Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben: Revolutionary Hero

» BuckyRea - Great article!

I picked up on your article from your posts in Brian's American Revolution site. Otherwise I would have missed this.

I liked the little bits of the Baron's unorthodox personality that you included. I knew about his "flattering" recommendation from Franklin, but not about his connections to St. Germain (a very shady character).

One ironic, if not too flattering, incident in the Baron's life happened while he was living in New York after the war. Apparently he was, um, romantically involved with one of Vice President John Adams's sons. Adams didn't take too kindly to this and threatened to disown the young man if he didn't move out from the Baron's home and get married to a proper Yankee girl. Eventually the son complied and within a few years was ruining his life and marriage with excessive alcohol consumption (an Adams family affliction, sad to say).

I wonder if this incident might cast some suspicion towards why and how Von Steuben got drummed out of the army in his homeland. Any way you slice it, though, we were very fortunate to have his contributions to our revolution. His humor and his dedication to what he made into his cause too mark him as a true hero.

-- posted by BuckyRea

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» cmryor - Hi Bucky!

It's nice to "meet" you. Haven't I seen you before over at Kay's poetry site? I think so.

Thanks for your comments on my article. I did not know that about von Steuben! I did know that he died a bachelor, and left what he had leftover to two young men.

You seem to be far better versed in this part of history than I am. I appreciate your insight.

And Brian, if you're reading this, thanks again for the bulletin on this article; it has attracted others, as you can see.

-- posted by cmryor

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