Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben Character Analysis in Lafayette in the Somewhat United States

A Prussian general known for his incredible organizational and tactical skills, von Steuben was almost solely responsible for getting the Patriot troops into shape. But at Valley Forge, Steuben learned that American forces were different than any he had worked with before: rather than blindly following orders, the Patriots demanded generals who treated them as equals, explaining the reasoning behind all of their decisions. Steuben was also likely non-heterosexual, but given centuries of homophobia in the American military, he was forced to keep this part of his identity under wraps.

Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben Quotes in Lafayette in the Somewhat United States

The Lafayette in the Somewhat United States quotes below are all either spoken by Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben or refer to Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Democracy, Disagreement, and Compromise Theme Icon

Washington had also been ruminating on a deeper, less obvious stumbling block than the fact that summer—and summer battle season—was coming all too soon. Namely, that the rebels under his command were not fighting to become free; they were cornered into fighting because the government of Great Britain had failed to understand that they already were. […] Yet the self-respect and self-possession that incited said people to revolt was hindering the revolution goal, independence, because functional armies required hierarchy and self-denial, orders barked and orders followed.

Related Characters: Sarah Vowell (speaker), Marquis de Lafayette, George Washington, Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben

Page Number and Citation: 167

Explanation and Analysis:

Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben Character Timeline in Lafayette in the Somewhat United States

The timeline below shows where the character Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben appears in Lafayette in the Somewhat United States. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Luckily, the Americans had a new asset in the Prussian soldier Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben. Steuben was renowned in Europe for his military prowess, and though the U.S. wanted to... (full context)

Youthful Glory vs. Mature Leadership Theme Icon

Once Steuben arrived at Valley Forge, he was impressed that the Americans had managed to hold themselves... (full context)

But though Steuben was itching to introduce some discipline into the army at Valley Forge, Washington understood that... (full context)

Under Steuben’s guidance, the Patriot army finally learned how to perform drills and operate as a coherent... (full context)

...Clinton. As Washington debated whether to attack Clinton in New Jersey, he leaned on Greene, Steuben, Knox and Lafayette as his most trusted military advisors. (full context)

...the Patriots were also newly able to hold their ground, in large measure because of Steuben’s military guidance. (full context)

Landscape and Historical Memory Theme Icon

...American army was in dire straits. Only 5 of 500 promised recruits showed up for Steuben’s Virginia militia, and Thomas Jefferson, the state’s governor, did little to encourage his people to... (full context)

...rest of the Patriots had fought exceptionally well: with the help of men like Lafayette, Steuben and Alexander Hamilton, the Americans cut the Redcoats on Yorktown off from food to such... (full context)