1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: Welcome to Noble Blood, a production of iHeartRadio and Grimm 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:11,040 Speaker 1: and Mild from Aaron Mankey listener discretion advised. On the 3 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: chilly morning of February twenty fourth, seventeen seventy eight, in 4 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,400 Speaker 1: the middle of one of the worst winters of the 5 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: American Revolutionary War, a carriage emerged from the Pennsylvanian wilderness 6 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 1: and drove up towards the army's camp. After a long 7 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: ride from York, Pennsylvania, Baron Friederic William von Steuben and 8 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:39,879 Speaker 1: his aides de camp finally arrived at Valley Forge. For 9 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 1: our American listeners, that name might ring a bell. Valley 10 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: Forge was the winter camp for the Continental Army during 11 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:53,520 Speaker 1: the thick of the American Revolutionary War, and this particular 12 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: winter has gone down in infamy for the horrible conditions 13 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: the soldiers faced, But the baron didn't know just yet 14 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:07,479 Speaker 1: what he had gotten himself into. As the army camp 15 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:12,119 Speaker 1: came into view, the Baron's heart started racing with excitement. 16 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:16,759 Speaker 1: The noise of the nearly two thousand acre campgrounds grew 17 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 1: louder as the baron and his men rode in the 18 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:24,320 Speaker 1: sounds of thousands of soldiers alongside The many women and 19 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 1: other noncombatants at the camp were so familiar to the baron. 20 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 1: He had missed the routine and camaraderie of the military 21 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 1: immensely after a decade without military employment of wandering around 22 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: the continent. It felt like he was finally returning home. 23 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: He had journeyed all the way from Paris to be here, 24 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 1: a trip that had taken many months of excruciating travel. 25 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 1: With the camp now in sight, he was practically champing 26 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: at the bit to get back into the thick of it. 27 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 1: General George Washington rode out to welcome the noble newcomer 28 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: and his caravan. After perfunctory pleasantries, the General led the 29 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 1: baron into camp. Their ride together was rather quiet, as 30 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: George Washington had much on his mind, but the Baron's 31 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: anticipation and excitement buoyed both of their spirits. That excitement 32 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: was soon replaced with the sobering realization of what life 33 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: at Valley Forge actually looked like. In a letter written 34 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 1: that winter, Washington described the conditions as quote little less 35 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,799 Speaker 1: than a famine. The supply chains for the camp's food 36 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:46,919 Speaker 1: and clothing had broken down, so there was barely any 37 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: clothing to keep people warm. Or food for them to eat. 38 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 1: For that matter, the little food that did make it 39 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: to camp arrived rotted. People were so desperate that they 40 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 1: had taken to boyling whatever leather they could find, just 41 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:06,919 Speaker 1: so they could have something to eat. Soldiers lay around 42 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:11,799 Speaker 1: half dressed on the brink of frostbite, and two thousand 43 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: men had already succumbed to hunger, typhoid, or dysentery. One 44 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:22,519 Speaker 1: congressional delegate described the soldiers at Valley Forge as this 45 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: skeleton of an army. Thank god, it wasn't raining or 46 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: snowing when the Baron arrived, but there wasn't much else 47 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 1: to redeem the state of the military camp. Upon arriving 48 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 1: at his cabin, the Baron reflected on the work before him. 49 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: He was assigned the monumental task of turning this motley 50 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: ragtag army into a trained military machine. Before he let 51 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 1: his worries consume him, he decided that work would begin tomorrow. 52 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 1: He poured himself a glass of whiskey, settled into a 53 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 1: chair by the fire, and relished his return to the military. 54 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 1: While he could, the familiar sounds of shouted commands and 55 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 1: ringing axes lulled him to sleep. Despite all of the 56 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:18,599 Speaker 1: obstacles in his path and the frankly pathetic state of 57 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 1: the army he had just enlisted in, Baron von Steuben 58 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 1: would practically save the Continental Army and be a major 59 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:32,479 Speaker 1: factor in allowing the colonists to win the American Revolution. 60 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:37,360 Speaker 1: He would turn the Continental Army into a disciplined and 61 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 1: formidable fighting force, build morale amongst the revolutionary forces, remedy 62 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 1: the supply chain issues that held them back, and write 63 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: the military handbook that still influences US military guidelines today. 