In 2011, the American military policy known as “Don’t ask, don’t tell” was repealed by the Obama administration. In doing so, gay, lesbian, and bisexual soldiers were no longer required to hide their sexual orientation in order to serve in the U.S. military. Being openly gay had been prohibited by the American military since its inception during the Revolutionary War; however, the man who is crediting with professionalizing the Continental Army and standardizing American military training was gay.
Steuben was abruptly dismissed from military service in
1763. There is some speculation that he
had a personal falling out with Fredrick, and that the two had been lovers. After his dismissal, he spent 11 years as
court chamberlain to the prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, a small German
principality. The position hardly paid,
and Steuben was struggling financially. He
tried unsuccessfully to join the French, Austrian, and other foreign armies,
however, peace in Europe did not pay.
In 1777 during a trip to Paris, Steuben was introduced to
Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane, who were serving as American
commissioners. Steuben’s reputation as a
keen military strategist had preceded him, and Franklin believed he was the man
who could establish order and discipline in the Continental Army. There was just one problem. The Continental
Congress had grown tired of foreign soldiers coming to America and demanding
high rank and pay. Franklin told Steuben that he would have to volunteer his
services initially, but that rank and pay would likely come later. Steuben was highly insulted at this
suggestion and rejected the offer.
Shortly after meeting with Franklin, Steuben was summoned to Karlsruhe,
Germany for a military vacancy. However,
when he arrived in Karlsruhe he was met with accusations that he had “taken familiarities with young boys” while at
his post in Hohenzollern. It should be noted that there is no historical
evidence that Steuben was a pedophile.
Fearing imprisonment, Steuben returned to Paris. Looking to escape these
accusations, Steuben decided to take Franklin up on his offer to go to America.
It is safe to assume that Franklin knew of Steuben’s
“affection for men.” The rumors of his
actions had followed Steuben to Paris, and the French clergy were looking to
have him arrested. Deane investigated, sending a letter to the Prince of
Hechingen. It read in part,
“It has come to me from different sources that M. de Steuben
is accused of having taken familiarities with young boys, which the laws forbid
and punish severely. I have even been informed that that is the reason why M.
de Steuben was obliged to leave Hechingen and that the clergy of your country
intend to prosecute him by law as soon as he may establish himself anywhere.”
At this point Franklin and Deane had a decision to make.
They decided that Steuben’s military expertise was far more important to the
colonies than his sexuality. The two men wrote an exaggerated letter of
introduction for Steuben suggesting that he had been recommended by various
princes and “other great personages” for the position. It also remarked that “his distinguished
character and known abilities were attested to by two judges of military merit
in this country.” After securing him quick passage, Steuben boarded a ship and
headed for American.
On December 1, 1777, Steuben and his entourage arrived in
Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The landing
party included his Italian greyhound Azor, his aide-de-camp, his military
secretary Pierre-Étienne du Ponceau, and two other companions. The group waited
in Boston for their orders from Washington and the congress.
Arriving at Valley Forge in February 1778, Steuben found an
army in shambles. Washington made him inspector general, and he immediately got
to work bringing order to the camp. He established standards for layout and
sanitation. He set up arrangements for
tents and huts and put kitchens and latrines at opposite ends of the camp. His
standards would be used by the United States military for over 150 years.
In May he was given the rank of major general and took on creating a rigorous training program for the troops. He taught them how to efficiently load muskets, fight with a bayonet, and how to drill as a unit. Steuben’s Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States, commonly known as the "Blue Book" was used by the United States Army until 1814, and affected U.S. drills and tactics until the Mexican–American War of 1846.
Steuben did not speak English. He wrote the drills in
French, the military language of Europe.
His translator, and likely lover, Pierre-Étienne du Ponceau, would
translate the text into English with the help of Alexander Hamilton and John
Laurens. They would do this task daily, so that the drills would be available
to the troops the following morning.
Steuben was well liked by the soldiers. His willingness to work with them directly
made him relatable. He also socialized
with them. Recalling one party Du Ponceau wrote, “His aides invited a number of
young officers to dine at our quarters, on condition that none should be
admitted, that had on a whole pair of breeches.”
