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He had a major impact on the existence and efficiency of our army. Von Steuben was a Prussian officer and drill master who arrived at Valley Forge in February, 1778 to train the army. Instead of the existing policy of placing recruits in a unit before they had received training, Von Steuben introduced a system of progressive training. He broke the troops into small groups and trained them in guerilla warfare, which proved to be an invaluable method of fighting, since we had a relatively small number of troops to fight the large powerful British army.
He turned disorganized army into a disciplined, organized, highly trained army that became a powerful striking force of great precision. He organized and disciplined the forces so efficiently that he was thanked by Congress.
Von Steuben, who in 1778 was given the title of Inspector General, motivated the men through affection and idealism which lowered the danger of desertion. His methods also encouraged longer voluntary enlistments. These were imperative aspects of maintaining an army.
He wrote an army training manual, called "Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States", known as the "Blue Book". Although this Manual has been modified, it still remains in the basic guide for the discipline and drill of the Army. It was, like von Steuben, invaluable to the army.
Because combat was at close range, speed of firing and re-loading was of great importance. Von Steuben's manual dealt with this in specific, precise detail.
On June 28, 1778, Von Steuben's training was put to test when the American troops encountered the British Army near Monmouth Courthouse in the town of Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey. What seemed to be a certain defeat turned into a patriot victory and a turning point in the war due to the tactics taught by Von Steuben. This battle was followed by victories in Stony Point and Yorktown, where the British finally surrendered.
Another program developed by Steuben was standards of camp sanitation. This was critical in preventing diseases. He also and camp layouts that were still the standard a century and a half later. This organized the layout of tents and roads, better organizing deployment and camp functions.
One of Steuben's biggest contribution to the American Revolution was training in the use of the bayonet, which became crucial. Until then, they used the bayonets as skewers for their food, or as tools. In the Battle of Stony Point, (a critical location on the Hudson River in New York) American soldiers attacked with unloaded rifles and won the battle solely on Steuben's bayonet training.
Steuben's military services in America are recorded in General John McCauley Palmer's biography on Steuben by his statement:
"...In the course of my researches I was soon convinced that the military services of two men, and two men only, can be regarded as indispensable to the achievement of American independence. These two men were Washington and Steuben. When I say that their military services were indispensable, I mean that each of them contributed something essential to final victory, that could not have been contributed by any other man in the American Army..."
For more on Von Steuben, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Wilhelm_von_Steuben
and : http://www.bergencountyhistory.org/Pages/gnsteuben.html
He had a major impact on the existence and efficiency of our army. Von Steuben was a Prussian officer and drill master who arrived at Valley Forge in February, 1778 to train the army. Instead of the existing policy of placing recruits in a unit before they had received training, Von Steuben introduced a system of progressive training. He broke the troops into small groups and trained them in guerilla warfare, which proved to be an invaluable method of fighting, since we had a relatively small number of troops to fight the large powerful British army.
He turned disorganized army into a disciplined, organized, highly trained army that became a powerful striking force of great precision. He organized and disciplined the forces so efficiently that he was thanked by Congress.
Von Steuben, who in 1778 was given the title of Inspector General, motivated the men through affection and idealism which lowered the danger of desertion. His methods also encouraged longer voluntary enlistments. These were imperative aspects of maintaining an army.
He wrote an army training manual, called "Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States", known as the "Blue Book". Although this Manual has been modified, it still remains in the basic guide for the discipline and drill of the Army. It was, like von Steuben, invaluable to the army.
Because combat was at close range, speed of firing and re-loading was of great importance. Von Steuben's manual dealt with this in specific, precise detail.
On June 28, 1778, Von Steuben's training was put to test when the American troops encountered the British Army near Monmouth Courthouse in the town of Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey. What seemed to be a certain defeat turned into a patriot victory and a turning point in the war due to the tactics taught by Von Steuben. This battle was followed by victories in Stony Point and Yorktown, where the British finally surrendered.
Another program developed by Steuben was standards of camp sanitation. This was critical in preventing diseases. He also and camp layouts that were still the standard a century and a half later. This organized the layout of tents and roads, better organizing deployment and camp functions.
One of Steuben's biggest contribution to the American Revolution was training in the use of the bayonet, which became crucial. Until then, they used the bayonets as skewers for their food, or as tools. In the Battle of Stony Point, (a critical location on the Hudson River in New York) American soldiers attacked with unloaded rifles and won the battle solely on Steuben's bayonet training.
Steuben's military services in America are recorded in General John McCauley Palmer's biography on Steuben by his statement:
"...In the course of my researches I was soon convinced that the military services of two men, and two men only, can be regarded as indispensable to the achievement of American independence. These two men were Washington and Steuben. When I say that their military services were indispensable, I mean that each of them contributed something essential to final victory, that could not have been contributed by any other man in the American Army..."
For more on Von Steuben, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Wilhelm_von_Steuben
and : http://www.bergencountyhistory.org/Pages/gnsteuben.html
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