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- North-Carolhia State Gazette. .No. 10. RALEIGH, (X. C.) FIlipAY; MAY 10, 181G. Vol. Mil. THE riBLKHkV WELKLY, BY THOMAS HENDERSON, JUN. a aa - g,STnfio, iriiv ot.iiart r annum dut no parT win , - . iirHHiin irar nan 4 jrtar it paiu in ai'vanr, iml no pap riliaror.tinucd bu; at tbe option of the Edi tor. unt- all arrrkrsg' ax paid JtJrrrtitmrmi; not rinedmir 14 linea, inrtd three timer r r ft 1, ana emu tor each continuance. niOGRAVIIY. truni the .imericaii Jlc.gaxiiw. SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF THE LATE BARON STEl'BFN. I am not certain in what part of Germany, dough I think it was in Suabia, that this respect a le man was born. lit; was not a Prussian, for bad I, said he, speaking of the strong passions of lreuiTlCjL.ute oecuuut mui ncrnwrinnuiyciii I should tale been sent to Spandau, for daring to demand a dismission from his service. The Baron had been for some time in tta fami lr, and friendship of Prince Henry, the king's brother, of whom he never spoke but with the greater tenderness and affection. In an unfor tunate campaign ot the seven jears' war, the it.ee incurred the displeasure of his harsh bro il er; who directed him to retire from the army, and ordered his aids-de-cmp to their different corps, or put them upon such unpleasant duty as BHjjnt make them feel the misfortune of belonging to a man who had dared to displease, perhaps to disobey him. Steuben was sent into Silesia to recruit, equip, nd discipline, within a certain period, a corps broken dow n by long and hard service. The pe cuniary allowance for this object, was entirely inadequate: but who, in the Prussian service, dared to murmur or remonstrate ! Bytheassis-j iance of friends, fu!'.!s were found, and the regi ment complete, was marched to head quarters within the time. Pleased with the prompt per formance of a duty, of the arduousness of which tlie king was welf apprized, the Baron received hi? compliments, and in a little time after, the ap pointment of aid-de-camp to the monarch, with the department of the quarter master. It was undoubtedly, an excellent part of the Prussian lystem ; the different departments, each having I particular person near the commander in chief, to whom every officer of the corps could, on all Occasions, addi ess himself; and on whom at every moment, and for every kind of information rela tive to the branch of service w ith which the aid -tte-camp was connected, the king could call. In thvs proud station he remained lour years; why rev enue. w hich put its poseuor much tt his case. The Baron frequently passed bis winters in Pari. In that city, in 177G,he first met Benjamin Frank lin, our Ambassador at the court of Versailles, in the society of Count de Vrrgennea and the Prince de Montharre, then secretary at war. Mr. Frank lin, venerable in his appearance, high la reputa tion, and full of enthusiasm in the cause of his country, spoke with energy and with all the art of politician, of the undaunted spirit of the peo ple of the United States; of their ample means, and well founded hopes ; ofthe gltr tohini.who should effectually assist in laying the foundation uf a great empire, and of the latitude, honors arid rewards which awaited the man, who should give instruction in the military art, to . the brave but undisciniined armv urulr aahmrfnn t XL a I man. mum- anil tHal u ,lmmt vur Jo. iw 1 ' " " ' ir r-mm- . m . w . '-.ti , . I " m mi.i.uwv . V- I u T VII' i 1 . " . . . I . ... j- . ..." . . . t . - rreDCDminisieriiBurmoneuriMarCTmeTiU &jin-t warori rese. at three 0 clock 1 while bis servant ..1 : .11 . i rkLii a a. 1 jt ....1 1 'i. t - 1 1 1 1 this mament, Captain, now Colonel Walker, then , of tii &i NeV'York regiment, advanced from h:s platan, and offered UiagJsisUaKe totranlate d. ! orders, and Interpret to tlie troops. If, aidt'.e Brun, 1 had teea an angd frm Heavcu, I hiuld 1 not hava Lfe more rejoiced. The officer 111 0 e ;mj mho (poke English and French flurntlv, were indeed very few in number how few were capable of tnvinr assistance t the Baron, iu the fornution of his system. Walker became, I fro-n th&)t moment, his aid-de-camp, and remained to the ead of the Baron's life, his dear atul tno..t worthy-4. iend. From the comniencejnent of in stmcUJB, j tiracr no pains, no fatigue was tho't too gtMf, ik pursuit of t'.is reat object. Through the whajjeuftach campaii,-wben troops were to maiiuBiwej. axu that was almost everv day Lediftall the wishes-of Ke phfhwcrphic nrgociator. it was undoubtedly tlie intention of the king, dressed his'Lair, be amoked a siiilIc pine, and ; drank one cup