1To George Washington from Steuben, 6 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed Copy of a Letter whose Original I Shall have the honor to present to your Excellency, will instruct you of the motives that brought me over to this Land. I shall add only to it that the Object of my greatest Ambition is to render your Country all the Services in my Power, and to deserve the title of a Citizen of America by fighting for the Cause of your Liberty. If the...
2To George Washington from Steuben, 25 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
With regard to the first question —We are to examine whether the Enemy may expect formidable Succours—if that be the case we ought to reinforce the army with the greatest dispatch, and strike a daring blow before those Succours arrive—The enemys force is estimated at 10000 men—if ours is under 20000 rank and file, the enterprise would be hazardous, and by exposing ourselves to a general action...
3To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 17 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
It gives me great Satisfaction to see that Your Excellency has taken Such a wise Step in my Department as to engage the General Officers and Field Officers of Regiments to take the Command of the Troops in our daily Exercise: Nothing could be more useful in the present moment —I had wished some time ago it might Soon be the Case, but in the meanwhile, I was endeavoring with the Gentlemen under...
4To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 18 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
My opinion on the different propositions offered for consideration in council yesterday —is as follows. The Intelligence we have hitherto received of the enemys movements, does not sufficiently assure us of his designs, to warrant an enterprise upon Philadelphia—and I believe it would be prudent not to abandon our position without being certain of the evacuation of the city—It would be still...
5To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 25 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here this morning and found Genl Scott waiting intelligence, which has since arrived that the Enemy lay last night in two Columns one at Allens Town the other at Imlays Town, this morning about Eight oClock the Column from Imlays Town moved & took the Road to Monmouth Court House, we have not yet received any intelligence of the Column at Allens Town—Colo. Moylan has just arrived...
6To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 27 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
We arrived here this morning & it being the best position we can find to observe the motions of the Enemy—have remain’d—we have advanced our parties so near as to fire a Pistol at their Horsemen whilst feeding their Horses—They now lay encamped one Line on the main Road by the Court House & another Line extended on their left from the head of their Column which is not advanced One hundred &...
7To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 24 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency having been pleased to order me in the General Orders of 22d Instant to resume my Office of Inspector General & make my Arrangements accordingly, I beg leave to refer you to my letter of 17th June on the subject of the Inspection & to your kind Answer of 18th in which you granted me permission to go to York Town & desired me to lay before Congress such a Plan as would be most...
8To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 1 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I cannot any longer defer acknowledging the many favors I have received from you & expressing my desire of your Excellencys continuing the same favorable sentiments towards me. Immediately after my arrival here Congress were pleased to appoint a Committee to hear my Proposals—the Committee consists of Gen. Reed Mrss. Boudinot & Chace, & meet for the first time on saturday 8th Inst.; in the...
9To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 18 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Enemys preparatives at New York—announce either an expedition really meditated—or perhaps only a Feigned one. In the first case let us examine what their plans may be. The first and most interesting is an expedition against Boston and the french Squadron—Six or Seven thousand men might be detached from New York—and the same number would remain to defend the island against all the Force...
10To George Washington from Steuben, 6 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Steuben, 6 Dec. 1778. On 19 Dec., GW wrote Steuben : “I had the honor of receiving a few days since your letter of the 6th instant.”
11To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 10 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Major General Steuben, 10 Feb. 1779. GW wrote Steuben on 26 Feb. : “Capt. Walker delivered me your favor of the 10th inst. with the Sequel of your Manuscript.”
12To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 5 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencys obliging favor of 26 Ulto was handed me by Cap. Walker with the first part of the Regulations for the Exercise of the Infantry. I am much obliged by your Excellencys remarks on that Manuscript which I have corrected agreable thereto, and that it may not be defficient in perspicuity and correctness of diction I have submitted it to the Correction of a Gentleman in Town in order...
13To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 17 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s approbation of the Regulations I had the honor of presenting, gives me the greatest hopes that they will be easily reduced to practice, and prove agreeable to the Army. Encouraged by this hope, I Shall immediately present them to Congress for their Sanction. As I am convinced of the necessity of the Regulations taking place as soon as possible, your Excellency may depend I...
14To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 31 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
In my last I had the honor of informing your Excellency that the Regulations would be printed by the middle of April, till which time I proposed staying here in order to hurry the Work as much as possible. I did not then foresee a Thousand little things that retard the progress of the work & which now convince me it will be the last of April before it can be finished, I have therefore...
15To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Steuben, 22 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letters not found : from Maj. Gen. Steuben, 22 June 1779. GW wrote Steuben on 1 July: “I have been favoured with four letters from you three of the 22d and one of the 27th.”
16To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Steuben, 27 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Gen. Steuben, 27 June 1779. GW wrote Steuben on 1 July: “I have been favoured with four letters from you three of the 22d and one of the 27th.”
17To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Steuben, 29 June 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Gen. Steuben, 29 June 1779. GW wrote Steuben on 1 July: “The proposals towards a monthly inspection contained in … your letter of the 29th appear in general to be very eligible.”
