# 1686 - 1976 Surrender at Yorktown
Birth Of Baron Von Steuben
Von Steuben was the son of a Prussian engineer captain. He traveled with his father during the Russo-Turkish War before returning to Prussia where he attended school.
Von Steuben joined the Prussian Army when he was 17 and participated in the Seven Years’ War before being wounded at the Battle of Prague and later the Battle of Kunersdorf. In 1761 he was taken prisoner by the Russians at Treptow and upon his release, was promoted to captain. Von Steuben then served as aide-de-camp to Frederick the Great. He was one of just 13 young officers to study with the king.
After the war, the army was reduced and von Steuben was released from his service. In 1777, the French Minister of War (whom he’d met years earlier) introduced von Steuben to Benjamin Franklin in Paris. Franklin told von Steuben that he couldn’t offer him a high rank or pay, but with few other options, von Steuben opted to travel to America to join in their cause.
Von Steuben was also put in charge of training soldiers. He selected 120 men from different regiments to form an honor guard that would then train the other troops. He spoke little English, so when he was frustrated, he would call to his translator, “Over here! Swear at him for me!” His ability to swear in multiple languages, and his willingness to work with the men, made him very popular.
Birth Of Baron Von Steuben
Von Steuben was the son of a Prussian engineer captain. He traveled with his father during the Russo-Turkish War before returning to Prussia where he attended school.
Von Steuben joined the Prussian Army when he was 17 and participated in the Seven Years’ War before being wounded at the Battle of Prague and later the Battle of Kunersdorf. In 1761 he was taken prisoner by the Russians at Treptow and upon his release, was promoted to captain. Von Steuben then served as aide-de-camp to Frederick the Great. He was one of just 13 young officers to study with the king.
After the war, the army was reduced and von Steuben was released from his service. In 1777, the French Minister of War (whom he’d met years earlier) introduced von Steuben to Benjamin Franklin in Paris. Franklin told von Steuben that he couldn’t offer him a high rank or pay, but with few other options, von Steuben opted to travel to America to join in their cause.
Von Steuben was also put in charge of training soldiers. He selected 120 men from different regiments to form an honor guard that would then train the other troops. He spoke little English, so when he was frustrated, he would call to his translator, “Over here! Swear at him for me!” His ability to swear in multiple languages, and his willingness to work with the men, made him very popular.