of cvfle, was on boi Kt-imtk fft snn-. their master, they said, to declare himself as rise, and witS or without hi guitcalloiK'd tire soon as circumstances would permit, tlie protec- parade ; there was no waiting for a tardv nidnle tor of this virtuous people, who had bcavely ta- j camp and Jhose whoJ"ullo ed, wished the v had ken arms against an haughty, and imperious na- 1 not slept ! Nor was there need of chiding j when tion, whose ambition went to tlie subjugation not duty was neglected or military etiquette infringed, only of America but of Europe. That though the ; the Baron V look was quite sufficient. It was a moment had not yet arrived, in w hich the king j question, w hy in the first instance, our troops had could openly espouse the cause of the Americans, been put to the performance of the great manteu- steps were now taking secretly to snpply them j vres ? I beg pardon toi calling them great, but ' with arms, and there could be no doubt of his fa- they were creat to us, for we were i2norant. . j vorable regard to him, who, by teacU'ng the most Bland's exercise, .md iSymmes' military guide,' eueciuai 'none 01 using tnem, would render es- were almost the only poor and scanty sources sent ial service to an oppressed people, strugling from whicli ve drew. To the question it was against their tyrant. The glory attendant on a answered, that in fact there was no time to snare i successful achievement of this untried adventure, in learning the minutiae the troops must be pre- was painted in such glowing colours, (and who I pared for instant combat : that on a field of bat ,. I 1:1. I P 1. ; V I il N . .1.1. . I r . 1 can colour like the French ? ) and the picture so often presented to view, that the Baron, without entering into or demanding any stipulations w ith Messrs. Franklin or Dean, returned in the spring of 1777, to Germany, resigned his places, & their emoluments, came lack to France, and in theau tumn of tlie same year embarked for the United tie, how to display or fold a column, or to change a tront, was of the first consequence ; that the bu siness was to give the troops a relish for their trade, a confidence in their skill, in the perfor mance of complicated evolutions. That even if time permitted, the officers copying the bad ex ample, set them by the rsritish, ot relerrme all States, on board a ship, freighted, ostensibly by instruction to the sergeants, would feel them- private persons, but in fact, by Louis the Six-j selves degraded in attending to an aw kward squad teenth, with arms, clothiug and munitions of war but the time w ill come, said he, when a better and commanded by Captain Landais, a brave mode of thinking will prevail ; then we will attend experienced officer , v-ho had sailed round the, to the A B C of the profession. This prophecy world with Monsr. de Bouganville, and who for j wa3 amply fulfilleda year or two after ai ds, the the service he tlien porformed to this nation, de-! Cfli'on said to me, do you see there, sir, your Co served a recompense, the benefits of which he I lonel instructing that recruit ? I thank (Jod fur might vet feel. I passed, not long Bince, this ve teran in the street at Now-York.and saw, with pain, that adverse gales seemed still to thwart his course. The Baron landed in December, at Portsmouth, in Npu.Hamniiliii'fl. TK fircf iimn 1 n !:.,, - " ' - - - 1.1 . .1111.. .-.fin 1 1 I 1 1 1 it was abandoned 1 never knew, I never asked; ; was in the spring of 1JT8, at an assembly in Lan- tor tiough some anecdotes ol the king's conduct, ; caster, Pennsylvania. He had been received in to his officers, which were heard with silent won-. the most distinguished manner bv Congress, then der. were from time to time told, there was a de- j in session at York, and was on bis way to Head lic;cv observed in speaking of that man's faults, J Quarters, at Valley Forge. His reputation had which marked the feelings of profound respect, j preceded him, and those who yet remember his with which he was remembered. AY hen the death 1 graceful entry, and manner in a ballroom, the of his old master was announced, I saw a tear novel splendor of his star, and its accompanvirio steal down the Baron's cheek. Strong ties are ornaments, can easily conceive tbp fpplin nfKw countrymen, and of their assembled wives and daughters ; they might indeed with the honest Fluelling, have " thanked God, that they had no reason to be ashamed of him." The troops, in log huts, at Valley Forge, were in the most abject state of want; ill armed, worse fed, confined to their gloomy habitations, by sickness, or want of raiment. The Baron, frequently afterwards de