Baron Friedrich von Steuben Prussian Tells His Story Training the Continental Army

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I am Baron Friedrich von Steuben, but before I became known for my role in shaping the American army during the Revolutionary War, I had a long history of military experience in Europe. Born in Prussia in 1730, I was raised in a world steeped in military tradition. I served as an officer under Frederick the Great of Prussia, one of the most formidable military commanders in Europe at the time. My time in the Prussian army taught me the importance of discipline, organization, and precise drilling—lessons that would later prove invaluable in a very different theater of war.

It was not at the Battle of Saratoga where my name would be made, but rather during the brutal winter of 1778 at Valley Forge. At that point, the American army was in dire need of proper training and structure. General George Washington's soldiers were brave but lacked the discipline and skills of professional European armies. My introduction to Washington and his forces came through a series of fortuitous connections. When I arrived, I offered my services as a volunteer, bringing with me the knowledge and tactics of European military traditions, honed through years of experience.

What I found at Valley Forge was an army that was low on supplies, disorganized, and desperate. The men were struggling to survive the harsh winter with limited food, clothing, and shelter. It was in this setting that I saw the need for structure and training. Washington, recognizing the value I could bring, entrusted me with transforming his ragtag army into a disciplined fighting force. I was given the role of Inspector General, and I set to work immediately.

Now, I didn’t speak English very well, but I did know how to command. With the help of translators, I developed a training manual and began drilling the soldiers myself. We started with basic formations and movements—marching in step, loading and firing muskets efficiently, and establishing proper camp sanitation. My methods were rigorous, but I trained them as if they were European soldiers, focusing on precision, order, and obedience. Soon enough, the soldiers began to improve, their morale rising as they saw themselves becoming a true army.

By the time spring arrived, the Continental Army had transformed. They were no longer a collection of farmers with muskets, but a cohesive unit capable of standing against the British. I had instilled in them a sense of pride and professionalism, which they carried with them into the battles to come.

Though I did not fight at Saratoga—that victory came before I joined the American cause—I played a crucial role in the training that enabled the Continental Army to ultimately succeed. The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point in the war, and it was the efforts of men like General Horatio Gates and others that secured the American victory there. However, the army that would go on to win the war for independence was one that I helped mold.

My time with the American forces continued throughout the war. I trained officers, refined military procedures, and remained by Washington's side until the end of the conflict. After the war, I settled in America, my adopted homeland, and though my contributions were often behind the scenes, they were critical to the eventual success of the revolution.

So, while my name might not be attached to a singular battle like Saratoga, my work laid the foundation for the professional American military, one that would not only win its independence but stand strong for years to come.

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