(August 20, 2011 at 1:05 am)Cinjin Wrote: You're right, as I understand Baron was an honorary title given to Von Steuben and he is definitely credited with turning the patriots into a true colonial army and a big contributor in turning the tide of the war. The amount of ambush attacks by americans has always been debatable by revolutionists historians, but one things for sure, something that my professor of American History pointed out to me years ago, you don't beat an army that outnumbers you ten to one by being completely incompetent and counting on a foreign country to beat them for you. (... and you certainly don't beat them with pitchforks).
It might also be worthy to note: As I recall, Von Steuben was discharged from the Prussian army and found his way to Ben Franklin through French connections. He was actually considered a successful military leader while with the Prussian army and it leads one to wonder why he was discharged. I theorize that it was very possible that he was objecting to those old antiquated battle techniques and developing better tactics, thus the powers that be disapproved of his "untested theories" (or even perhaps pure envy got him fired). Regardless, it gives credence to the fact that he taught the colonial army those military tactics I aforementioned ... some of which are still employed today.
Let me see if I can find a link for better info.
I'm only pointing out that taking all credit from the colonial army is at the very least, inaccurate. They had weapons, they had a teacher, even if it's true that they sucked giant ass, which is only true in the start of the war - Rhythm still does have a valid point.
As to why Von Steuben was discharged:
http://bobarnebeck.com/baron.html
Quote:Alone of all the men mentioned in these pages, Steuben was accused of engaging in homosexual acts. In 1777 a friend of Steuben's wrote to his former employer, the Prince of Hechingen:
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.
But as far as his "tactics" went, the Americans learned to load, fire by rank, and proper bayonet drill which had been the big disparity between them and the British. The American militia thought the bayonet was to scratch their balls with. The Brits knew how to use it and at Long Island they used it to rout Washington's entire force. The Prussians were still using linear formations in 1806 and Napoleon kicked their asses. The Austrians only adapted after the French kicked their asses a few times. The British were still using linear tactics in 1815 and they were the only ones to make it work....although again, they would have lost Waterloo if the Prussians did not save them.
If you look at the most significant American victory of the war before Von Stueben's efforts, Saratoga, you see a situation in which a British army advanced into the wilderness of upstate New York, got itself involved in an attack against a fortified position and only then learned that expected reinforcements had either never left New York City or had been stopped at Oriskany. Further, Burgoyne foolishly divided his force and saw 1,000 of them lost at the pointless Battle of Bennington.
The Brits were using the same tactics to storm a fortified line in 1815 at New Orleans that they had used at Bunker Hill. Andy Jackson did not run out of ammo. It was apparently not one of their strengths.