clared, that no European army could have been kept together under such dreadful deprivations. What must have been his feelings, to see, as he passed sv ith General Washington through the can tonment, the half naked figures, and to hear at every turn, the hollow, mournful cry, No pay 1 broken when stern soldiers weep! An American, who had been prisoner on long Island, had said, a German officer had informed him that it was understood tlie king w as jealous of the Baron's Tniiitary reputation it was mentioned ; jealous ofiv.e! said tlie Baron, the fellow was a fool, a ot ! There can however, be no doubt, of the con si'eiation in w hich the military knowledge of the Bu n was held. When General Lincoln, then lee. etary for the department of war, was directed Vy Congress, to apply to the different powers of fui oj;e for a transcript of their military codes, Mon.sr. de llertsburgh, prime minister of Prussia, answered that the instructions in question had Uever been published, or transcribed, except for 11; e chiefs of the army, to whom alone they were confided ; adding, that he was surprized "at the request, having understood that Barrm Steuben, Was in the service of the United States, who knew every thing relative to the Prussian system, au fml. Major Jackson, then of the war office, po litely sent the Baron the above, extract from the Puce Minister's letter. Whatever n.ay have been the cause, the Baron retired from Prussia, n(l entered into the service of the sovereign Prince, Charles of Baden, who gave him, with the order oi fidelity, the command of his troops amounting to between three and four thousand ?c. Some time after he was elected, or, ap pointed Lieutenant General, of one of the circles pf tlie Empire; a station, rather honorary than, lucrative. The troops of thecircles w ere militia, and the duty at that time little more than atten wnga periodical' review.1 How changed, for ma j1?) ears, has. been the situation and duties oi -we unfortunate people ! God help them, they ave drank deep of the cup ofaffliction ! . The Baron's income from his military &ccle 'astical rank, for he w as a cannon of the church, Jaunted to the value of five hundred and eigh ty I'Ouis d'ors per annum. By whom he was BiHde a dignitary of the church, 1 lu.ve forgotten, I"' it is certain that not only the king of Prussia, p other continental sovereigns bestowed chui ch livings en their officers: nor would Frederick, I presume; have felt any scruples of conscience, in fining the whole revenues of the church mil itant, to troops, in whose weapons and tactics he f greater confidence, could the assignment pfcbeen effected without danger or disgrace. ,n. a ccjur.try where money was so valuable, that c lefcook, or a coachman could bo hired for dollars and a suit of clothes, per annum; ""ere many of the luxyries, and all the necessa- FlAt- Pk'f. Jk . pjui we, were porportiotiahly cheap twenty no provisions ! No clothes! No rum! His heart sickened at the scene, and well it might; the mi sery was great! Beef from the pine barrens of iortii-arolina, poor to a proverb, and yellow with, perhaps, the billious fever of the country, without the luxury of salt! Good Heaven ! Fran cois, said an officer, a3 he saw black grains float ing on the top of the camp kettle, Good Heaven ! where did you get black pepper ? It is not pep per, it is dried whortleberries, said the French man ; and if not those, not any things 0 ! 'tw as wretched theTe, and almost every w here through out the war. I mean not with the citizens, tha' that! On the lTtli of June, the battle of Monmouth was fought. Colonel Hamilton said that he had never known, or conceived the value of discipline, till that day. The Baron had no command in the line, for although-Congress had given Uai the rank of Major General, the benefits expected to be re ceived iroin-nia military acquirements were not to be confinevO a single division or the Army. Indeed there were other reasons ; the troops were not more in number than the older Major Gene rals could command ; and there was such an in flux of Fgnchmen, from the continent, and from the islands, all demanding, and many receiving high rank, that the American officers began to be disgusted, and to murmur loudly at being com manded by foreigners. What the Baron had re ceived, had been given without asking for, and he wisely left it to time and service to point out his station. The assistance he gave in forming the troops and in reconnoiteringfthe enemy, in which service he narrowly escaped being taken, were acknow ledged. His report to the Commander in Chief, respecting the situation of the enemy, and of the column