Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben was an absolute godsend to the Continental Army. A highly trained Prussian officer, he showed up at Valley Forge in February 1778 and was horrified by the filth, lack of discipline, and amateurish training.
He immediately began writing the famous “Blue Book” drill manual and personally trained the troops, but there was one problem, that he spoke almost no English.
He mostly cursed and yelled in German (and sometimes French), with his translators, the French-speaking Pierre Duponceau, and later Alexander Hamilton, translating his orders.
The Blue Book eventually became the standard American drill manual until the War of 1812.
jackt-up on
Classic WoodTeeth George, just abiding stoically
coolcoolcool485 on
Very appropriate that Von Stuben is flaming here.
I will see myself out.
HyperionPhalanx on
I feel like the downfall hitler meme would’ve been golden here
6 Comments
Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben was an absolute godsend to the Continental Army. A highly trained Prussian officer, he showed up at Valley Forge in February 1778 and was horrified by the filth, lack of discipline, and amateurish training.
He immediately began writing the famous “Blue Book” drill manual and personally trained the troops, but there was one problem, that he spoke almost no English.
He mostly cursed and yelled in German (and sometimes French), with his translators, the French-speaking Pierre Duponceau, and later Alexander Hamilton, translating his orders.
The Blue Book eventually became the standard American drill manual until the War of 1812.
Classic WoodTeeth George, just abiding stoically
Very appropriate that Von Stuben is flaming here.
I will see myself out.
I feel like the downfall hitler meme would’ve been golden here
American weaponized incompotene wins another day.
“I like your funny words, magic man”