During his time at Valley Forge, Steuben formed what
historians have called an “extraordinarily intense emotional relationship” with
two young soldiers, William North and Benjamin Walker. The two men were quickly made aide-de-camps
to Steuben and resided with him. Both men would later be “adopted” by Steuben. They continued to live together in various
arrangements until Steuben’s death.
After the war, Steuben lived in multiple locations,
eventually building a cabin on a property in Oneida County, New York that he
had been given by the congress for his military service. During this time, he also made the
acquaintance of John Mulligan and Charles Adams, two young men whose stories were
similar to his own.
John was the son of Hercules Mulligan, a well-known member
of the Sons of Liberty and spy for George Washington. Charles was the second
son of John and Abigail Adams. The two
men met in New York in 1791 when they were both young lawyers. The nature of
the relationship between John and Charles was one that drew great speculation,
particularly from the Adams family.
Around this same time, they became acquainted with Steuben, with Charles
becoming almost infatuated with the Baron.
He wrote to his mother that Steuben was “fascinating” and that “there is
something in this man that is more than mortal.” The three men resided together
in New York City for a time with John serving as Steuben’s secretary.
In late 1792, Vice-President Adams decided that he needed to
put an end to his son’s relationship with John. He wrote to Charles that he
would disown him if he did not separate from John. Distraught, both John and Charles wrote to
Steuben who was in Philadelphia at the time.
In response, Steuben wrote to John:
“ Philadelphia, January 11, 1793.
Your letter of the 7th was handed me yesterday by Mr.
Hamilton. In vain, my dear child, should I undertake to explain to you the
sensation which the letter created in my heart. Neither have I the courage to
attempt to arrest the tears you have so great reason to shed. For a heart so
feeling as yours this was the severest of trials, and nothing but time can
bring consolation under circumstances so afflicting…
Despite moral philosophy I weep with you, and glory in the
human weakness of mingling my tears with those of a friend I so tenderly love.
My dear Charles ought, ere this, to have received my answer
to the touching letter he wrote.
I repeat my entreaties, to hasten your journey to
Philadelphia as soon as your strength permits. My heart and my arms are open to
receive you…I enjoy not a moment's tranquility until I hold you in my arms… if
our friend could accompany you! Embrace him for me, with the same tender
friendship I feel for you.”
It appears that Steuben was offering his home as a safe
haven where the two could be together. John
took him up on his offer and continued to serve as his secretary until his
death. Charles remained in New York and
was heartbroken when Steuben moved upstate.
He was disowned by his father in 1799, with the president referring to
his son as, “a mere rake, buck, blood and beast.” He died the following year.
Once Steuben had settled upstate, he convinced his former aides North and Walker to join him. By this time both men were married and moved there with their families. William North fathered six children, two whom were named in honor of Steuben. Other military friends followed and moved on to Steuben’s land. Together they established the town of Steubenville, New York.
Upon his death in 1794, Steuben left his estate to North,
Walker and Mulligan. He never married or had children. His will states:
“Sufficient reasons having determined me to exclude my
relations in Europe from any participation in my estate in America and to adopt
my Friends and former Aid Des Camps Benjamin Walker and William North as my
Children and make them sole devisees of all my Estates therein, except as here
in afterwards is otherwise disposed of in consequence thereof—.”
Baron von Steuben never hid the fact that he was gay. It was, one could argue, one of the worst
kept secrets in the Continental Army. While there was no open culture of
homosexuality in early America, romantic relationships between men were widely
tolerated. While these relationships were technically criminal, it was not until the early 20th century
that the U.S. military begin officially discriminating against people suspected
to be gay.
Many historians consider Steuben the father of the United
States military. He is responsible not
only for the creation of a professionalized military force, but also the idea
of military academies, maintaining a standing Army, and the establishment of
the country’s first veterans’ organization. Our founders were able to look past
his sexuality and respect him for his skill and merit. As his last official act
as Commander-in Chief, Washington wrote to his friend Steuben on December 23,
1783,
“I beg you will be convinced, my dear sir, that I should
rejoice if it could ever be in my power to serve you more essentially than by
expressions of regard and affection; but in the meantime, 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 ever write while I continue in the service of my country; the hour of
my resignation is fixed at 12 this day, after which I shall become a private
citizen on the banks of the Potomack, where I shall be glad to embrace you, and
to testify the great esteem and consideration with which I am, etc.”
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