commanded by General Lee, induc ed that gentleman, in his defence, to make some remarks of which the Baron thought it proper to ask an immediate explanation. It was given, and in the most satisfactory manner. General Lee, conscious of the part he had acted, with respect to General Washington, probably looked upon, that gentleman's friends as his own enemies. He had been unfortunate, and believing that he had little favor to expect, he stood, as it were, at bay. He had an exalted opinion of British troops, with w hom he had formerly served, and not great con fidence in those he commanded but whether their misbehavior lefore the enemy was owing to a want in their commander, of skill and energy, I recollect was, at the time, doubted. So soon as the army became stationary, the Inspector-Gene ral introduced a system of inspection and police, -pread on tlie Kildier'i blanket, arid tested by Kii li tje b...k, whether what he hid ireeitrd from the United Sutra, witliin th yeir, Win there, if rut. to be arc mnted for. Ili"p,"l,"ore,la) rt.rie, e ry plate, and every thing, wm tpea t't inspection, an.l iiirip-rted : and what officer's mind as at eae, if btnsca or expenditure. euM nct, on the day of crcVnig, be fully tad fairlj accounted fir ! ThelnspectionH were every montii, and wonderful was the effect. Dot only with re gnl (o economy, but in creating a spirit of eru lat. n between different corps. I l.ae known the) subaltern of a regiment, appropriate one of their two rations to tlie bettering the appearance of their men; hut this wa at a later period ofthe war, when supplies and payments were more am ple and more regular. Jt was, I think, in the winter of 1778 1), that the Baron formed and published Mm reflations. The difficultiei he - , . ... . . -ncounierea ir carrying on that wort, were r iked great. The bookstores w ere not then Glled with military authors and compilers. All he set down, was drawn from hii own recollections of tlie Prussian code and service ; these to he ar ranged in order, the language in which fiey were written to be translated into Vnlish, and by those not conversant with military evolution, scarcely with military phrase. To sketch, n sketch the plates, and fit them for the engraver- tiie eu-raer, the paper, the types and printer w ith difficulty to be found. None but those who. lived in those dark days of poverty and death of e-.cry thing, can thiuka thousandth part oPall thq pen iry with which we were surrounded. The Blue Book at last appeared, and w as fctudied and except tlie bible, was held in the highest esti mation. 1779 and 1780, passed, as well asl re collect, in attending to the discipline of the army and without any occurrence of greater moment. in w men me jaron was engaged. The flight of Arnold, which was announced in v.hiapers, at midnight,- and the trial and execution of MajoV Andre, gave birth to strong but very different feelin-s in his breast. With the inevitable fate ofthe unfortunate British Adjutant General, he was exceedingly affected. It is not possible, said he, to save hi-n. He put us to no proof, butin ait open manly manner, -onfessed every thing but a premeditated design to deceive. Would to God, the wretch who drew him to his death, could have suffered in his place In- the autumn of 1780, the Baron was ordered to the southward. General Gates had been defeated, and his force dispersed. The southern states were supposed to be in tho greatest danger, and that the war, in that country, could be committed to no one with more proprie ty than to General Greene, There was full time, during the journey, to mature the: plan of opera tion. Baron Steuben wa left iu Virginia, to gamer whatever ot men or means might possibly be gathered, to form the troops, knd at all risk of clamor or dissatisfaction of the Virginians, to dis- iiinush their state, tor the moment, in the hope of securing its ultimate safety. , 1 TO BE CONCLUDED IN OUR ITEXT.j with thein it was full bad. I knew a delegate in 1 which uervaded everv branch of thp servirp . with Congress, who offered his watch to Mrs. House, in its purview, and by which millions were saved in Philadelphia, as a pledge for payment of his every campaign, after it was in operation. Hono board ; she had the grace and goodness to refuse rable and worthy men, yet in existence, among the offer, and to let the debt remain till he cou'J whom are Judge Peters and Colonel Pickering, pay it -that man of high worth and honor, of large cannot but remember, to what a ruinous extent possessions, and most respectable connections the spoil and waste of tents, arms, ammunition, hy should I hesitate tp say, that man was