Inspector General Baron von Steuben: the openly gay military strategist who remade the Revolutionary Army
General Washington didn’t care about von Steuben’s private life; he was losing the war!
Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben
Photo by Charles Wilson Peale, 1780
Issue #218 American History January 10, 2023
As the new Republican House Majority outlines its priorities, one of them is to remake America’s “woke” military. Many Republicans and right-wing commentators previously stated that the United States military, the greatest and strongest in the world since at least World War I, should fashion itself after the Russian military. Since then, the much smaller Ukrainian military has embarrassed the Russians who are illegally invading them, pushing back the “non-woke” Russians at every turn.
So, how’s that call for America’s military to be more like Russia’s turning out?
Just as gay people have been a part of society since the beginning of civilization, gay people have been part of the American military since the beginning.
Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben was an officer in the Prussian army during the Seven Years War. During that time he learned training tactics that the British and French armies of that time did not know. He was given the title “Baron” after he was discharged from the Prussian army for “reasons unknown.” Uh, huh… von Steuben tried to get hired by several European armies, but to no avail.
Finally, in the summer of 1777, he met with Benjamin Franklin, who was in Paris at the time, hoping he could find work with the Continental Army in America. Franklin introduced von Steuben to General Washington with a letter of recommendation, and by February 23, 1778, von Steuben reported for duty to General Washington at Valley Forge.
Both Franklin and Washington had heard the rumors that von Steuben was gay, but the fact that he could help with the war effort was much more important to them.
The article continues below.
No intrusive ads or annoying popups ever! Instead, please see the important information below and at the bottom of this post. That’s how we grow and sustain this publication. AND, please keep those “Likes” and comments coming! Thanks!
There is new lower pricing for the paid levels!
Paid subscribers with the Substack app are invited to participate in the W.A.S. Chat Room to discuss today’s post.
All posts are free for seven days after their publication. To read all older posts, including the complete archive, and to support us financially, please consider upgrading your subscription to a paid level. Save 17% with an annual subscription. Thank you for your support!
The article continues…
How Baron von Steuben turned volunteer soldiers into the winning Revolutionary Army
At the time, the volunteer soldiers under General George Washington were a poorly trained, poorly outfitted, ragtag group of untrained men. When von Steuben arrived at the camp at Valley Forge, he was appalled by the conditions under which the soldiers were living and fighting.
By January 1777, more of Washington’s men were dying of disease than from war wounds, especially from smallpox. George Washington then mandated that all troops be vaccinated against smallpox. Vaccinations in the 18th century were much more “primitive” than today, and the Continental Congress actually prohibited vaccinations in 1776. But General Washington went against Congress, stating that the inconveniences and disadvantages of being vaccinated were outweighed by the vast numbers of illnesses and deaths from smallpox. By the spring of 1777, not a single regiment was incapacitated by smallpox.
One of the first things von Steuben did in 1778 was to develop new standards for camp sanitation and camp layouts that were still being used by the American military 150 years later.
The tents and huts in the camp were previously set up in no particular order, and the men relieved themselves anywhere they wished. If an animal died, it was stripped of its meat and the rest was left to rot where it lay.
von Steuben laid out a plan for different rows of tents for commanders, officers, and enlisted men. The kitchens and the latrines were relocated to opposite sides of the camp.
von Steuben also divided the troops into “companies,” starting with a group of 100 carefully chosen men to train first. Then those trained men successively trained each brigade after they had been outfitted with full military dress uniforms. He replaced the then-existing policy of placing recruits in a unit before they had been trained with a system of progressive training in the school of the soldier through the school of the regiment.
Once the soldier could handle himself and his musket he was placed in groups of three, then in groups of twelve, and taught to wheel and to dress to the right and to the left. Alignment and dressing the ranks were emphasized but only because the proper alignment was necessary for the smooth firing of the muskets.
During the winter of 1778-1779, von Steuben prepared "Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States," also known as the "Blue Book." The basis of the document was the plan he devised at Valley Forge. von Steuben's training manual and tactics were used in the War of 1812 and at West Point Military Academy to this day.
Yes, von Steuben was gay, but…
According to History.com, Washington wrote, “He appears to be much of a gentleman, and as far as I have had an opportunity of judging, a man of military knowledge, and acquainted with the world.”
von Steuben drilled the soldiers with the strict Prussian army techniques but also socialized with the troops.
He threw sexually charged parties, and had “relationships with other men.”
But von Steuben also proved himself to be a heroic addition to the Continental Army. As the Inspector General, he remade the army to be much more efficient, and eventually became chief of staff to George Washington.
Baron von Steuben is considered instrumental in helping the Americans win the Revolutionary War. Many of his strict training methods are still being taught in America’s military to this day.
After the end of the war, von Steuben was granted United States citizenship and moved to New York with two of his aides. He legally “adopted” his aides who lived with him, a common practice in LGBT circles back then, and some of his adult “children” inherited his estate when he died in 1794.
In the 18th century, sodomy was a crime, but romantic relationships between men were common, well-known, and widely tolerated. It was only in the early 20th century that the military began to officially discriminate against people suspected of being gay.
Inspector General Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben helped General George Washington to save the Continental Army and the Revolutionary War, but because he was one of early America’s most open LBGT figures, his contributions are largely forgotten today.
So while the right-wing politicians and pundits are doing everything they can to demonize, attack, and erase the LGBT population in America, openly gay military officers have served honorably and effectively from Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben in the 18th century to Treasury Secretary Pete Buttigieg (former two-time mayor of South Bend, Indiana and a former officer in the U.S. Navy who deployed to Afghanistan in 2014) in the 21st century.
Help us to grow our We Are Speaking Substack!
Don’t Forget! If you have the W.A.S. app for iOS and Android, you can listen to each article by clicking the little headset icon. You can also participate in the W.A.S. Chat (for paid subscribers only).
There are many benefits to using the W.A.S. app, including the ability to listen to our posts and podcast episodes straight from the app.
Paid Subscribers: Join us in the new W.A.S. Chat!
Have you thought about starting a Substack publication of your own? It’s quick, easy, and free!
I am concentrating much more on my Instagram account. Please click the link to follow me on my ‘Gram.
I am also now on the new, left-leaning, and easy-to-use “Bird Alternative” blogging site called POST. You can follow me there. (Your wait to be admitted will be much shorter than the usual week or so with my dedicated invite below…)
You can always leave any questions in the comments or email us.
Free posts are available for 7 days after publication. Adjust or upgrade your subscription to the paid level here. Pay less than 14¢ per post per month for the 36 monthly articles and podcast episodes. Thank you for your financial support!
Read Detroit Stories Quarterly by Keith Owens, et al.
Check out the Global Creative Community Branding and Marketing Academy (GCC BMA) offering courses and group coaching for independent writers and creative and solo professionals.