The Lestwitz Regiment was the most disciplined and highly trained unit in the Prussian army, probably the best anywhere, and Wilhelm von Steuben was one of its officers. The next 25 years of his career had their ups and downs, but there was no doubt that the Baron knew his way around eighteenth century combat. The French were pretending neutrality with regard to the American Revolution, but were shipping weapons and supplies to the rebels through a commercial front. Both the French and the Americans were frustrated by how little materiel was actually reaching the troops, and how poorly it was used once it got there. Benjamin Franklin conspired with von Steuben to inflate his resume, and the "Lieutenant General in the King of Prussia's Service" (he hadn't been a general and had left Frederick's staff a decade before) proceeded to Valley Forge to drill the troops, organize the camp, and account for the muskets. He spoke no English, and no German translators were available, he gave his orders in French and hey were translated, although he learned basic commands in English soon enough. Von Steuben's frustrated swearing at his untrained troops may be the prototype for the modern drill sergeant. It has been suggested that he was homosexual, a theory that helps explain the end of both his European commissions, his urgency for leaving Europe, and the complete absence of women from his historical record. It has also been suggested that there were only two men indispensable in the Revolutionary War, George Washington and Baron Wilhelm von Steuben.
Speaking of Washington, his was the first name on the Constitution signed at Philadelphia, this is also the date on his farewell address, and I've chosen a few quotes from him for today. We also have the first Siamese twins to be separated, the first airplane passenger fatality, and the first black Miss America - also the first Miss America to have her title revoked.
Today is the commemoration of Hildegard of Bingen, beatified but not canonized, who had a couple of first herself. Musical notation was a recent invention in her time which allowed her to become the earliest composer to have a biography written about her - her music was widely recorded in recent years in time for the 900th anniversary of her birth. Finally, we have the first Emperor of the United States, a brilliant madman in San Francisco. I look forward to his birthday in February to write up more of his exploits.
1787 - The final engrossed copy of the Constitution of the United States was signed by representatives of twelve states at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was set to go into effect on 4 March 1789, by which time it had been ratified by eleven states, nine being the minimum required.
1796 - George Washington signed and dated his farewell address. The document written with James Madison and Alexander Hamilton was published on the 19th, and apparently never actually delivered as a speech. In it he announced that he would not run for reelection, warned of foreign entanglements, and clearly opposed the creation of political parties.
1859 - Joshua A. Norton of San Francisco declared himself Emperor Norton I of the United States and Protector of Mexico. He was mad, but his proclamation made the paper, his currency was accepted for his own personal needs, he stopped a racially inspired assault on Chinatown by standing in the street reciting the Lord's Prayer, and 10,000 attended his funeral in 1880.
1908 - Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, the first military airplane pilot in the US, was killed in a test flight at Fort Meyer, Virginia. Orville Wright was the pilot, he lost control of the airplane when a new propeller delaminated. The plane crashed from an altitude of about 75 feet, Wright was badly injured, Selfridge was the first fatality powered flight.
1953 - Carolyn Anne and Catherine Anne Mouton, conjoined (Siamese) twins born connected at the waist in July, were surgically separated at the Ochsner Foundation Hospital at New Orleans, Louisiana, the first such separation to succeed with both twins surviving.
1983 - Vanessa Williams was named Miss America, the first black winner in the pageant's history. Clueless promoters stripped her of the title in 1984 after earlier nude photos were published. Williams went on to success as a singer and actress well beyond any pageant winner that kept her title.
Memorial of Hildegard of Bingen, Born as a "tenth child" in 1098 she was given to the Church, schooled in a Benedictine abbey, took orders at 18, and became head of the women's side of the abbey at 38. She moved her growing convent to a new facility she designed, including plumbing, wrote songs (many recently recorded), poems, nine books, dozens of sermons, and hundreds of lively and often critical letters to bishops, kings, and popes. Her books include great detail on medicinal plants and what may be the first written account of female orgasm. Her visions which started in her youth but were accompanied by revelation in her 42nd year are characteristic of migraine, although the spiritual insights accompanying hers are not. Often noted by "new age" and feminist writers who manage to ignore that she was Christian. Died on this day in 1179.
1730
- Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin von Steuben, Saxon
soldier - Born to a lieutenant engineer at the Prussian garrison city
of Magdeburg, moved with Army through much of Eastern Europe with father,
educated in Jesuit school at Breslau for several years. Joined the army
at 16, studied military arts and rose quickly in rank, lieutenant at 22.
At 29 he became "Quartiermaster Leutnant," a position on the general staff
and the personal staff of Frederick the Great. He was 33 when the Seven
Years War ended, now a captain, but was dismissed for vague reasons. Joined
the court of the near-bankrupt Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, gaining
knighthood and the title of Baron, lived with the prince in Paris for
several years, was asked to retire after 11 years due to lack of funds
to pay him. Returned to France, sought commissions in French, Spanish,
and English armies, and was introducedto Ben Franklin. He volunteered
to serve in the Continental Army without pay (but expected to be given
land and other compensation if the war was successful), and arrived at
Portsmouth, New Hampshire on 1 December 1777, joining Washington at Valley
Forge in February of 1778. Found sanitation completely absent, organization
minimal, and training not only inadequate but based on traditions from
several different armies. Wrote the first army manual (with illustrations
by Charles l'Enfant who later designed Washington City), put the kitchen
on high ground and the latrines at the other end, and started drilling
a select company of 100 who then broke up to train the rest. Became Inspector
General of the Army, never was given line authority due to fear of jealousies
toward foreign officers. Regrouped a retreating force under heavy fire
at Monmouth and won the battle, trained with the southern army, took an
extended sick leave but returned for the final battle at Yorktown. Was
granted US citizenship in 1784, spent years attempting to be paid for
his service, given land by several states and finally receiving a pension
in 1790. He adopted two of his aides d'camp, one of whom lived with him
and managed his affairs until his death at Remsen, New York on 28 November
1794.
The liberality of sentiment toward each other, which marks every political
and religious denomination of men in this country, stands unparalleled
in the history of nations.
- George Washington
Thirteen sovereignites pulling against each other and all tugging at
the federal head, will soon bring ruin on the whole.
- George Washington
Labour to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire,
called conscience.
- George Washington
How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate
with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak
and the strong - because someday you will have been all of these.
- George Washington
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