James accoutrements and camp equipage, waa carried. Duane ? In such a time it was honest, it was ! Both those gentlemen were then of the board of virtuous to be poor. But I must quit this theme, war, and hate not forgotten the incalculable ser or it will lead me where I do not wish to go ; vice rendered by the Baron, to our country. One perhaps the present generation would have suf- of those respectable patriots, it was Judge Peters, tered more, with better bearing. The spring j said, not three months since, sir, the services of opened, partial supplies were received, and the Baron commenced his laboi s, as Inspector Gene- neral ; and certainly it was a brave attemnf. t understanding a word of our lancua Without to think of bringing men, born free, and joined together to preserve their freedom into strict subjection; to obey without a Word, a look, the mandates of a master ! that master, once their e qual, or possibly beneath them, in w hatever might become a man! It was a brave attempt, which nothing but virtue, or high rftised hopes of glory could have supported. At the first parade,, the troops neither understanding the command, ncr how to follow in a changement to which they had not been accustomed, even with the instructor at ftur poiporuojiaaiy cneap twenty- notneen accustomed, even with the instructor at 'ed, even the fiirits am 1 r, or twenty -five hundred dollars a year, was a their head, were getting fast into confusion. At sacks unslung, aad our tnend, cannot be too highly estimated. I knew him well, and take him altogether, abetter man did not exist.' To whom else, how few the number left To whom can I appeal ! The mas ters and the laborers, in that great work of inde pendence, have passed away ; and with them, how great a portion of the virtue and the talents of our country ! With what strict scrutiny were the inspections made ! I have seen tlie Baron and his assistants, seven long hours inspecting a bri gade of three small regiments! Every man not present must be accounted for if in camp, sick or well, they were produced, or visited; every musket ha. idled,, searched, cartridge hOxes open ed, even the fiirits and cartridges counted ; knap- every article of clothing Yerk- LIST OF ACTS Passed at the First Session of the 14th Congress. An act to authorise the President of th Uni ted States to lease, for the term therein mention ed, the neV building on the Capitol Hill, fdr the better accommodation of Congress. Making additional appropriations to defray the expenses ofthe army arid militia, during the lafe Hill iiu uicai jiiuaiii. For the relief of Jonathan B.Eastman. To authorise the Davrhent for nrnnertr Inaf I J -. v . I roji captured or destroyed, by the enemy, while in the military service ofthe United States, and for other purposes. i or the relief ot t harles Markm. Rewarding the officers and crew of th nnn of war Hornet, for the Capture and destruction of the untish sloop 01 war rengum. To enlarge the timeor ascertaining the annual transfers and changes of property subject to the Direct Tax, and for other purpsses. For the relief of Henry Fanning. To resmlate the commerce bpfwonn tV TTttUnA States, and the Territories of Hia B 'ifnnnir Ma jesty, according to'the convention, concluded the ,r uij, loiii, aimuie lUUUCilUUIIB OI WIHCa Wer exchanged oil the 22d December, 1815. For the relief of William Mprrisset. For the relief of John Redman Coxe. For the relief of Martin Cole, John Pollock, George Westner and Abraham YVelty. For the relief of Charles Ross and Samuel Breek surviving executors of John Ross, deceased. To enable the people of the Indiana territorj to form a constitution and state government, and for the admission of such state into the Union on an equal footing with the origional states ; To incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of the United States. . I For the relief of pertain purchasers of public land in the Mississippilerritory. To authorise the President of the United States to lease the Saline, near the Wabash river, Vor 'a term not exceeding seven years. For the rilief of Jonathan White. For the relief of John G. Camp. - To amend an act for the relief of Edward Hal lowell. . . For the relief of Jonathan Rogers, junr. of Hart ford, Connecticut. For the relief of Win. Hamon. Providing an additional comnensnti'nn tn th District Judge of the seukhera district of New I, 1 i ;m'. ii 1 1 i I 9 er- ill i 1 4 ?! J-t ' i r 1 Si.'1 . .ti-' -I " 1 t'V.J:':''-'ff-.,
The North-Carolina Star (Raleigh, N.C.)
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May 10, 1816, edition 1
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