to it being the controlling factor in holding and regulating the whole solar 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 military afifairs, albeit most of his early experience was in the backwoods, he was but human, and even his most enthusiastic admirers will not claim that he could have brought his wonderful v/ork 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 recognized 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 Washington in that memorable conflict whose skirmishes, 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 beginning 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 sustained 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 Cornwallis 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 Revolution, 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 services, 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 soldier, confidence to the commander, and saved the treasury not less than $600#,000."

Although professing liberal principles it is not claimed that when Steuben first turned his thoughts towards America he was actuated solely by the philanthropic desire to aid a struggling cause. He was still comparatively a young man, and doubtless had his ambitions, but his every action proves the absence of any low mercenary 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 compensation.

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 influence towards the preparation and adoption of the Constitution.

Sketches of Baron Steuben have appeared from time to time in various publications, and in 1859, Friedrich Kapp published a biography which was the result of sev-

X. PREFACE

eral years industrious and painstaking research. Himself a German he visited this country and made a thorough investigation of the Baron's voluminous papers as virell as consulting other original authorities, and the result 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 acknowledgm.ents are freely due to pre-existing publications, without whose aid the present work 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 ha furnished the means which enabled Steuben to come to America, but because his activities have been largely a 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 d9cuments are first published, demonstrates that this curious character exercised more influence on French politics than has been generally been supposed, but although 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 o£ the Baron's name was Stoyben with the accent on the first syllable, but the American use has Anglicised it into Stooben, retaining, however, the original accent. The practice in some quarters of accenting the second syllable either of the Baron's name or of the city of Steubenville is without any warrant 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 Society, and C. M. Underbill, Librarian of the Oneida public library, for valuable assistance, and to Charles P. Filson for illustrations.

Trusting that this work 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

INiTRODUCTION 1

Chapter I

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. Momentous Visit to Paris.

CHAPTER n.

Rise of a Romantic Character. Beaumarchais and the American War. Inside Movements of the French Court. A Politico-Mercantile House.

CHAPTER ni.

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.

An Eventful Voyage. Storms, Fire and Mutiny. Reception 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 Discipline Equally Absent. Enormous Waste. Welcomed by Washington. Appointed Temporary Inspector. Radical Reforms Introduced.

CONTENTS xiii.

CHAPTER VI.

Steuben's Success at Converting a Mob into Soldiers. Commendation of Washington. Congress Fixes His Status. Official Jealousy. The French Alliance.

CHAPTER VII.

Howe Evacuates Philadelphia. Movements Across New Jersey. Battle of Monmouth Court House. Treason of Lee. Steuben's Well Drilled Troops Turn Defeat Into Victory.

CHAPTER VHI.

Steuben's Dissatisfaction. Desires a Position in the Line. New Code of Army Regulations. Printing Difficulties.

CHAPTER IX.

Steuben Reviews the Situation. Barbarous Raids. Value of the Bayonet Demonstrated at Stony Point. Visit of the French Ambassador. Suggestions For the Future.

CHAPTER X.

The George Rogers Clark Expedition. Victories of Paul Jones and the Navy. Spain Enters the Struggle. Troubles in the South. Paper Reforms. Bad Condition of the Army. Steuben's Continued Efforts. Gloomy Prognostigations.

CHAPTER XL

Reverses in the South. Loss of Georgia and the Oarolinas. 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.

xiv. CONTENTS

CHAPTER XII.

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 Afifairs.

CHAPTER XIII.

Invasion of the State via James River. Capture of Richmond. Steuben's Eflforts to Save the Dominion Without Men or Supplies. Arnold Retreats and is Besieged at Portsmouth. Virginia's Loyalty to the Patriot Cause. Still Aiding Greene.

CHAPTER XIV.

Their Operations in the Carolinas and Virginia. Victories and Good Generalship Recover the Carolinas. Arnold Bottled up in Portsmouth and Cornwallis in Wilmington. Arnold Saved Through Refusal of the French Commander to Co-operate. Arrival of Lafayette. Steuben Still Has the Burden. Second Foray up the James — Capture cf Petersburg and Richmond.

CHAPTER XV.

La'ayette Ordered to Steuben's Assistance — Cornwallis moves Northward — Steuben Prepares to Oppose Him — Magazines of Supplies Formed and Recruits Gathered — Lafayette Retreats to Firedericksburg — Steuben Extricates Himself from Point of Fork — Important Stores Saved — Brilliant Tactics — Cornwallis Outwitted — Steuben Gives up Going South, and Requested to Join Lafayette.