64 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: But Baron von Steuben wasn't just a Prussian noble and 65 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,720 Speaker 1: a hero of the American Revolution. He was also a 66 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:05,600 Speaker 1: queer man who had immigrated to the United States in 67 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 1: search of opportunity. His story exemplifies the importance of immigrants 68 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: and queer people to the success of the United States, 69 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 1: even if some people prefer to pretend that they didn't exist. 70 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 1: With this episode, I think it's important to provide a 71 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 1: historical reminder that they always did. I'm Dana Schwartz, and 72 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 1: this is Noble Blood. Despite the United States having never 73 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:40,720 Speaker 1: been a monarchy. Here on Noble Blood, we find ourselves 74 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 1: occasionally telling stories about Americans who became nobles or nobility 75 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: who find their way to America. Take for example, our 76 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:54,039 Speaker 1: episode on the dollar Princesses of the Gilded Age, or 77 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:58,840 Speaker 1: our more recent episode entitled Count and Cavalry Commander about 78 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 1: Casimir Pulaski. As I mentioned in our episode about Pulaski, 79 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:07,719 Speaker 1: there were many Europeans who rushed to America to make 80 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 1: their fame and fortune during the Revolutionary War, including some 81 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 1: nobility like the Marquis de Lafayette and the subject of 82 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:21,480 Speaker 1: today's episode, Baron von Steuben. In order to explain how 83 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 1: the Baron came to be one of the most consequential 84 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 1: figures in the Revolutionary War, we must start with the 85 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:35,239 Speaker 1: Baron's life b a or before America. Everything about Baron 86 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 1: von Steuben's birth and upbringing predisposed him to becoming an 87 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:45,359 Speaker 1: influential military general. Baron von Steuben was born Friedrich Wilhelm 88 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:51,160 Speaker 1: Ludolph Gerhardt Augustine von Steuben, or Steuben as we americanize 89 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:57,040 Speaker 1: it most frequently, on September seventeenth, seventeen thirty in Madgeburg 90 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 1: in the Kingdom of Prussia, formerly somewhat of a small principality, 91 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: maybe even considered a European backwater. By the time the 92 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 1: baron was born, Prussia was a military superpower, and Von 93 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: Steuben was poised perfectly to take advantage of that accomplished 94 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:20,239 Speaker 1: Prussian position. Not only did he descend from a long 95 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 1: line of military men of the Yunker class or the 96 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 1: Prussian class of minor nobility, but the baron's father had 97 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: so distinguished himself in the military that Frederick the Great 98 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 1: had agreed to serve as the young Von Steuben's godfather, 99 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 1: hence the baron's first name Friedrich Wilhelm. Logically, as soon 100 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: as he could, at about sixteen, von Steuben enlisted in 101 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 1: the army. He served in the military for over fifteen years, 102 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 1: fighting in the Seven Years War, rising through the ranks 103 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: and showing immense promise as a military thinker. Suddenly, though, 104 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 1: Von Steuben's promising career was cut short as he was 105 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: discharged from the army in seventeen sixty three. Von Steuben 106 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: later admitted that he had gotten on the bad side 107 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: of one of his comrades, who was notorious for getting 108 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: his enemies discharged. Once he earned the rancorps of this 109 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 1: quote implacable enemy, there was no redemption, so forced out 110 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:29,679 Speaker 1: of the only profession he ever knew. Now without any 111 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: sense of purpose, Von Steuben drifted around Europe and kept 112 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 1: himself afloat with a variety of positions, just waiting really 113 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 1: for another opportunity to return to his true passion of 114 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:48,560 Speaker 1: military service. It was actually during this time that he 115 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:53,199 Speaker 1: acquired the title of baron, which is similar to modern knighthood, 116 00:08:53,520 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: from Princess Friedrika of Wurtemberg in May seventeen seventy seven. 117 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 1: After over a decade of taking whatever positions he could 118 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 1: to get by, the Baron happened to strike up a 119 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: conversation with an English cartographer who was an undercover agent 120 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:17,559 Speaker 1: for Benjamin Franklin, the new American ambassador to France. The 121 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: Englishman explained the rebellion currently going on in the British 122 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 1: colonies in America and encouraged the Baron to seek enlistment 123 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: in the Continental Army. Seeing at last an opportunity to 124 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 1: return to the military and even to achieve a high 125 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 1: ranking position, the Baron set out enthusiastically for Paris to 126 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 1: enlist with the by now famous Benjamin Franklin. Unfortunately, for 127 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 1: the Baron, enlisting would not be quite as easy as 128 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: he thought it would be. When the Baron arrived in 129 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 1: Paris to make his case for a commission in the 130 00:09:55,240 --> 00:10:01,199 Speaker 1: Continental Army, Benjamin Franklin