18To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 20 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Genl McDougall return’d me yesterday the Inclos’d Plan for the formation of the Massachusets & North Carolina Brigades which he assures me will be perfectly agreable to the Commanding Officers of Regiments If your Excellency approves it, it may be publishd in orders & take place immediately. The movement of Genl Heaths Division & the late expedition of the Light Corps has hitherto prevented...
19To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Our present situation is nearly the same as it was at the opening of the campaign. The enemy are still superior in number, their troops better provided. They possess more means of executing their projects by the help of their vessels. They are masters of our coast and of the entrance of the North River. The capture of Stoney Point has given a great advantage to our side. It has not only...
20To Benjamin Franklin from the Baron von Steuben, 28 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: New-York Historical Society I take the Liberty of transmitting you a few Copies of the Regulations published last Winter for the service of the Infantry. As this Work has been made under my Direction, I must let you know that Circumstances have obliged me to deviate from the Principles adopted in the European Armies, Such as the formation in Two Ranks, the Weakness of our Battalions &c....
21To Benjamin Franklin from Wilhelm Augustine von Steuben, 29 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS and translation: American Philosophical Society Vôtre Excellence voudra bien me pardonner avec bonté Si je recourre de nouveau à Elle. Mon fils frederic Wilhelm von Steuben m’à marqué quil s’étoit engagé en Septembre 1777. au Service amériquain en qualité de General, & il m’à addressé à Mr. de Beaumarchais. Cependant depuis lors je n’ay reçû aucune nouvelle ny réponce. Comme par ce moyen je...
22Steuben’s Plan for Preventing Desertion, [December] 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
[ Without place or date ] In a long war the difficulty and expense of raising men increases, and “every possible means should be employed for the preservation of the Men after they are raised.” The incomplete state of the regiments obliges one regiment to be shifted into another, destroying the attachment between officers and men “which is necessary for their preservation.” The officers,...
23Enclosure: Major General Steuben to the Board of War, January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Delivered to the Board of War by Major General steuben on Friday Jany 28th 1780. The incomplete state & Extreme inequality of our Regiments of Infantry, against all good Order and regular formation, induced me last Campaign to present to H[is] E[xcellency] the Commander in Chief a Plan of formation for an Order of Battle, in which I joined Two and three Regiments together in Order to form a...
24Enclosure: List of Returns Requested by the Board of War, January 1780 (Washington Papers)
The following Returns are to be sent immediately to the Board of War. Infantry 1. a General Return of the Number of Serjeants, Privates & Drummers & fifers whose times of Enlistment will expire by the first of July next Regimentally digested. 2d A like Return of the men employed out of the Regts as in the Commanders in Chiefs Guard, Waiters on Officers who are absent from their Regiments and...
25To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 26–30 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
Being arrived here on the night of Saturday the 22d Inst. I delivered next Day Early in the morning Your Excellency’s Letter to the President of Congress, & I am informed but to day that the Board of War is charged to Confer with me on the present State of the Army. I do not know as yet what this Conference will tend to, There is a talk of a Committee being to repair to Camp, in Order to give...
26To Benjamin Franklin from Wilhelm Augustine von Steuben: résumé, 11 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Cüstrin, February 11, 1780, in German: I have received and thank you for your letter of November 21. I am sad to announce that my dear wife has been taken by God at age 73. Please forward the enclosed letter to my son.> Or Küstrin, on the Oder. For BF ’s letter, actually Nov. 27, see XXX , 617–18n. Mary Dorothea von Jagow (1706–80) married the senior von...
27To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 12 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor to write last to Your Excellency, I have heard nothing from Congress on the Army but the Resolves which I send you here inclosed. They have I doubt not been already sent to Your Excellency, & I would have transmitted them to you sooner, had I not been prevented by a fit of Sickness which has kept me these four or five Days, and does Still Continue. I beg you will Excuse...
28To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 14 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Day before I had the honor of receiving Your Excellency’s Letter of the 8th instant, I had sent you a Copy of the Resolutions of Congress, wherein was the number of Men which each state is to furnish for next Campaign If, as I hope, the Officers are not included, & if the Number of Men to be Employed out of the Line of Battalions, does not Exceed the proportion, our Army will be...
29To George Washington from Major General Steuben, 23 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Delay which must result from collecting the Returns of all the dispersed Corps which you mention in your Letter of the 18th inst. is a difficulty which I apprehended as soon as I Saw the Resolutions of Congress on that Object. Besides that it will be almost impossible to make out those Returns with the necessary Exactness, We shall Certainly lose two months at a Time when we ought not to...
30Enclosure: Major General Steuben’s “Proposals for the formation of our Army for the next Campaign,” 13–15 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
The distribution of the Number of Men, which Each State is to furnish for next Campaign, permits us to Complete our Regiments of Infantry in the Line, to a Number, indeed, Below the Establishment, but which puts it, however in our Power to form Each Regiment into a Battalion, without changing the Principles of Formation, already Established in the Regulations. If We put Each Regiment on the...