2 – His training program turned the tides
Baron von Steuben wrote a drill manual for the Continental army. It was completely written in French (he spoke very little English), so it was translated by Alexander Hamilton and Nathaniel Greene. His tactics were very advanced, especially for the Patriots. He formed an honor guard for George Washington, composed of 120 men. These men were used to show the rest of the troops the military training. In turn, the troops trained by the honor guard would train those below them.
Most effectively, von Steuben trained the troops in bayonet usage and the best way to fire and reload a musket. The Battle of Stony Point was won by the Continental troops solely with unloaded bayonets. This was due to the bayonet charges taught by Baron von Steuben.
Before Baron von Steuben, American officers didn’t directly drill the troops. Like the British army, American officers thought it was un-gentlemenly to do so. However, when von Steuben arrived, he had no qualms about training the Patriots himself. The troops loved him and his eccentric qualities. He greatly raised morale.
It became widely known, and accepted, that Steuben was second in effectiveness only to George Washington. His drills, regulations for encampments and personality went a long way in transforming the troops of the Continental army from a group of misfits to a regimented fighting machine capable of beating the British.
Baron von Steuben’s efforts began to pay off in May 1778 at the Battle of Barren Hill. His training manual, Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States, was used by the U.S. Army until 1814. This manual was also known as the “Blue Book” and, in many ways, was Steuben’s claim to fame.