refused his request. The baron couldn't 131 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:05,720 Speaker 1: have known, but he was just barely too late. So 132 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 1: many foreign mercenaries had enlisted in the Continental Army that 133 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:13,840 Speaker 1: the colonists were basically getting jealous of their commissions and 134 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:19,960 Speaker 1: growing frustrated. There were simply too many European noblemen trying 135 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 1: to fight in America, thus Franklin's refusal. The baron, however, 136 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 1: didn't know any of that, and was infuriated by the rebuff, 137 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 1: but his spirits were quickly buoyed by news that he 138 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:36,079 Speaker 1: had been summoned for an open position in the army 139 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:39,560 Speaker 1: at the court of the Mcgrave of Baden. The Baron 140 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:44,320 Speaker 1: departed for southern Germany promptly, and upon arriving at court, 141 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 1: he discovered, unfortunately, that a vicious rumor preceded him. Whispers 142 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:55,640 Speaker 1: told that while at Prince Joseph's court during his decade 143 00:10:55,760 --> 00:11:00,679 Speaker 1: or so without military employment, the baron had quote take 144 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:05,439 Speaker 1: in familiarities with young boys. In other words, the baron 145 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 1: was rumored to have had same sex sexual interactions. Let 146 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:15,920 Speaker 1: briefly digress from the baron's hectic early life to explain 147 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: a bit about sexual mores, particularly as it relates to homosexuality. 148 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 1: During this time period, in the Prussian court of Frederick 149 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:30,560 Speaker 1: the Great, who was openly only interested in men, homosexuality 150 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 1: was acceptable. It was still technically punishable by death, but 151 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:38,760 Speaker 1: amongst the court and in the military it was permissible 152 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 1: and even sometimes encouraged, as part of the masculine military 153 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:48,320 Speaker 1: machine that Frederick the Great built. Frederick the Great's brother, 154 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 1: Prince Henry, whom the Baron became friends with during his 155 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 1: time in the Prussian military, was also notorious for his 156 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 1: same sex dalliances. So the baron was raised in a 157 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 1: space that encouraged same sex relationships, and I'm sure this 158 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 1: was much appreciated by the Baron, who, as we will 159 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 1: discuss later, was almost certainly sexually attracted to other men. However, 160 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:16,839 Speaker 1: in America and most of the rest of Europe, open 161 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 1: homosexuality was very much frowned upon, even in hypermasculine spaces 162 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: like the military. Even though those claims against the baron 163 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 1: were never proven, the insidious rumor ruined the baron's chances 164 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 1: of any sort of job in that army. The baron 165 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 1: was understandably devastated by this blow to his reputation and career, 166 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,679 Speaker 1: just as he was about to get his long sought 167 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:47,839 Speaker 1: after military commission. However, he could not pout for long, 168 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 1: as he was summoned back to Paris. Promptly, Knowing the 169 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:57,319 Speaker 1: baron's impressive military pedigree, some French allies of the Americans 170 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 1: decided to do whatever necessary to get Baron von Steuben 171 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 1: to America and enlisted in their army. They embellished his 172 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:10,079 Speaker 1: resume a bit who among us, and framed his desire 173 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:14,400 Speaker 1: to enlist purely in support of the new American Republic 174 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 1: and the ideals it stood for. They covered his expenses 175 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 1: to sail across the Atlantic, and so in fall of 176 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: seventeen seventy seven, Baron von Steuben set sail for America. 177 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: Though he had been squarely shot down by Benjamin Franklin 178 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:35,640 Speaker 1: in his first attempt to enlist, Baron von Steuben was 179 00:13:35,679 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 1: received quite favorably by the Continental Congress. Once he got there, 180 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 1: they took little convincing and promptly granted von Steuben the 181 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 1: title of captain and directed him to join the army. 182 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 1: In Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. He was charged to be of 183 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:57,839 Speaker 1: use in planning encampments, et cetera, and promoting the discipline 184 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:01,920 Speaker 1: of the army, and that directive could not have come 185 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:08,920 Speaker 1: a moment too soon for the Continental Army. Now we're 186 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 1: back where we started the Baron's arrival at Valley Forge 187 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 1: to recap, conditions are dismal, and the Baron was there 188 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: to hopefully remedy everything, a tall task. For the first 189 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 1: three weeks after Baron von Steuben arrived in Valley Forge, 190 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 1: he set about observing the camp and noting all of 191 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 1: the things that could be improved upon. General Washington gave 192 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: him full reign to roam around, observe, and inquire about 193 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:40,840 Speaker 1: the state of camp. As he rode around