German officer who, during the revolutionary war, which soon became the blue book for the entire army and served as. At the shallowest level, it is a primary source for revolutionary war and war of 1812 reenactors. It became the armys first set of regulations and many of the guidelines therein are still upheld today. Commonly known as the armys blue book, this basic manual of military training and procedures remained the official u. Discipline of the troops of the united states, also known as the blue book. Regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the united states philadelphia, 1779, popularly known as the blue book.
Steuben enclosed a copy of a letter from benjamin franklin and silas deane to gw, written at passy near paris on 4 sept. He served as inspector general and a major general of the continental army during the american revolutionary war. Steuben was born in magdeburg, the son of a prussian military officer, and educated in. Regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of. Regulations for the order and discipline of troops of the united states. Regulations for the order and discipline of troops of the united states blue book. It became known as the blue book, and it was used by the united states army until 1814. With the prince short on funds, he accompanied him to france in 1771 with the hope of securing a loan. At the age of 33, in 1763, steuben was discharged as a captain from the army, for.
He served in the prussian army until 1763, when he was discharged for unclear reasons. This blue book of military regulations would be approved by congress in march 1779 and used by the united states army until 1814. However, the british had actually been in virginia since january 1781 with 2,000 men under benedict arnold. According to reports from benjamin franklin, writing from his post in france, steuben was a lieutenant general from a noble prussian family who had served his ruler, frederick the great, faithfully on the battlefield and who now lived on income from his numerous estates. The prussian nobleman who helped save the american. At the age of ten, he returned to germany and at the age of 17 he had joined the infantry unit of the prussian army. He then transcribed his teachings into a book, regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the united states, better known as, simply, the blue book. The title of the manual was regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the united states. Speaking virtually no english and at an unexpected ebb in his professional fortunes, steuben nevertheless brought a depth of military training and grasp of command techniques sorely needed by the bedraggled, ragtag army. Since he was from germany and since he taught the manual of arms and orders of march to the american army during the revolution, it is assumed that he was a precise martinet, a perfect prussian. Army, so any reenactor interested in this period should start here. He lived in manhattan and was prominent in high society circles and also with common soldiers who frequented the many taverns and inns of new york. This book talks about his history growing up and how he got into the military in prussia.
More commonly know as the blue book this publication was key to organizing the young american military in the revolutionary war with england. After 230 years, the blue book still guides ncos article the. Due to the war, however, there was a scarcity of paper. This manual became commonly known as the armys blue book. He spent most of his life from birth to age ten with his father, a military man, stationed in russia. The life and legacy of the prussian general who drilled the. The deception furthered the careers of many generation of his family. Before his arrival in valley forge in 1778, the colonies were on the path to defeat. The only problem i have with the book is its such an exact reproduction, it uses the uncrossed lowercase f instead of s, which takes a lot of not quite getting used. Toward the end of february, 1778, steuben presented himself to the general at. During the winter of 17781779, i prepared regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the united states, also known as the blue book. He served in the seven years war and was a general staff officer. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected.
When he was ten, his family returned to germany, where friedrich attended school. Franklin wrote him a letter of introduction to george washington, the commanding general of the continental army. Following this exercise, steuben published his drill instructions in a manual that was published in 1779 and widely distributed throughout the continental army. His drill manuals the original blue books were written in a military life.
In 1777, steuben volunteered his services to benjamin franklin to. Steuben was not a baron, but the son of an engineer lieutenant. The first printer decided to bind the book with the blue paper he had on hand. Librivox recording of regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the united states. His book, entitled regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the united states would become the standard u. The blue book remained the official guide to military training and maneuvers until it was replaced in 1812. The troops came out of valley forge far stronger and more prepared for war.
Our work has been featured by the new york times, time magazine, history channel, discovery channel, smithsonian, mental floss, npr, and more. Steubens book was much more than a blue book of military regulations and procedures. At age 10 he returned to germany and attended more formal schooling. Journal of the american revolution is the leading source of knowledge about the american revolution and founding era. The blue books guidelines on personnel management replaced the british model of. This inexpensive facsimile reproduces the extremely rare 1794 edition of steubens drill manual, published. Order and discipline of the troops of the united states, also known as the blue book. He spent most of his early youth in poland, in the crimea and at kronstadt on the gulf of finland, and at age ten, when the family returned to germany, he was sent to breslau for an education. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Bf two years earlier had provided steuben with a letter of introduction to washington. Each militia operated by its own rules and regulations. Thats how this article began last year, and since its publication, no accredited historian has refuted its main theme. For 34 years, 17781812 this was the book for the u. We feature smart, groundbreaking research and wellwritten narratives from expert writers.