CHAPTER XVI.

APPROACHING THE CLIMAX 249

Steuben Joins Lafayette and Forces Cornwallis to Leave Richmond — Retreat to Williamsburg — Steuben's Illness — Arrival of Washington and Siege of Yorktown— Steuben Assigned a Command — Closing up the Trenches — Receives a Deputation from Cornwallis — The Surrender.

CONTENTS XV.

CHAPTER XVII.

Review of the Political Situation — Strength in Weakness— Adoption of the Articles of Confederation — A Rope of Sand — ^Controversies With the Virginia Authorities— Vindication of Steuben — Financial Difficulties— Attack on New York Discussed — Peace Negotiations— ^France and Spain Suggest the Alleghenies for the Western Boundary — Steuben Appeals to the King of France.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Difficulties of the Officers — Peace Officially Announced — Parting Scenes — Testimonials to Steuben — Plans a Military Academy — Visit to Frontier Posts — Washington's Farewell Letter — A Belated Tribute.

CHAPTER XIX.

Organized by Steuben — A Storm of Opposition — Presenting Claims to Congress — A Wearisome Task — Adoption of the New Constitution — Tardy Justice.

CHAPTER XX.

LIFE IN NEW YORK 328

Activity in Public Affairs — Plans for a Regular Army — Popularity with th^ People — His Memorial on the Banks of the Ohio — A Western Land Project — Suggestion Concerning Prince Henry — Washington's Inauguration— Social Distinction — Wit and Generosity.

CHAPTER XXI.

Character of the Baron's Grant — Liberality to Settlers— Visit from Relatives — Politics and Literature — Preparing for War — Important Commission — Farm Life and Future Prospects.

CHAPTER XXII.

Unexpected Death of Steuben — Stricken by Paralysis — A Melancholy Funeral — The Baron's Will — Desecration of His Grave, and Final Resting Place.

xvi. CONTENTS

CHAPTER XXIII.

STEUBEN'S MILITARY FAMILY 3S6

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, Simitiere, Trumbull and Pine — Copies and Reproductions.

CHAPTER XXV.

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-Centenhial of Most Northerly Invasion During the Civil War — Unveiling of Portraits — Dedication of Monuments and Cannon — Unveiling Maine Tablet.

ILLUSTRATIONS

GENERAL VON STEUBEN .... Frontispiece

From Original, by Peale, 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, VA 208

CHARLES P. FILSON 240

ELIPHALET F. ANDREWS 240

SURRENDER OF CORNWALLIS 262

WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL

VALLEY FORGE 308 xviii. ILLUSTRATIONS

FORT STEUBEN, PROM THE OHIO RIVER . . .308

STEUBENVILLE, O., BUSINESS SECTION . . .332

FORT STEUBEN, GROUND PLAN 332

STEUBEN'S WOODLAND HOME 346

OSWEGO AND FORT IN 1794 346

WM. NORTH'S HOUSE AT DUANESBURG . . .358

FEATHERSTONAUGH MANSION

at DUANESBURG 358

STEUBEN PORTRAIT, BY PEALE . ... 370

STEUBEN PORTRAIT, BY SIMITIERE . . . .370

STEUBEN PORTRAIT, BY PINE 370

SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, STEUBENVILLE, O. . . 370

STEUBEN'S FIRST MONUMENT 376

STEUBEN'S SECOND MONUMENT . . . .376 STEUBEN'S MONUMENT AT WASHINGTON . . 376

GEN. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK 380

HON. JAMES WILSON 380

GEN. JAMES M. SHACKELFORD 384

GEN. JOHN H. MORGAN 384

MAP OP JEFFERSON COUNTY, 0 388

Showing most Northerly Invasion of the Civil War

MAINE MEMORIAL TABLET 388

JEFFERSON COUNTY COURT HOUSE . . .390

Decorated for Three Wars Celebration.