on his horse, 194 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 1: with his dog Azure trotting alongside, he might have appeared 195 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 1: comically pompous, but instead he inspired dumbstruck wonder and awe 196 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 1: amongst the soldiers. Quote, never before or since have I 197 00:14:56,760 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 1: had such an impression of the ancient faith pep god 198 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: of war as when I looked on the Baron, wrote 199 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 1: a sixteen year old private named Ashville Green. He seemed 200 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 1: to me a perfect personification of mars, the trappings of 201 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 1: his horse, the enormous holsters of his pistols, his large size, 202 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 1: and his strikingly marital aspect all seemed to favor the idea. 203 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:29,640 Speaker 1: To the disorganized and underfed American soldiers, Von Steuben appeared 204 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:34,480 Speaker 1: the ideal of a winning, respected military leader, and that's 205 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: exactly the image the Baron hoped to project, even as 206 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 1: his head was filled with worries about the dramatic odds 207 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 1: he was facing in revamping Valley Forge. At the end 208 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 1: of his three weeks of observation, the baron showered General 209 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 1: Washington with his takeaways and advice. He had noticed that 210 00:15:56,000 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 1: the colonists fought with fury, but lacked the discipline and 211 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 1: skill to be a proper army. If they couldn't maneuver 212 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 1: and change formation or coordinate concentrated volleys, they would continue 213 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 1: to struggle up against the British Redcoats. They were uncomfortable 214 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: wielding bayonets, which some men had just fully removed from 215 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 1: their rusted muskets, and that's of the men who were 216 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 1: still there. Disorganization was so rampant that Von Steuben warned 217 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 1: Washington that if they had to mobilize the army. Then 218 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:33,680 Speaker 1: in there he might be commanding a third of the 219 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:37,480 Speaker 1: men he thought he had. Luckily, though, the Baron had 220 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: suggestions on how to make the infantry an effective weapon, 221 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 1: how to bolster camp security, how to improve valley forges fortifications, 222 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:54,479 Speaker 1: how they might tighten up supply management. Washington was sufficiently 223 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 1: impressed with the Baron's assessment and ordered him to start 224 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 1: making changes a meetly as the unofficial Inspector General. During 225 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:08,560 Speaker 1: those first few weeks, the baron found solace in a 226 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:13,720 Speaker 1: friendship with two young men, John Lawrence and Broadway's favorite 227 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:19,160 Speaker 1: Alexander Hamilton. Von Steuben couldn't speak English, but Lawrence and 228 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:24,040 Speaker 1: Hamilton both spoke French and could therefore act as interpreters 229 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:28,679 Speaker 1: and aides. Plus, the baron appreciated the young men's eagerness 230 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:31,520 Speaker 1: at his stories of his time in the Prussian Army. 231 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:35,959 Speaker 1: Hamilton and Lawrence weren't the only friends von Stuben made. 232 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:39,920 Speaker 1: In fact, he became a fast favorite in camp, not 233 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 1: only by asking regular infantrymen about their experience during the day, 234 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:48,199 Speaker 1: but also by inviting them to parties in his cabin 235 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:52,720 Speaker 1: in the evenings. And they sure did party. The baron 236 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:59,120 Speaker 1: served the men salamanders, cheap whiskey set on fire. Despite 237 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 1: his lesson instellar general assessment of the army, the Baron 238 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:07,920 Speaker 1: began to develop a deep appreciation for his new American comrades. 239 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:12,679 Speaker 1: He recognized that they were different from soldiers in European armies, 240 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 1: not serfs or subjects, but citizens with a stake in 241 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 1: this upstart country. In a letter to a Prussian friend, 242 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 1: Von Stuben observed, you say to your soldier, do this, 243 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:28,199 Speaker 1: and he do with it. But I am obliged to 244 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 1: say to the American soldier, this is the reason why 245 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 1: you ought to do that, and then he does it. 246 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:38,879 Speaker 1: Recognizing this unique feature of American soldiers would be a 247 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: boon to the Baron as he undertook reshaping the army. 248 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:48,119 Speaker 1: On the morning of March nineteenth, seventeen seventy eight, the 249 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 1: Baron began implementing his reforms. He started with what he 250 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: viewed as the most essential aspect of military success, uniformity, 251 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:02,959 Speaker 1: but teaching the entire army to march in sink before 252 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:08,280 Speaker 1: spring was essentially impossible. Instead of trying to train all 253 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 1: of the men at Valley Forge at the same time, 254 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 1: he pulled together a group of one hundred veteran soldiers 255 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 1: and taught them. Once they mastered the drills, like how 256 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:23,680 Speaker 1: to walk seventy five steps a minute in formation, these 257 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 1: veterans became drill sergeants and taught their own regiments the 258 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:32,360 Speaker 1: necessary skills. The baron taught his drill sergeants, who then 259 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:36,159 Speaker 1: taught their fellow soldiers how to reload their muskets quickly 260 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 1: after firing, how to charge with a bayonet, and how 261 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:44,680 Speaker 1: to march in compact columns instead of miles long lines. 