USA > New York > Oneida County > Annals and recollections of Oneida County > Part 32
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a handsome competence for his declining years. He is a fine remaining specimen of the men raised up by Providence to achieve their country's independence. Captain Fuller bought a part of liis farm of Captain Woodruff, who is mentioned in another place. From some cause the article of sale from the Baron Steuben to Captain Woodruff, and by him assigned to Captain Fuller. was lost. Captain Fuller called on the Baron and stated the loss, requesting the lease of the lot, as + agreed in the article. The Baron turned to his clerk and said, "make out the lease, Mr. Fuller is hard at work, I hear the trees falling on the lot every day."
The first child born in the town of Steuben, was Stephen Brooks, jun. The first couple married, was William Case to R Miss Platt.
(From Frost's American Generals.)
LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL STEUBEN.
" Services such as those of Baron Steuben, during our struggle with Great Britain, are justly considered as among the very highest that could be rendered by any officer in that trying period. In this light they were regarded by Washington; and their best culogy is a comparison of the condition of the American army at the close of the war. with it as it had been at its commencement.
" Frederic William Augustus, Baron de Steuben, was born in Germany, about the year 1730 or '33. The history of his youth is unknown. He served with Frederic the Great in the seven years' war, possessed the entire confidence of that monarch, and became his aid-de-camp and lieutenant-general in the Prussian army. This fact is sufficient to establish his
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military character and knowledge of tactics; and he was ever regarded by the Prussian government as one of their most able officers. After the close of the war, he filled various offices in Germany, principally under the smaller princes, and was tendered a command in the army of Aus- tria, which he refused. At the commencement of the war between Great Britain and her colonies, he was in a condition of gentlemanly affluence.
"In 1777, while on a visit to England, he stopped at Paris, for the purpose of having an interview with the Count St. Germain, the French minister of war, and one of his intimate friends. Soon after, he was waited on by Colonel Pagen- stecher, on behalf of the Count, who informed him that the latter desired a personal interview at the Paris arsenal, on matters of importance. It is well known that France was then secretly aiding the Americans, both by advice and mili- tary stores ; and it was with a view of enlisting the Baron in the cause of freedom, that the proposed interview was sought. At the mecting, St. Germain represented the ultimate pros- pects of the colonists as flattering; that France, and probably Spain, would eventually aid them, but that their army needed disciplinarians, which want the Baron could well supply. These proposals were seconded by the Spanish consul and two French noblemen; but the Baron refused to give a de- cisive answer until an interview could be obtained with the American envoys. The latter were unable to give the assu- rances required, and after abandoning his intention of visiting England, Steuben soon after returned to Germany. On his arrival at Rastadt he found letters from the Count, informing lıim that a vessel was about sailing for America, in which he could immediately embark, with a prospect of having every difficulty satisfactorily adjusted. Having received from Dr. Franklin letters of recommendation to General Washington
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and the President of Congress, he embarked, on the 26th of September, 1777, under an assumed name, and after a rough voyage, landed at Portsmouth, N. H., December 1st.
" His first care was to address his recommendations to Gen- cral Washington, at the same time requesting admission into the serviec. The close of his letter is worthy of preservation ' I could say, moreover, were it not for the fear of offending your modesty, that your excellency is the only person under whom, after having served under the King of Prussia. I could wish to pursue an art to which I have wholly given up myself.' Washington referred him to Congress, as the only body empowered to accept his services ; and accordingly, in February, he laid his papers before that body. A committee of five was appointed to wait upon him. In his interview with them the Baron stated what he had left to engage in the American service, offered them his services, without any other remuneration than the amount of expenses; but, that while he expected no reward, should the final result be unsuccessful. yet in ease of the Americans gaining their independence, he would expect an indemnity for the offices he had resigned in Europe, and a reward proportionate to his services. Con- gress returned him thanks for this disinterested offer, and requested him to join the army.
