Consider Baron von Steuben. Here stands the Major General von Steuben Statue. It honors a Prussian soldier who greatly aided the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolutionary War.
The Major General von Steuben Statue is located in Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C. The statue is one of four honoring foreign heroes of the American Revolution. The others honor Comte de Rochambeau, Marquis de Lafayette, and Tadeusz Kościuszko.
Steuben was born Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben in 1730 in Magdeburg, Prussia. He gained military experience in the Prussian Army. He eventually became aide-de-camp to Frederick the Great.
In 1777, Steuben met Benjamin Franklin. Facing issues in Prussia, possibly due to alleged homosexual behavior, Steuben decided to fight in the American war.
Steuben arrived in New Hampshire in late 1777. He then met with the Continental Congress. He agreed to be paid after the war, depending on his performance.
At Valley Forge, Steuben met General George Washington. He was promoted to Inspector General. He transformed the unorganized army into a capable fighting force. Steuben implemented drills and worked directly with the troops. His efforts significantly improved the army. He was then promoted to major general.
In 1779, Congress approved his book Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States. Steuben served actively again, fighting in the Southern Campaign. He led a division at the Siege of Yorktown. After the American victory, he resigned his position.
After the war, Steuben was granted land in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York. He spent his final years in New York. He passed away in 1794.
Plans to honor foreign heroes with statues in Lafayette Square began in the late 1890s. An Act of Congress in 1903 led to the creation of the Major General von Steuben Statue. The statue’s erection cost $50,000.
Albert Jaegers, a German American, sculpted the statue. Cass Gilbert and T. R. Johnson helped design the base. The Major General von Steuben Statue was unveiled on December 7, 1910. The ceremony was attended by about 10,000 people, including President William Howard Taft.
The bronze Major General von Steuben Statue stands 10 feet tall. It depicts Steuben in his Continental Army uniform. The pink granite base is adorned with reliefs and bronze figures. The base features inscriptions recognizing Steuben’s service to the American people.
A replica of the Major General von Steuben Statue was presented to Germany in 1911. It was erected in Potsdam but later melted down. Replicas were installed in West Berlin in 1987 and Potsdam after German reunification.
The Major General von Steuben Statue is part of the American Revolution Statuary. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It is also a contributing property to the L’Enfant Plan and the Lafayette Square Historic District.
The statue shows Steuben inspecting troops at Valley Forge. He is heavily cloaked against the winter. Steuben’s manual, the US Army’s Blue Book, is still in use today. He is known as the Father of Military Instruction.
Steuben had close relationships with young men. His partners William North and Benjamin Walker are on the monument.
The Major General von Steuben Statue stands as a testament to a remarkable man. He helped shape the American military.