262 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:49,320 Speaker 1: Learning about the American ethos, and becoming friendly with the 263 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 1: men in his first few weeks were crucial when training them. 264 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:57,200 Speaker 1: These new skills weren't easy to learn, especially for men 265 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:01,920 Speaker 1: who were underfed, barely clothed, and trying to learn from 266 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:05,480 Speaker 1: a man who didn't really speak any English. But the 267 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:12,000 Speaker 1: baron's outward display of confidence and his congeniality fostered goodwill 268 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:16,160 Speaker 1: amongst the soldiers, and even when the baron did get 269 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:20,480 Speaker 1: frustrated because the men weren't executing their new maneuvers properly, 270 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:25,880 Speaker 1: his slightly over the top expressions of profanity made him 271 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 1: that much more relatable and likable, and the barons slight 272 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 1: the atricks impacted more than just the Model Regiment. Every 273 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:39,119 Speaker 1: day a crowd would gather at the parade ground to 274 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:43,880 Speaker 1: watch the Baron's training. These soldiers, who would soon come 275 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 1: to learn these skills, got a taste of what was 276 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 1: to come, and they began to respect the Baron as well. 277 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:56,280 Speaker 1: Just one week after the Baron began training the Model 278 00:20:56,320 --> 00:21:01,440 Speaker 1: regiment of new drill sergeants, General Washington ordered that everyone 279 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:06,160 Speaker 1: begin learning Baron von Steuben's drills. The drill sergeants returned 280 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 1: to their regiments and led the training of the thousands 281 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:13,360 Speaker 1: of soldiers at Valley Forge. The soldiers took to their 282 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:18,640 Speaker 1: lessons fabulously, and in turn, their success built their confidence 283 00:21:18,760 --> 00:21:23,400 Speaker 1: and pride After a series of military losses followed by 284 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:29,399 Speaker 1: the absolutely brutal winter, This intangible growth was just short 285 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 1: of miraculous and absolutely crucial to the Army's success going forward. 286 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:39,400 Speaker 1: Just over a month after von Steuben began his training program, 287 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 1: multiple pieces of fantastic news came to Valley Forge. First, 288 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:48,360 Speaker 1: France had officially pledged to enter the war on the 289 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 1: side of the colonies. This new partnership was a huge 290 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:57,399 Speaker 1: bolster to the Americans. Secondly, General Washington was finally able 291 00:21:57,480 --> 00:22:01,119 Speaker 1: to make Baron von Steuben the official intea General of 292 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 1: the army, but he held on to this second piece 293 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:08,359 Speaker 1: of news for the time being. Washington ordered the Baron 294 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:13,080 Speaker 1: to organize a demonstration of the army's newly acquired skills 295 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: to celebrate their French allies. In just a few days, 296 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:22,719 Speaker 1: the baron organized seven thousand soldiers to perform an impressive 297 00:22:22,760 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 1: display of maneuvers, followed by a faux degois, a ceremonial 298 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:31,680 Speaker 1: rifle salute in which each soldier in a line fires 299 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:36,399 Speaker 1: in sequence. According to the Baron's aid John Lorens, the 300 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:41,640 Speaker 1: plan as formed by Baron von Stuben, succeeded in every particular. 301 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 1: It was a resounding success and demonstrated to everyone there 302 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:50,959 Speaker 1: that day just how far they had come thanks to 303 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:56,280 Speaker 1: the Baron's efforts during these celebrations. After that morning's demonstration, 304 00:22:56,960 --> 00:23:01,160 Speaker 1: Washington revealed his secrets and announced there that the Baron 305 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 1: was officially the Inspector General. This title put the baron 306 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:09,760 Speaker 1: at the rank of major general and entitled him to 307 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 1: a significant stipend and pension. This moment was everything the 308 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 1: baron had worked for over the entirety of his career. 309 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:21,600 Speaker 1: It hadn't been easy, and it hadn't come the way 310 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:25,800 Speaker 1: he expected. But now the Baron had achieved the highest 311 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:29,879 Speaker 1: rank one could hold beside general of an entire army, 312 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:34,280 Speaker 1: and more than that, he was the recipient of massive 313 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 1: praise and accolades for the way he had turned an 314 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:43,439 Speaker 1: army around, or at least hopefully so. The Continental Army 315 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:46,879 Speaker 1: may have been able to now march in unison, but 316 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:51,520 Speaker 1: only time would tell they could actually win battles because 317 00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:56,160 Speaker 1: of it. Luckily for the Baron, it didn't take long 318 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:59,600 Speaker 1: for his hard work as drill