"The American main body was at that time wintered near Valley Forge. The sufferings endured by the troops, their privations and diseases during that terrible winter, were long remembered as forming the darkest page of our revolutionary history. At sight of them, the astonishment of one who had been accustomed to the well provided armies of Europe, may be conceived ; and Steuben declared that under such circum- stances no foreign army could be kept together a single month. He was appointed inspector-general, and entrusted. with the difficult task of forming from such materials an
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army disciplined after the European system. Disheartening as were these prospects, and heightened, too, by Steuben's ignorance of the English language, he entered upon his duties with ardor. An interpreter was found, and the great work of giving efficiency to the army of Washington commenced. This was something new to the sufferers of Valley Forge; and the strictness of the old soldier, together with his perfect familiarity with the most difficult military movements, aston- ished even the commander himself. 'The troops,' says Dr. Thacher, 'were paraded in a single line, with shouldered arms , every officer in his particular station. The Baron first re- viewed the line in this position, passing in front with a scru- tinizing eye, after which he took into his hand the musket and accoutrements of every soldier, examining them with particular accuracy and precision, applauding or condemning, according to the condition in which he found them. He required that the musket and bayonet should exhibit the brightest polish; not a spot of rust or defect in any part could elude his vigilance. He inquired also into the conduet of the officers toward their men, censuring every fault and applauding every meritorious action. Next, he required of me, as a surgeon, a list of the sick, with particular statements of their accommodations, and mode of treatment. and even visited some of the sick in their cabins.'
" The great services rendered by the Baron, as exhibited in the rapid improvement of thearmy, did not escape the notice of either Washington or Congress ; and at the recommenda- tion of the former, he was appointed permanent inspector- general, with the rank of major-general. By his great exer- tions he made this office respectable, establishing frugality and economy among the soldiers. In discipline, both of men and officers, he was entirely impartial, and never omitted an opportunity to praise merit, or censure a fault. Washington
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speaks of him in the following manner. 'Justice concurring with inclination, constrain me to testify that the Baron has in every instance discharged the several trusts reposed in him, with great zeal and ability, so as to give him the fullest title of my esteem as a brave, indefatigable, judicious and ex- perienced officer.'
" America was soon to witness the effects of the new disci- pline upon the very army that had twice defeated hers. In June, 1778, the British army evacuated Philadelphia, and marched hastily for New York. They were led to this step through fear that a French fleet might block. up the Dela- ware, while Washington attacked them by land, and thus they be forced to surrender. Washington pursued them and ardently desired to give battle. Steuben's opinion coincided with the commander's, and on the morning of the 28th a de- tachment under General Lee, advanced against the enemy. and commenced the battle of Monnrouth. In the retreat and subsequent rally of the advance, the value of discipline was triumphantly displayed. The retiring troops were formed by Washington in the very face of the enemy, turned upon their pursuers and regained the lost ground. Such a movement is justly considered the triumph of discipline ; and the battle of Monmouth is one of the most remarkable of the war, not only as exhibiting the great talents of General Washington. but as a proof of the former invaluable though silent labors of the Baron Steuben.
" On the 20th of May, Lord Cornwallis united his southern army with General Arnold at Petersburgh. The latter offi- cer had succeeded to the command in Virginia, at the death of Phillips. Previous to this, Steuben had found his situa- tion so irksome, that he had asked and obtained leave to join Greene in South Carolina ; but he was prevented from doing so by the new invasion of Cornwallis. He therefore estab-
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lished himself with six hundred men at the state arsenal, near the source of James river.
" Having ascertained the Baron's position, Cornwallis de- 4 tached Colonel Simeoe against him with five hundred regu- lars, who were to be joined in their march by Tarleton with two hundred and fifty horse. Steuben had no means of as- certaining his opponent's strength, and when the latter dis- played an extended front, and built a large number of fires at night, he was led to believe that the whole foree of Corn- wallis had arrived. The Americans retreated, and Simcoe, after destroying the stores at the state arsenal, returned to Petersburgh.
" On the 16th of June, Steuben joined La Fayette, who had previously been reinforced by the Pennsylvania troops, under General Wayne. On the 16th of July, the Marquis met Cornwallis near Jamestown, and a slight engagement took place, in which the Americans behaved remarkably well. notwithstanding their great inferiority of numbers. The enemy gained some advantage, but did not pursue it ; and soon after the Earl marched to Yorktown, which he be- gan to fortify.
