Baron von Steuben

Baron von Steuben

Baron von Steuben
Reading Level

	edHelper's suggested reading level:	grades 6 to 8
	Flesch-Kincaid grade level:	7.57

Vocabulary

	challenging words:		determined, drillmaster, sanitation, standing, volley, envoy, latrine, avid, citizenship, military, strategy, estate, militia, rank, pension, fairly
	content words:		Revolutionary War, Benjamin Franklin, General George Washington, Lieutenant General, In September, George Washington, Valley Forge, Von Steuben, Inspector General, New York

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Baron von Steuben
By Jane Runyon

¹     Not everyone who fought in the Revolutionary War was a colonist. In those days, many people would travel over the world fighting for anyone who needed them. Baron von Steuben was from Germany where he was born in 1730. He spent most of his life from birth to age ten with his father, a military man, stationed in Russia. When he was ten, his family returned to Germany where Friedrich attended school. At the age of 17, he was commissioned as an officer in the Prussian army. Friedrich was an avid student of military strategy. He fought courageously with the Prussians until he was thirty-three years old.

²     In 1763, von Steuben was discharged from the army having attained the rank of captain. History is a little cloudy about the reasons for his discharge. The greatest skill he mastered in the army was that of a drillmaster. He believed that discipline and drill were the main ingredients needed to produce a successful army.

³     After his discharge from the army, von Steuben became a part of the royal court. He was given the title of Baron. Unfortunately for him, he did not have the money he needed to support the lifestyle he enjoyed living. He tried unsuccessfully to sell his services as a military man to several European countries. During the summer of 1777, he traveled to Paris. He had heard that the American envoy, Benjamin Franklin, was there. He believed he might be able to convince Franklin that his talents were needed to help the American colonial army.

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