master of Valley Forge 319 00:23:59,680 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 1: to sh dividends. Just two weeks after the impressive celebration, 320 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:09,200 Speaker 1: Von Stuben orchestrated the Marquis de Lafayette led an expedition 321 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:13,800 Speaker 1: that was almost captured by the British. Their narrow escape 322 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:18,080 Speaker 1: was only possible because of the regiment's newfound maneuver abilities 323 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 1: taught by von Steuben. Despite the near humiliation of that expedition, 324 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 1: the Baron and General Washington saw their escape as an 325 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:32,600 Speaker 1: indication that there was actually hope for the Continental Army now. 326 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 1: Later that summer, in June seventeen seventy eight, the Continental 327 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:41,600 Speaker 1: Army showed immense fortitude and discipline at the Battle of Monmouth. 328 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:45,280 Speaker 1: With their victory in that battle, the Baron was officially 329 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:52,160 Speaker 1: vindicated as a superior military organizer as the official Inspector. General. 330 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:55,959 Speaker 1: Von Steuben would serve for the remaining five years of 331 00:24:56,000 --> 00:25:01,080 Speaker 1: the Revolutionary War. During this time, he created import infrastructure 332 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:05,560 Speaker 1: for what would become the American military. During the winter 333 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:09,399 Speaker 1: of seventeen seventy eight to seventeen seventy nine, the first 334 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:13,919 Speaker 1: winter after his successful training program at Valley Forge, the 335 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:18,240 Speaker 1: Baron wrote Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the 336 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:22,560 Speaker 1: Troops of the United States, commonly known as the Blue Book. 337 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:26,120 Speaker 1: The Blue Book outlined the training program which he had 338 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:30,120 Speaker 1: developed in Valley Forge that first winter. In a very 339 00:25:30,280 --> 00:25:34,560 Speaker 1: forward thinking moment, every night at Valley Forge, the Baron 340 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:39,360 Speaker 1: had written down all of the drills, exercises, and regulations 341 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:43,159 Speaker 1: that he would teach the next day. He then used 342 00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:46,480 Speaker 1: these notes a year later to construct the Blue Book. 343 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,639 Speaker 1: This book would go on to be the basis for 344 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:54,640 Speaker 1: American Army operations and discipline until the War of eighteen twelve, 345 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:57,960 Speaker 1: and portions of the Blue Book are still used in 346 00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:03,160 Speaker 1: the Army's manual today, Creating the first American military Handbook 347 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:07,520 Speaker 1: and turning around the American War for Independence talk about 348 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 1: a pretty big impact, and indeed thinks in large part 349 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:17,200 Speaker 1: to the Continental Army's new discipline and skills, the Revolutionary 350 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:22,200 Speaker 1: War would turn in the colonists favor. After acting as 351 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 1: one of the three commanding generals at the last battle 352 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:29,239 Speaker 1: of the war, the Battle of Yorktown, and after the 353 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 1: Colonists had officially won the war, von Steuben was honorably 354 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 1: discharged from the army. Very much a bolster to the 355 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:43,280 Speaker 1: Prussian's ego, few failed to recognize the Baron's contributions to 356 00:26:43,359 --> 00:26:48,159 Speaker 1: the new nation's success. The same Washington, who received the 357 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:52,120 Speaker 1: baron with little fanfare back in seventeen seventy eight, would 358 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:56,359 Speaker 1: address his last letter as commander of the Continental Army 359 00:26:56,680 --> 00:26:59,960 Speaker 1: to the Baron to commend him for changing the court 360 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:04,920 Speaker 1: of the war. Quote. Although I have taken frequent opportunities, 361 00:27:05,200 --> 00:27:09,760 Speaker 1: both in public and private, of acknowledging your zeal, attention, 362 00:27:09,960 --> 00:27:13,879 Speaker 1: and abilities in performing the duties of your office, yet 363 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 1: I wish to make use of this last moment of 364 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:22,159 Speaker 1: my public life to signify in the strongest terms my 365 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:26,479 Speaker 1: entire approbation of your conduct, and to express my sense 366 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:30,760 Speaker 1: of the obligations the public is under to you for 367 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:37,160 Speaker 1: your faithful and meritorious services. After the baron's discharge from 368 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:41,360 Speaker 1: the military, he settled in Manhattan and later in upstate 369 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:46,240 Speaker 1: New York. Now we've been relatively quiet so far on 370 00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:50,359 Speaker 1: the baron's sexuality, but his life after the war offers 371 00:27:50,440 --> 00:27:53,800 Speaker 1: us a pretty good glimpse into that aspect of his life. 372 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:57,800 Speaker 1: The baron was never married and instead lived with a 373 00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:04,480 Speaker 1: variety of male companions. These companions weren't just good friends 374 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:08,840 Speaker 1: or roommates of the barons. They were almost certainly also 375 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:13,360 Speaker 1: engaged in some sort of sexual or romantic relationship with him. 376 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:17,960 Speaker 1: The vast majority of American history scholars would agree that 377 00:28:18,080 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 1: von Steuben was gay, although it's important to remember that 378 00:28:21,840 --> 00:28:24,680 Speaker 1: that is a more modern term and not one that 379 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:28,679 Speaker 1: he would have identified with, and their consensus is founded 380 00:28:28,760 --> 00:28:33,439 Speaker 1: upon letters between the baron and his various companions that 381 00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:38,520 Speaker 1: reveal the nature of those relationships. The two most important 382 00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 1: companions in the baron's life were Benjamin Walker and William North. 