"On the 28th of September, the main allied army of the French and Americans, under Rochambeau and Washington, aided by the fleet of De Grasse, sat down before the place. The siege lasted until the 18th of October, during which time Steuben bore his full share of toil and danger. His exact scientific knowledge rendered him extremely useful and to atone in some measure for his former vexations, Washington assigned him a command in the line. His ser- vices are honorably noticed by that great man, in the general orders subsequent to the capitulation.
" After this happy affair, the Baron returned with the main army to the middle states, where he remained until the treaty
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of peace. In 1782 he informed Washington of the arrival of one of his former acquaintances, the Count Benyowzky or Bienewsky, whom he introduced to the commander. He was a Prussian nobleman, allied by blood to the renowned Pulaski, and had experienced most romantic changes. He offered to hire on certain conditions, a body of German troops, to be employed in the American army as a distinct legion, and each officer and soldier at the close of the war was to receive a tract of the public land. His plan was ap- proved by Washington, after some alteration, and favourably reported by Congress ; but the approach of peace prevented its adoption.
" Baron Steuben was appointed to receive the surrender of the posts on the Canada frontier, but the incivility of the British general caused much contention, and Steuben returned to New York.
" On the day that Washington resigned his office as com- mander-in-chief, he wrote to the Baron the following noble and affectionate letter :-
": Although I have taken frequent opportunities in public and private, of acknowledging your great zeal, attention and abilities, in performing the duties of your office, yet I wish to make use of this last moment of my public life, to signify in the strongest terms, my entire approbation of your conduct, and to express my sense of the obligations the public is under to you for your faithful and merito- rious services.
"' I beg you will be convinced, my dear sir, that I should rejoice; if it ever should be in my power, to serve you more essentially than by expressions of regard and affection; but, in the mean time, I am persuaded you will not be displeased with this farewell token of my sincere friendship and esteem for you.
" This is the last letter I shall write while I continue in the ser- vice of my country. The hour of my resignation is fixed at twelve to-day; after which I shall become a private citizen on the banks of
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the Potomac, where I shall be glad to embrace you, and testify the great esteem and consideration with which
"'I am, my dear Baron, &c.'"
" The neglect with which many of the brave men who had bled in our cause were treated by Congress, will ever remain as a stigma on that body. Among these were Steuben ; for seven years he made ineffectual efforts to obtain a notice of his claims, but in vain. He had left affluence and baronial dignity among the monarchs of Europe, to waste his life in our struggle, and now when the great object has been reach- ed, he was poor, homeless, and unprovided for.
" At last, through the strenuous exertions of Washington and Hamilton, Congress were induced to acknowledge his claims. In 1790, they granted him an annual sum of twenty- five hundred dollars. Other grants, principally of land, had been made by Virginia and New Jersey, and on the the 5th of May, 1786, the New York Assembly voted him sixteen thousand acres. Determined not to revisit Europe, he built a log house on his land, rented a large portion of it to tenants, and, with a few domestics, lived there until his death, excepting during an annual visit to New York city in the winter. His time was spent in reading, gardening, and in cheerful conversations with his faithful aids, Walker and North, who remained with him until death. Occasionally he amused himself by playing chess and hunting.
" On the 25th of November, 1794, he was struck by paraly- sis, and on the 28th, his long and active life closed. He died in full belief of the truths of Christianity, which for some time had been his consolation and support.
" His body was buried in his military cloak, to which was attached the star of knighthood, always worn during life. His servants and a few neighbors buried him. His grave
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was in a deep forest, which being afterwards crossed by a road, occasioned its reinterment on a spot about a quarter of a mile north of his house. Walker performed this duty, and afterwards placed an iron railing around the grave. A stone; with the inscription, Major-General Frederick William Au- gustus, Baron de Steuben, marks the hero's resting place. A tablet in memory of him was placed in the Lutheran church, Nassau St., New York, where he always attended when in that city. This was done by his aid, Colonel North, who graced it by the following inscription :-
Sacred to the Memory of FREDERICK WILLIAM AUGUSTUS, BARON STEUBEN, A German Knight of the Order of Fidelity, Aid-de-Camp to Frederick The Great, King of Prussia, Major General and Inspector General In the Revolutionary War. Esteemed, Respected, and Supported by Washington. He gave Military Skill and Discipline To the Citizen Soldier, (Who fulfilled the Decrees of Heaven,) Achieved the Independence of the United States. The highly polished manners of the Baron Were graced by the most noble feelings of the Heart ; His hand open as the day to melting Charity, Closed only in the grasp of Death. This memorial is inscribed by an American, Who had the IIonor to be his Aid-de-Camp, The happiness to be his friend, 1795.