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 attention of observers, both civil and military, in continental Europe. Britain was coming to the front as a worldpower, and no important movement within her borders or in any part of the world which acknowledged her supremacy, 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 comprehension of the doctrines asserted by the restless Anglo-Saxons beyond the ocean, the mere fact that these pioneers challenged the authority of the Mother Country, no matter to what extreipes it might be carried, was sufficient. Less than a century before England had established parliamentary 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 meaning, and when George III. later sent a detachment of his

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 England, at least, in government circles. Even the brutality with which these levies were made excited scarcely a remonstrance 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 the 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 government, weak and decaying, had not sufficient vitality to control the extremities or the designs of ambitious leaders, or when a certain class, goaded to the quick by oppression and outrage, made a fruitless effort to break its bonds, and there were mutterings of a coming storm in France,, but the.world had not yet grasped the conception; of going to war for an idea, especially the idea of protesting against taxation without representation. So, as we have said, the conflict attracted attention not only from thft position of the parties but from the novelty of the principles involvedy/When . it became evident that the question could, not b^ solved without recourse to arms, and that the American patriots were not averse to receiving foreign help in their stniggle, 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 return. 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 cblonists

INTRODUCTION 3

were engaged, were ready to share its hardships and its perils, determined to render it true and l6yal service without regard to the final outcome. In tliis last class we can safely place Frederick William Augustus Henry Ferdinand Von Steuben, generally ,known by his familiar title. Baron Von Steuben.

STEUBEN'S LIFE AND WORK

CHAPTER I.

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 — Momentous Visit to Paris.

The family from which Baron Steuben claimed descent 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 pronunciation) 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 lying along the river Main, and south of Saxony. In the early part of the thirteenth century a portion of the family, at least, came into Mansfield, now 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 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 unprofitable task to attempt to unravel European and especially German politics during this period. A reference, however, to the general situation may assist the reader in understanding the condition of afifairs in these and subsequent years.

"The Holy Roman Empire," revived by Charlemagne, 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 hereditary 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 Boheftiia. They were not obliged to choose one of their own number or even an inhabitant of their own provinces, in fact, choice of a nonresident ruler was the more usual custom. Francis I, of France, and Henry VIII., of England, were both competitors for the Imperial crown when Charles V., member of the Austrian House, of Hapsburg and King of

Spain (Charles I.), 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 had kindly given to Portugal, and this with his hereditary possessions including Austria, most of Italy and the Netherlands, together with the helplessness of France, made Charles's authority almost world-wide, so far as civilization was concerned, with England on the west and half-barbaric Russia on the east to alone seriously dispute his authority. As a ruler with such powerful backing the Emperor was a tremendous force, which had to be reckoned with in the religious wars of the sixteenth century, but in that sense Charles had no successors. Nevertheless the Empire ambled along amidst stress and strife, with varying fortunes for two centuries and a half until Napoleon in 1806 compelled the abdication of Francis II., who had occupied a shadowy throne for fourteen years, and "The Holy Roman Empire" ceased to exist as a figure, as it had long previously ceased to exist in reality. When William I., King of Prussia, was, on January 18, 1871, at the palace of Versailles, proclaimed German Emperor, it was not a revival of "The Holy Roman Empire," but the consolidation of a new nation, which had for sometime been crystalizing out of old material.

Captain Von Steuben was compelled by wounds to retire during the early part of the Thirty Years' War, and at his death left a son, L,udwig, born in 1642. He, in turn, had one son, Augustine Von Steuben, born in 1661, and the latter had ten children, seven of them being sons. The fourth son, Wilhelm Augustine, father of the subject of this memoir, was born on April 23, 1699, doubtless in Brandenburg. Two years later Frederick I., Margrave of Brandenburg, which may be translated

"Count of the Marshes," brought sufficient pressure to bear on the Emperor Leopold I. to have the present province of East Prussia (of which he wras duke) elevated to the rank of a Kingdom of Prussia, including all the territory heretofore controlled by the Electors of Brandenburg. Under his able administration a new power had come to the front. Wilhelm Von Steuben entered the Prussian military service in 1715, and held one military post after another, part of the time in Russia until his death on April 26, 1783. In 1729 he married Mary Dorothea Von lagow and from this union was born the son who was destined to play an important part in the American Revolution.