383 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:47,000 Speaker 1: He met both of these much younger men during his 384 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:50,560 Speaker 1: first winter in the Continental Army, and they would go 385 00:28:50,640 --> 00:28:54,000 Speaker 1: on to be his aides to camp during the Revolutionary War, 386 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:57,880 Speaker 1: the two young men each developed with the Baron a 387 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:03,840 Speaker 1: romantic mentorship, As historian William E. Benneman describes it, a 388 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:09,040 Speaker 1: quote close affectionate relationship between two men with a substantial 389 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:13,360 Speaker 1: age gap, though sometimes between men of similar age but 390 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:19,880 Speaker 1: of differing socioeconomic status. There wasn't necessarily a sexual component 391 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:24,960 Speaker 1: of a romantic mentorship, but there certainly could be. For example, 392 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:28,960 Speaker 1: the Baron likely did not have a sexual relationship with Walker, 393 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:34,440 Speaker 1: but according to Beneman, likely did with North. This relationship 394 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:38,600 Speaker 1: is just one example of the types of homosexual relationships 395 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:43,480 Speaker 1: that occurred during this era. Another type developed between Walker 396 00:29:43,600 --> 00:29:49,760 Speaker 1: and North, a romantic friendship aka a close affectionate relationship 397 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:55,000 Speaker 1: between two men who were social equals. Oftentimes, but not always, 398 00:29:55,080 --> 00:30:00,360 Speaker 1: romantic friendships did involve a sexual element. Historians believe it 399 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:05,600 Speaker 1: is very likely that Walker and North's relationship did involve 400 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:10,600 Speaker 1: sexual intimacy. You might be wondering was it common knowledge 401 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:14,640 Speaker 1: at the time, even if unspoken and taboo, that the 402 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:19,320 Speaker 1: Baron was attracted to men. There isn't an overwhelming amount 403 00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:22,440 Speaker 1: of evidence to say so, but a lack of evidence 404 00:30:22,520 --> 00:30:26,880 Speaker 1: doesn't mean it wasn't the case. Despite many claims that 405 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:32,120 Speaker 1: George Washington and Benjamin Franklin knew of von Steuben's preferences 406 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:36,240 Speaker 1: before he arrived at Valley Forge. The research doesn't really 407 00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:40,560 Speaker 1: surface a lot of evidence to demonstrate that. Regardless. I 408 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:44,280 Speaker 1: have a hunch that Washington knew that the army could 409 00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:48,520 Speaker 1: not bear to reject a willing volunteer of von Steuben's caliber, 410 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:52,760 Speaker 1: and once he saw just how impactful von Steuben was 411 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:56,360 Speaker 1: in revamping the Continental Army, he might have reasoned that 412 00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:00,160 Speaker 1: he could overlook anything he might not personally approve of 413 00:31:00,600 --> 00:31:05,240 Speaker 1: for the good of their fledgling nation. After the war, 414 00:31:05,600 --> 00:31:10,360 Speaker 1: Von Steuben maintained a romantic mentorship with William North for 415 00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:14,440 Speaker 1: a number of years until North got married. It was 416 00:31:14,640 --> 00:31:18,040 Speaker 1: absolutely common at the time for young men who were 417 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:22,200 Speaker 1: involved in same sex relationships to go on to marry 418 00:31:22,240 --> 00:31:27,160 Speaker 1: women and lead a more quote unquote normal for the 419 00:31:27,240 --> 00:31:31,240 Speaker 1: time life. Take Alexander Hamilton, who was rumored to have 420 00:31:31,280 --> 00:31:35,800 Speaker 1: had a romantic relationship with John Lawns before going on 421 00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:41,440 Speaker 1: to marry Eliza Schuyler. After North departed Von Steuben's household, 422 00:31:41,800 --> 00:31:46,240 Speaker 1: the baron developed relationships with John Mulligan and a man 423 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:50,280 Speaker 1: by the last name of Mitchell, two men who consecutively 424 00:31:50,440 --> 00:31:54,680 Speaker 1: served as his paid secretary because the Baron was paying 425 00:31:54,760 --> 00:32:01,200 Speaker 1: their salary. Benemann identified their relationships as quote erotic employment, 426 00:32:01,880 --> 00:32:05,960 Speaker 1: the third of the three gay relationship types he defined 427 00:32:06,120 --> 00:32:10,840 Speaker 1: in this era. As Benemann put it, quote, these relationships 428 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:15,520 Speaker 1: involved two men of very unequal social status, with one man, 429 00:32:15,720 --> 00:32:20,200 Speaker 1: usually significantly younger, serving as the employee of the other 430 00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:25,960 Speaker 1: as an employee secretary valet paid companion. The younger member 431 00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:29,440 Speaker 1: performed specific duties for which he was paid a salary, 432 00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:34,120 Speaker 1: but he also served a sexual function. The relationship could 433 00:32:34,160 --> 00:32:38,760 Speaker 1: also include an emotional component, and there was frequently some 434 00:32:38,920 --> 00:32:42,880 Speaker 1: level of respect and even affection between the men, But 435 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:47,160 Speaker 1: at base the arrangement was economic, and it would cease 436 00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:51,880 Speaker 1: whenever the wages ceased. The Baron was engaged in erotic 437 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:55,880 Speaker 1: employment with John Mulligan when his health took a sharp 438 00:32:56,040 --> 00:32:59,520 Speaker 1: turn and he passed away from a stroke in late 439 00:32:59,680 --> 00:33:04,440 Speaker 1: seveneteen ninety four. When the Baron passed, he left various 440 00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:08,080 Speaker 1: portions of his estate to the most important men in 441 00:33:08,120 --> 00:33:13,720 Speaker 1: his life, Walker North and Mulligan. While one could argue 442 00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:17,520 Speaker 1: that his legacy is the existence of the United States, 443 