" By his will, the Baron left his library and one thousand dollars to a young man of literary habits, named Mulligan,
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whom he had adopted, and nearly all the remainder of his property to North and Walker. What a proof of his firm- ness as a friend, and his gratitude for even the smallest favors."
An anecdote of Baron Steuben has been frequently told and published in almost as many different forms as narrators. The following is believed to be the correct version, as it was obtained from the former neighbors of Jonathan Steuben, and who had frequently heard him narrate the whole details of the transaction. After the treason of the infamous Benedict Arnold, when, to use the words of one of the early historians of the Revolution, "he was despised by all mankind," the very name seemed to grate harshly on the cars of the Baron. On one occasion after the treason, the Baron was on parade at roll-call. when the detested name, Arnold, was heard in one of the infantry companies of the Connecticut line. The Baron immediately called the unfortunate possessor to the front of the company. He was a perfect model for his profession ; clothes, arms and equipments in the most perfect order. The practiced eye of the Baron soon scanned the soldier, and. " call at my marquee, after you are dismissed, brother soldier," was his only remark. After Arnold was dismissed from parade he called at the Baron's quarters as directed. The Baron said to him, "you are too fine a soldier to bear the name of a traitor, change it at once, change it at once." But what name shall I take, replied Arnold. " Any that you please, any that you please, take mine, if you cannot suit yourself better, mine is at your service." Arnold at once agreed to the proposition, and immediately repaired to his or- derly, and Jonathan Stenben forthwith graced the company roll, in lieu of the disgraced name of him who had plotted treason to his country. After the United States had con-
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quered their independence, our hero returned to Connecticut. and on his petition, the general court legalized the change of name. A few years after, he wrote the Baron, who had now settled on his patent in this county, that he had married and had a fine son born, and that he had named him Frederick William. The Baron replied that when the son had ar- rived at the age of twenty-one, he would give him a farm. The Baron soon after paid the debt of nature, but his letter was carefully preserved. A few years after its settlement Jonathan Steuben removed to this town with his family. When Frederick William arrived at his majority, the letter was presented to Col. Walker, one of the Baron's executors. who at once executed to him a deed, in fee of fifty acres of land, but which had been previously leased to Samuel Sizer. and as the recipient preferred the enjoyment of the land to the receipt of the rents, he purchased the lease, and at one- went into possession.
Jonathan Stenben lived to become a pensioner, and died some fifteen or sixteen years since. His widow survived him. and has been dead but about six years, she also drew a pension.
In the war of 1812. Frederick William went with the militia to Sacketts Harbor, where he was taken sick and died. For his services his widow received a pension. He was or- derly sergeant of his company, and with the name of the Baron he had seemed to inherit at least a portion of his distin- guishing qualifications, for he was considered one of the best disciplinarians in his regiment.
The following anecdote of the Baron Steuben, is copied from " Clark's history of Onondago" The author of that work having kindly given permission to have it and a number of other items relating to this county, transcribed into this work :-
"Mr. John A. Shaeffer was the first settler in Manlius
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village. He commenced his residence in 1792. He like many others of the carly settlers, soon after opened a tavern and sold a few goods, to satisfy the very limited wants of the scattered inhabitants. In the year 1794, a son was born to Mrs. Shaeffer, which was undoubtedly the first birth in the village. He was named Baron Steuben, in honor of the fa- mous General of that name, who about this time spent a night at the house of Mr. Schaeffer, on his way out to Salt Point with General Stephen Van Rensselaer, and General William North. The circumstances of this visit have been related to the author as follows :-
"'On the return of the party from Salt Point, whether they had been to select a site for a block-house ; they spent the night at the house of John A. Shaeffer, Esq., ' inn-keeper,' at Manlius. The guests were considerably fatigued with their journey and the labors of their important trust, and re- tired carly to rest. During the night there seemed to be an unusual stir about the house, and as the hour of midnight approached, it still increased; and before morning transpired one of those unpostponable events incident to all prosperous and increasing families. The Baron was greatly annoyed during the night, so that he scarcely slept a wink. The fre- quent shutting of doors, continual tramping of busy feet, and hushed sounds of female voices, which were greatly magnified by the Baron's nervousness, and the importance of progressing events, kept his mind in continual tumult.
