Baron Von Steuben's Revolutionary War Drill Manual: A Facsimile Reprint of the 1794 Edition

by Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben

On February 23, 1778, Frederick William Baron von Steuben reported to General George Washington at the Continental Army's bleak winder encampment at Valley Forge. Speaking virtually no English and at an unexpected ebb in his professional fortunes, Steuben nevertheless brought a depth of military training and grasp of command techniques sorely needed by the bedraggled, ragtag army. With his lofty military reputation, forceful bearing, and colorful personality, the Prussian commander had an immediate galvanizing effect on the disorganized insurgents. He soon became one of Washington's most valued officers — an essential figure in the success of the American War of Independence.
Commissioned to mold the troops into an efficient fighting force, Steuben formed a model drill company of one hundred men, transformed it into a precision unit copied throughout the ranks, and captured the imagination of the entire army. His record of drill instructions, written in brief installments, grew into the Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States. Commonly known as the army's "blue book," this basic manual of military training and procedures remained the official U.S. military guide until 1812.
This inexpensive facsimile reproduces the extremely rare 1794 edition of Steuben's drill manual, published in Boston by I. Thomas and E. T. Andrews. It describes in detail the arms and accoutrements of officers and soldiers, formation and exercise of a company, instruction of recruits, formation and marching of columns, disposition and firing of fieldpieces, laying out of a camp, inspection, treatment of the sick, reviews of parade, and other essentials. The volume is further enhanced by reproductions of the eight copperplates from the 1794 edition and an Appendix (the United States Militia Act of 1792).

Genres: History, War, Nonfiction, American Revolution, Military Fiction, Military History, American History

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1985

About the author

Prussian-born American Revolutionary military leader Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben trained the previously undisciplined troops of the Continental Army.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedri...

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Von Steuben helped drill the soldiers under Washington at the winter encampment of Valley Forge. We will never know how much his efforts contributed to success later on...but his contribution is undeniable. It is always fascinating to read about individuals who have been forgotten or lost in history - sometimes it tells you more about the event than was meant to be said.

[Dave/Maggie Bean · Rating 4 out of 5]

While rummaging through the basement for a snorkel, fishnet stockings and
egg-beater, I found a neat book I had purchased some years ago and forgotten: Baron von Steuben's Revolutionary War Drill Manual ( a facsimile reprint
of the 1794 edition). 1985, Dover Books, ISBN 0-486-24934-4.

In addition to being a real treat for military history buffs, the book
contains a reprint of the Militia Act of 1792, certain to enrage those who
now argue that our ancestors didn't own firearms. I've been wanting to
recommend this book and provide an appropritate cite for ages; so what a
stroke of luck in finding it!

"...That every citizen so enrolled and notified shall, within six months
thereafter, provide himself with a good musket or firelock, a sufficient
bayonet and belt, two spare flints, and a knapsack, a pouch with a box
thereto to contain not less than twenty-four cartridges, suited to the bore
of his musket or firelock , each cartridge to contain a proper quantity
powder and ball; or with a good rifle, knapsack, shot pouch and and powder
horn, twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle and a quarter of a pound
of powder..."

Emphasis mine. "Provide himself" is rather obvious. What is even more
interesting is what is evident to black-powder buffs: These weapons are not standardized
in terms of bore, which indicated to me that they were probably obtained from
local gunsmiths. I had a similar discussion with a gunsmith in Williamsburg,
VA, and he agreed, so I'm not alone in that.

Moving right along:

"That the commissioned officers shall be severally armed with a sword or
hanger, and espontoon, and that from and after five years from the passing of
this act, all muskets for arming the militia as is herein required, shall be
of bores sufficient for the balls of the eighteenth part of a pound*, and
every citizen so enrolled, and providing himself with the arms, ammunition
and accoutrements required as aforesaid, shall hold the same exempt from all
suits, distresses, executions of sales, for debt or for the payment of
taxes."

Note "five year plan" aimed at standardization, and note that militamen
received a sort of financial incentive to do so, probably to defray the cost
of "upgrading", which they still had to do themselves, even though it was
mandated by law.

Just to show that nothing really changes much, all members of the
Federal Government, as well as sailors, sea-captains, and even stage-drivers,
post officers, customs officials, ferrymen and many others were exempt,
according to section 2...

Even the dragoons were required to furnish their own mounts and
equipment, and uniforms were to be procured at the individual militiaman's
expense (section 4). The only thing to be provided by the government was
field artillery and ammunition for said. (That almost certainly would have
been prohibitively expensive for all but the very wealthiest.)

It gets really neat at the end:

"And whereas sundry corps of artillery, cavalry and infantry now exist in
several of the said states, which by the laws, customs or usages thereof,
have not been incorporated with, or subject to the general regulations of the
militia: SEC 11. Be it enacted, That such corps retain their accustomed priveleges,
subject, nevertheless, to all other duties required by this act, in lie
manner with the other militia."

Well, it seems that there was a lot more hardware floating around out
there than that schmuck who wrote Arming America was willing to admit. And
here I thought the Regulator Rebellion was fought with slingshots and empty
beer bottles...

Beyond providing the cite I so desperately needed a few months ago ,
the book provides an interesting look at the development of Western
military thought over the centuries. It's dirt cheap, and you can probably
find it at any nearby historical site. (The admission you pay to enter will
also help maintain the park in question). I've seen copies at Williamsburg, VA,
Ft. Moultrie, SC, and Kennesaw Mountain, GA; so I'm sure it's available
elsewhere.

[Seth Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cool! I wish the cover and binding were historically accurate.

[Lucinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually kind of interesting. I'll admit to skimming quite a bit for orders and such, but some of the sections I read more thouroughly. Baron von Steuben was an organized guy for certain.

One funny note was as this is true to how it was written at the time, with many of the s's being f's I kept metally reading it like my mouth was full...^_^'

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read on Napoleonic tactics and military strategy during the Revolutionary War. However, it is a dreadful read due to being a military manual on arms. It has no story and its all military terms.