There has been some dispute both as to the date and place of General Von Steuben's birth, and whether he was, after all, a native born subject of the King of Prussia. In Sparks's series of American biographies, Steuben is quoted as saying that had he been a native Prussian he would never have dared to petition for his discharge at the close of the Seven Years' War under penalty of being cashiered. Hence it has been supposed by some of the historians that he was born in Suabia or some other part of the Empire outside of Frederick's jurisdiction. Mr. Kapp, however, after careful investigation into original sources, places his birth on November 15, 1730 "at Madgeburg, a large Prussian fortress on the Elbe." Now Madgeburg is the capital of Saxony, and Saxony did not become a Prussian province until 1815, when it was made so by the treaty of Vienna after the downfall of Napoleon. It had an administrative independence, however, during the Middle Ages, the chief officer seeming to be the Archbishop, with secular powers, and with whom the citizens were generally at variance. It was almost destroyed during the Thirty Years' War, and at the peace of Westphalia, in 1648, the Archbishopric was converted into a secular duchy to come under control of the Margrave of Brandenburg on the death of the administrator, Prince Augustus, of Saxony, which occurred in 1680. Thus, while not a native of Prussia proper. Von Steuben was to all intents and purposes a subject of Frederick William I., whose father, thirty years before, had had himself declared King of Prussia, and in whose army Von Steuben's father was a captain of engineers. While our subject was quite a small boy his father was ordered to the Crimea at the request of the Russian government to assist in the war against Turkey, and afterward to Cronstadt as instructor of Russian officers, and he did not return until 1740 In the meantime, Frederick 11., known as Frederick the Great, had ascended the throne. Young Steuben pursued his education in the Jesuit Colleges at Neisse and Breslau in Silesia, which had been recently conquered by the Prussians. He seems to have become proficient in mathematics, history, German and French. Concerning this period he writes : "The troubles of a military life, the narrow circumstances of my parents and their frequent changes of residence, did not permit them to give me any better education than that which a poor young nobleman in Prussia always receives. But while other young officers led a dissolute and extravagant Hfe, I applied myself closely to study, and exerted myself not only to learn my profession, but to enlarge my knowledge of belles-letters and the practical science. Nevertheless, from want of time and the necessary means, I made only slow progress."

Von Steuben's school life evidently did not exceed four years, for we find him with his father as a volunteer at the siege of Prague in 1744, when Frederick wrested Prague from Maria Theresa, Archduchess of Austria, and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, who had previously taken the city from Charles VII., of Bavaria, then Emperor of the so-called Holy Roman Empire. Francis of Lorraine, later Grand Duke of Tuscany, had married Maria Theresa in 1736, who made him co-regent, and by her influence he was elected Emperor to succeed Charles VII., on September 13, 1745. In the meantime, Frederick was operating pretty much as a free lance in Germany, and converting what had been considered the phantom title of King of Prussia into very much of a reality. Although he spoke German incorrectly and preferred French literature, yet he was a born leader, and around him clustered the first impulses of German (at least Prussian) nationality, which more than a century later were to bear their full fruition.

Young Steuben was promoted to the rank of Ensign in 1749 and Second Lieutenant in 1753, becoming First Lieutenant in 1756. That his duties were not always pleasant, and that the Seven Years' War was already casting its preliminary shadows is disclosed by a letter from Schweidnitz in Silesia, written to his friend. Count Henkel Von Donnersmark, of the Supreme Count of Silesia, dated June 14, 1754, in which he says :

"While you, my dear Count, are figuring in the Temple of Themis, I am condemned to a most revolting occupation. A work that Mr. De Balby has traced across a cemetery, requires the cutting of a deep ditch, in the course of which half-decomposed dead bodies are continually disinterred. I fear for my poor soldiers. The noisome exhalations will become more insupportable as the season advances. I order vinegar, brandy, tobacco, in short, everything that I can think of for their protection, to be served up to them. As yet I have no sick, but I fear the month of July. In order not to alarm them.

I am continually at work, notwithstanding my disgust for this abominable occupation, and my subordinates are obliged to follow my example — Ora pro nobis! The fortifications are extensive, and appear to be well planned. I should like them to be more solid, and then this place would be well adapted for the King's purpose, to serve him as a great depot in case we go to war with la grande dame. I am occupied in taking a plan of the entire fortress, which we shall discuss when we meet. Unfortunnately that will not be before the end of September. * * * What do your Berlin correspondents say? Are Mesdames Elizabeth and Mary Therese vexed with our Great King? I should be happy if they were. Although I am more gallant with the ladies than my master, I am extremely anxious to have an encounter, even as apprentice, with these two Amazons. Yes, my dear Henry, if there is a war, I promise you, at the end of a second campaign your friend will be either in Hades, or at the head of a regiment."

In another letter Steuben tells of a visit to Glatz, also in Silesia, describing the fortifications of that place with the precision of an expert.