Baron von Steuben to George Washington, [26 October 1787]
Baron von Steuben to George Washington
[October 26, 1787]
Sir
I have lately made a fresh application to Congress for a final settlement of my affairs on the ground of a contract made with that honorable body previous to my joining the American army.1 The particulars and the evidence of that contract are stated in a printed pamphlet2 a copy of which Mr. Hamilton informs me he has transmitted to your Excellency. I have been just informed that Congress intend making some inquiry of Your Excellency respecting a matter which they suppose will throw light upon the subject.3 I am glad of this reference, because though I doubt that it will be in your power to elucidate the question of the contract, I have entire confidence in your justice and favourable sentiments towards me as to any collateral point which may arise in the inquiry.
The truth is my situation is peculiarly grievous. The manner in which the compensations, I have received from the public have been dealt out to me, has been such as to prevent their having been of any use to me beyond a momentary supply. I trust I shall not be necessitated to abandon a country to which I am attached by the strongest ties to return to Europe destitute of resources with no consolation for my services but the right of complaining of the unkindness of those to whom they were rendered. Surely it cannot redound to the Credit of America to drive me to so painful an extremity. I am persuaded Your Excellencys feelings will not approve of my experiencing so ill-deserved a lot.
I have the honor to be With the most perfect respect and esteem Yr. Excellencys Most Obed & hum servant
Df, in writing of H, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
1. For an explanation of Baron von Steuben’s claims against the United States, see H to Washington, October 30, 1787. The Baron’s claim again had been taken up by Congress on October 6, 1787.
2. This undated, printed pamphlet is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, National Archives. See von Steuben to H, August–September, 1787.
3. The “enquiry” is explained in Washington to H, November 10, 1787. Washington wrote:
“Application has been made to me by Mr. Secretary [Charles] Thompson (by order of Congress) for a copy of ye report, of a Committee, which was appointed to confer with the Baron de Steuben, on his first arrival in this Country; forwarded to me by Mr. President [Henry] Laurens.”
The committee of Congress had been appointed in February, 1778, to confer with the Baron on the conditions under which he would serve in the Army. Von Steuben had given the committee his terms and had assumed that they had been accepted (, 123–25). Laurens, President of the Continental Congress, on February 19, 1778, sent Washington a copy of the report of the committee which had been appointed to confer with the Baron. Laurens’s letter is in , III, 91; the committee report which he enclosed is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, National Archives.