General Von Steuben Statue

General Von Steuben Statue

NPS / Claire Hassler

Quick Facts

Location:

Washington, DC

Amenities

1 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

This memorial portrays Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben (1730-1794) as he inspected American troops at the great maneuvers of 1778 during the American Revolution. His experiences as a member of the Prussian army gave him a wealth of knowledge unheard of in the British and French armies of the period. He is well known for bringing American soldiers the technical knowledge necessary to form an organized, modern army. He is lesser known for his intimate relationships with men. Despite the dangerous sodomy laws of the time, he was romantically involved with many men over the course of his life. It was necessary to keep that part of himself a secret or he would face persecution. 

Before von Steuben lent his military expertise, the Continental Army was in shambles. Citizen soldiers lacked the training and discipline to make up a fighting force that could stand up to the British. Disease and lack of supplies killed many in the harsh winters. Despite not speaking any English and communicating through his translators, von Steuben managed to bring order and strength to the army. 

After his successes training troops in the Revolutionary War, von Steuben prepared the "Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States.” This manual provided written standards for the training of the army, including instructions for camp layout and sanitation. This book, the US Army’s Blue Book, is still in use today. Today he is known as the "Father of Military Instruction." After his discharge from the army on March 24, 1784 he became an American citizen and was granted 16,000 acres of land in the state of New York. The statue, erected on the northwest corner of Lafayette Park in 1910, shows von Steuben wearing the uniform of a major general of the Continental army, heavily cloaked against the rigors of the winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

It’s hard to assign modern sexualities to colonial era relationships - a world where these labels didn’t exist. We are left to wonder how these people may have described themselves. For lack of a better label, it is assumed that Baron von Steuben was gay. He had numerous relationships with young men in the armies he served in as well as relationships with Prince Henry of Prussia and the King of Prussia, Frederick the Great. His two closest partners, William North and Benjamin Walker, are immortalized on the back of von Steuben’s monument. He adopted both of them, a common practice for gay couples back then, so that his estate could be willed to them upon his death.  

Queer people have existed throughout time, beyond our understanding of labels to name them. They are often overlooked and undocumented because of the circumstances of the time. Baron von Steuben’s military accomplishments are an important part of our country’s founding history, and his love life is inseparable from his military glory. 

Reflection Question
What social media do you use the most? Open the app and look at your profile. Does what you represent online show your whole self?