Nthe blue book baron von steuben

However, the british had actually been in virginia since january 1781 with 2,000 men under benedict arnold. This inexpensive facsimile reproduces the extremely rare 1794 edition of steubens drill manual, published. The prussian nobleman who helped save the american. Steuben enclosed a copy of a letter from benjamin franklin and silas deane to gw, written at passy near paris on 4 sept. 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. After 230 years, the blue book still guides ncos article the. We feature smart, groundbreaking research and wellwritten narratives from expert writers. At age 10 he returned to germany and attended more formal schooling. Discipline of the troops of the united states, also known as the blue book. At the shallowest level, it is a primary source for revolutionary war and war of 1812 reenactors. Bookprinted material regulations for the order and discipline of the.

Due to the war, however, there was a scarcity of paper. Regulations for the order and discipline of troops of the united states blue book. He spent most of his life from birth to age ten with his father, a military man, stationed in russia. When he was ten, his family returned to germany, where friedrich attended school. Steuben was not a baron, but the son of an engineer lieutenant. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the united states philadelphia, 1779, popularly known as the blue book. 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.

This manual became commonly known as the armys blue book. 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. This blue book of military regulations would be approved by congress in march 1779 and used by the united states army until 1814. German officer who, during the revolutionary war, which soon became the blue book for the entire army and served as. He served in the seven years war and was a general staff officer. Librivox recording of regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the united states. The life and legacy of the prussian general who drilled the. At the age of 33, in 1763, steuben was discharged as a captain from the army, for. Steubens book was much more than a blue book of military regulations and procedures. This book talks about his history growing up and how he got into the military in prussia. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Journal of the american revolution is the leading source of knowledge about the american revolution and founding era.

His drill manuals the original blue books were written in a military life. The troops came out of valley forge far stronger and more prepared for war. Franklin wrote him a letter of introduction to george washington, the commanding general of the continental army. Before his arrival in valley forge in 1778, the colonies were on the path to defeat. His book, entitled regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the united states would become the standard u. It became the armys first set of regulations and many of the guidelines therein are still upheld today. The blue book remained the official guide to military training and maneuvers until it was replaced in 1812. Toward the end of february, 1778, steuben presented himself to the general at. He served as inspector general and a major general of the continental army during the american revolutionary war. Regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of. 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.

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. Army, so any reenactor interested in this period should start here. Regulations for the order and discipline of troops of the united states. With the prince short on funds, he accompanied him to france in 1771 with the hope of securing a loan.

The first printer decided to bind the book with the blue paper he had on hand. 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. The blue books guidelines on personnel management replaced the british model of. Our work has been featured by the new york times, time magazine, history channel, discovery channel, smithsonian, mental floss, npr, and more. For 34 years, 17781812 this was the book for the u. 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. Each militia operated by its own rules and regulations. It became known as the blue book, and it was used by the united states army until 1814. Steuben was born in magdeburg, the son of a prussian military officer, and educated in.

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. In 1777, steuben volunteered his services to benjamin franklin to. Commonly known as the armys blue book, this basic manual of military training and procedures remained the official u. The title of the manual was regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the united states. Thats how this article began last year, and since its publication, no accredited historian has refuted its main theme. Bf two years earlier had provided steuben with a letter of introduction to washington. More commonly know as the blue book this publication was key to organizing the young american military in the revolutionary war with england. Order and discipline of the troops of the united states, also known as the blue book.