Nthe blue book baron von steuben

He spent most of his early youth in poland, in the crimea and at kronstadt on the gulf of finland, and at age ten, when the family returned to germany, he was sent to breslau for an education. At the shallowest level, it is a primary source for revolutionary war and war of 1812 reenactors. Since he was from germany and since he taught the manual of arms and orders of march to the american army during the revolution, it is assumed that he was a precise martinet, a perfect prussian. During the winter of 17781779, i prepared regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the united states, also known as the blue book. He served as inspector general and a major general of the continental army during the american revolutionary war. Before his arrival in valley forge in 1778, the colonies were on the path to defeat. Steuben was born in magdeburg, the son of a prussian military officer, and educated in. This blue book of military regulations would be approved by congress in march 1779 and used by the united states army until 1814. The title of the manual was regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the united states. The life and legacy of the prussian general who drilled the. Speaking virtually no english and at an unexpected ebb in his professional fortunes, steuben nevertheless brought a depth of military training and grasp of command techniques sorely needed by the bedraggled, ragtag army. The blue books guidelines on personnel management replaced the british model of. At the age of 33, in 1763, steuben was discharged as a captain from the army, for.

With the prince short on funds, he accompanied him to france in 1771 with the hope of securing a loan. After 230 years, the blue book still guides ncos article the. Toward the end of february, 1778, steuben presented himself to the general at. Order and discipline of the troops of the united states, also known as the blue book. Discipline of the troops of the united states, also known as the blue book. German officer who, during the revolutionary war, which soon became the blue book for the entire army and served as. Regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of. The prussian nobleman who helped save the american. Our work has been featured by the new york times, time magazine, history channel, discovery channel, smithsonian, mental floss, npr, and more. Regulations for the order and discipline of troops of the united states blue book. Bookprinted material regulations for the order and discipline of the. For 34 years, 17781812 this was the book for the u. The only problem i have with the book is its such an exact reproduction, it uses the uncrossed lowercase f instead of s, which takes a lot of not quite getting used.

When he was ten, his family returned to germany, where friedrich attended school. Steubens book was much more than a blue book of military regulations and procedures. Bf two years earlier had provided steuben with a letter of introduction to washington. The blue book remained the official guide to military training and maneuvers until it was replaced in 1812. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected.

Steuben enclosed a copy of a letter from benjamin franklin and silas deane to gw, written at passy near paris on 4 sept. Regulations for the order and discipline of troops of the united states. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. The deception furthered the careers of many generation of his family. He spent most of his life from birth to age ten with his father, a military man, stationed in russia. More commonly know as the blue book this publication was key to organizing the young american military in the revolutionary war with england. However, the british had actually been in virginia since january 1781 with 2,000 men under benedict arnold. Franklin wrote him a letter of introduction to george washington, the commanding general of the continental army. He served in the prussian army until 1763, when he was discharged for unclear reasons. At the age of ten, he returned to germany and at the age of 17 he had joined the infantry unit of the prussian army. The first printer decided to bind the book with the blue paper he had on hand. Thats how this article began last year, and since its publication, no accredited historian has refuted its main theme. Journal of the american revolution is the leading source of knowledge about the american revolution and founding era. Each militia operated by its own rules and regulations.

In 1777, steuben volunteered his services to benjamin franklin to. This book talks about his history growing up and how he got into the military in prussia. At age 10 he returned to germany and attended more formal schooling. He then transcribed his teachings into a book, regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the united states, better known as, simply, the blue book. He lived in manhattan and was prominent in high society circles and also with common soldiers who frequented the many taverns and inns of new york. Army, so any reenactor interested in this period should start here. It became the armys first set of regulations and many of the guidelines therein are still upheld today. Steuben was not a baron, but the son of an engineer lieutenant. The troops came out of valley forge far stronger and more prepared for war.

It became known as the blue book, and it was used by the united states army until 1814. Librivox recording of regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the united states. Following this exercise, steuben published his drill instructions in a manual that was published in 1779 and widely distributed throughout the continental army. This inexpensive facsimile reproduces the extremely rare 1794 edition of steubens drill manual, published. He served in the seven years war and was a general staff officer. Regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the united states philadelphia, 1779, popularly known as the blue book. According to reports from benjamin franklin, writing from his post in france, steuben was a lieutenant general from a noble prussian family who had served his ruler, frederick the great, faithfully on the battlefield and who now lived on income from his numerous estates.