"'The house was built of logs, only one story high, with two rooms below ; the chamber being the size of the house, with only loose boards for a floor, and accessible by no other means than a ladder. This chamber was occupied by the distinguished guests of Mr. Shaeffer. The companions of the hero of this tale slept soundly, but not so with the Baron. He often turned himself on his bed of straw, seeking rest and
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finding none, continually wondering what on earth could ex. cite such wonderful commotion, and he finally worked him- self into an uncontrollable passion, which could scarcely be restrained till morning. On the earliest approach of light, the Baron rose, vowing vengeance on all below. He ap- proached the redoubtable landlord in not the most agreeable humor, saying, your house is full of gossips and goblins, sir ; I haven't slept a wink all the blessed night ; you have a pack of dogs about you, noisy enough to deafen one. Sir, I repeat; your house is full of gossips and goblins. Sir, your house isn't fit to stable swine. Give us breakfast, let us be off, and we'll
not trouble you again. The Baron's rage was at its height. Mine host was perfectly dumb-founded before his enraged and angry guest, and dared not lift his head, or hint the cause of the disturbance during the night. But soon to give relief to his troubled mind, a woman approached the angry Baron, who was still breathing forth threatenings and storm, bearing in her arms an infant, who had not yet witnessed the setting of a single sun, saying, 'here, sir Baron, is the cause of all the noise and trouble last night.' The gallant old soldier instant- ly felt the impropriety of his conduct, his habitual good humor was instantly restored, his accustomed gallantry prompted him at once handsomely to apologize, at the same time begging ten thousand pardons of those around him. He tendered his most hearty congratulations to Mr. Shaeffer and his wife, and offered to bestow his name on the new visitant, which offer was accepted, and forthwith the Baron drew a deed of gift for two hundred and fifty acres of land, from his domain in Oneida, and after breakfast, with his friends, went on his way rejoicing.'"
The Baron thought very highly of his land in this county. On a certain occasion while on one of his annual winter visits to the city of New York. some of his friends rather jeered
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him for attempting to settle the mountains, up at the head of the Mohawk. The Baron was a little nettled, and at once retorted, " that it was the best land in the world, and he could prove it." The proof was challenged, and it was at once given as follows: " Why there is Capt. Simeon Woodruff, who had sailed around the globe with Captain Cook, and he has bought a farm on my patent and settled on it, and sure if in all his voyage a better location had been found, he would not have done so." The argument was deemed conclusive.
Captain Woodruff moved into the town of Steuben, in 1790, and took a lease of a part of a farm now owned by Major Russel Fuller.
BARON STEUBEN'S GRAVE .- As noticed in his biography, the dust of this hero reposes in this town. In his will, the Baron provided that his body be buried in the place designated, but after his death it could not be ascertained that he had to any friend designated the place. The only remark that could be recollected that had any bearing upon the subject, was, that he was once heard to say, that under a certain hem- lock, north of his residence would be a good place to be buried, without however expressing any wish as to his own remains. In the absence of any other expressed wish, that place was selected, and his remains there interred. A few years after a road was laid out, so that the grave was included within its limits. The impropriety of such a state of things induced Col. Walker, of Utica, who was one of the Baron's aids in the Revolution, and who was one of his executors and principal legatees, to remove the remains to a more suitable resting place. The place selected was in the centre of five acres of heavy timbered wood-land, and Col. Walker gave one of the Welsh Baptist Societies, in the vicinity, a lease of fifty acres of land, of which the five acres of wood-land was a part, the only rent and consideration to be paid, is the keeping said
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