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:21,160 Speaker 1: Von Steuben can be found in place names throughout the 444 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:26,800 Speaker 1: country like Steuben County, New York, and Steubenville, Ohio. Statues 445 00:33:26,840 --> 00:33:29,680 Speaker 1: of the baron can be found in Valley Forge, d c. 446 00:33:30,120 --> 00:33:33,880 Speaker 1: Even Berlin. He was even voiced by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 447 00:33:33,960 --> 00:33:39,560 Speaker 1: PBS's Liberties Kids. Despite this wide variety of tributes to 448 00:33:39,680 --> 00:33:44,480 Speaker 1: Von Steuben, the Baron's impact on America is not particularly 449 00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:49,480 Speaker 1: widely known nowadays, but his contributions to the Continental Army 450 00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:53,840 Speaker 1: ensured that the colonies had a fighting chance against their 451 00:33:53,880 --> 00:33:59,520 Speaker 1: imperial ruler. Unfortunately, many people, in pursuit of an easy 452 00:33:59,560 --> 00:34:02,680 Speaker 1: and so full story of the United States, want to 453 00:34:02,760 --> 00:34:06,760 Speaker 1: erase people like the Baron from American history, or at 454 00:34:06,840 --> 00:34:11,360 Speaker 1: least erase the parts of his personhood that seem unsavory. 455 00:34:12,160 --> 00:34:16,360 Speaker 1: But queer people and immigrants have always been integral to 456 00:34:16,400 --> 00:34:19,920 Speaker 1: the American story and to the success of the ideals 457 00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:23,920 Speaker 1: America was founded upon. Lucky for me, one such example 458 00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:27,120 Speaker 1: happens to have been a nobleman, which allows me to 459 00:34:27,239 --> 00:34:31,160 Speaker 1: share with you his story. Even though I am obviously 460 00:34:31,239 --> 00:34:34,960 Speaker 1: a fan of the history of nobility, I, on a 461 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:38,440 Speaker 1: personal note, hope not to see any kings arise in 462 00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:43,680 Speaker 1: the United States. That's the story of Baron von Steuben, 463 00:34:43,800 --> 00:34:46,960 Speaker 1: but keep listening after a brief sponsor break to hear 464 00:34:47,120 --> 00:34:52,000 Speaker 1: about how Baron von Stuben is connected to Matthew Broderick. Hint, 465 00:34:52,239 --> 00:35:02,680 Speaker 1: They're not related. For those unfamiliar with arguably one of 466 00:35:02,800 --> 00:35:08,360 Speaker 1: the quintessential eighties classic films, Ferris Bueller's Day Off follows 467 00:35:08,440 --> 00:35:11,680 Speaker 1: young Ferris Bueller as he plays hooky with his friends 468 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:17,160 Speaker 1: and gallivants around Chicago, living his best mischievous life, and 469 00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:22,040 Speaker 1: perhaps one of the most joyous sequences is when Ferris, 470 00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:26,080 Speaker 1: played by Matthew Broderick, jumps on a parade float in 471 00:35:26,160 --> 00:35:31,120 Speaker 1: downtown Chicago and lip syncs donkeshon and twist and shout 472 00:35:31,280 --> 00:35:34,440 Speaker 1: to a crowd of dancing onlookers. If you don't have 473 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:38,279 Speaker 1: time to rewatch the whole iconic movie, go watch a 474 00:35:38,320 --> 00:35:41,880 Speaker 1: clip of the parade scene because it'll just make you smile. 475 00:35:42,440 --> 00:35:45,880 Speaker 1: With Ferris on the float, our dancers in leader hozen, 476 00:35:46,040 --> 00:35:50,520 Speaker 1: and throughout the crowd, people are waving tons of American flags, 477 00:35:50,960 --> 00:35:53,120 Speaker 1: and if you look closely at some of the other 478 00:35:53,239 --> 00:35:56,520 Speaker 1: floats in the background, you'll see people dressed up in 479 00:35:56,600 --> 00:36:01,160 Speaker 1: Revolutionary War era costumes. At first glance, it is a 480 00:36:01,239 --> 00:36:06,359 Speaker 1: bit of an odd amalgamation of iconography, but all of 481 00:36:06,400 --> 00:36:10,279 Speaker 1: these somewhat random elements make sense when you learn that 482 00:36:10,360 --> 00:36:14,000 Speaker 1: this is the Von Steuben Day parade. Even though the 483 00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:18,120 Speaker 1: baron was technically Prussian, over the years, he's become a 484 00:36:18,200 --> 00:36:23,240 Speaker 1: symbol of German American friendship. During the twentieth century, many 485 00:36:23,440 --> 00:36:28,319 Speaker 1: German immigrants and German Americans would celebrate their heritage on 486 00:36:28,440 --> 00:36:33,600 Speaker 1: the Baron's birthday. So in nineteen sixty four, US President 487 00:36:33,760 --> 00:36:39,520 Speaker 1: Lyndon B. Johnson officially designated von Steuben's birthday September seventeenth, 488 00:36:39,960 --> 00:36:44,759 Speaker 1: as von Steubende and encouraged people to celebrate the contribution 489 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:49,360 Speaker 1: of this specific patriot and all other German Americans to 490 00:36:49,640 --> 00:36:55,080 Speaker 1: the United States. Von Steubenday is still celebrated across the country, 491 00:36:55,400 --> 00:37:00,120 Speaker 1: particularly in New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago. The NY 492 00:37:00,239 --> 00:37:04,160 Speaker 1: cities in September you'll find parades with people in drindles 493 00:37:04,200 --> 00:37:09,879 Speaker 1: and leederhosen marching behind uniformed Army Reserve members. In New York, 494 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:14,400 Speaker 1: the parade is also accompanied by a slightly early octoberfest 495 00:37:14,440 --> 00:37:18,200 Speaker 1: held in Central Park. I'm sure it's quite the party 496 00:37:18,840 --> 00:37:23,080 Speaker 1: to return to Ferris Bueller. John Hughes, Chicago hometown Boy, 497 00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:27,839 Speaker 1: filmed the parade scene during the actual nineteen eighty five 498 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:31,880 Speaker 1: Von Steuben Day Parade. In fact, most of the people 499 00:37:31,920 --> 00:37:36,200 Speaker 1: in the shots had no clue what they were filming for. Understandably, 500 00:37:36,280 --> 00:37:39,920 Speaker 1: they were probably delighted and surprised to see themselves on 501 00:37:40,120 --> 00:37:43,360 Speaker 1: screen in one of the defining films of the decade. 502 00:37:43,800 --> 00:37:47,680 Speaker 1: They were just in downtown Chicago one September Day to 503 00:37:47,840 --> 00:37:52,160 Speaker 1: celebrate the drill Master of Valley Forge, our very own 504 00:37:52,640 --> 00:38:06,040 Speaker 1: Baron von Steuben. Noble Blood is a production of iHeart 505 00:38:06,200 --> 00:38:10,120 Speaker 1: Radio and Grim and Mild from Aaron Manke. Noble Blood 506 00:38:10,160 --> 00:38:14,000 Speaker 1: is hosted by me Dana Schwartz, with additional writing and 507 00:38:14,120 --> 00:38:18,640 Speaker 1: research by Hannah Johnston, Hannahswick, Courtney Sender, Amy Hit and 508 00:38:18,719 --> 00:38:23,360 Speaker 1: Julia Melaney. The show is edited and produced by Jesse Funk, 509 00:38:23,760 --> 00:38:29,520 Speaker 1: with supervising producer rima il Kaali and executive producers Aaron Manke, 510 00:38:29,840 --> 00:38:34,360 Speaker 1: Trevor Young, and Matt Frederick. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, 511 00:38:34,640 --> 00:38:38,960 Speaker 1: visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen 512 00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:42,600 Speaker 1: to your favorite shows.