Introduction
The Blue Book by von Steuben provides the first introduction to soldiers on a wide array of topics, including comprehensive information on health and fitness, proper behavior, military customs, and the proper wear and appearance of uniforms. The author simplified his work by writing in plain language about what needed to be studied, the methods of teaching it, and the importance of the information. Moreover, the Blue Book outlined the qualities a soldier should possess to serve in demanding positions. It also sets down the roles and responsibilities for sergeants, corporals, and quartermaster sergeants, among others, in the NCO ranks of then.
Steuben’s Blue Book serves as a guide and provides regulations for the discipline and order of the U.S. Army troops. During the Revolutionary War, a crucial figure who played a pivotal role in leading the U.S. to self-governance remains unknown. Fredrich Wilhelm von Steuben, also referred to as Baron von Steuben, is one of the forgotten Americans without whom the state could not have won the Battle of Monmouth, which paved the way to independence. The War of Independence could have ended differently had it not been for the contribution of von Steuben, who laid out all his military knowledge in the Blue Book.
Book Background
Many people in the U.S. celebrate the country’s independence and the Revolutionary War. Many Americans think of George Washington crossing the frozen Delaware River in a rowboat and Benjamin Franklin, who helped negotiate the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War. They assisted Samuel Adams, who helped organize the Boston Tea Party, and Paul Revere, who drove through Lexington to tell the minutemen that the British were coming.
These were the men who were responsible for giving the 13 colonies a basis and being able to stand up to Great Britain. Frederick Wilhelm von Steuben was a former Prussian Army Officer who arrived at Valley Forge in 1778 in response to an invitation from George Washington (Rivera, 2019). Upon his arrival, he quickly noticed that the men lacked discipline; the minutemen’s weapons were rusted, their uniforms were tattered, and they were disorganized.
What Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben was able to do for George Washington’s army was to bring order, discipline, and hygiene to Valley Forge. Frederich Wilhelm von Steuben moved latrines away from the living quarters and organized the housing according to the regiments and companies to which the troops were assigned. However, the most significant contribution was a manual for military training. This manual is still used in today’s military and is known as The Blue Book.
Primary Source
The primary source in the study of the Blue Book is its text. This source is titled Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States and is available from the U.S. Army War College. The publisher of the original book was Styner and Cist, who published the first edition in 1779 (von Steuben, 1779). This source contains a wealth of helpful information that can be utilized.
First of all, by examining the text of this primary source, one can study the goals of the Blue Book in detail. The Blue Book by Steuben (von Steuben, 1779) was intended to outline the responsibilities and roles of different NCO ranks, including corporals, sergeant majors, and quartermaster sergeants. It also outlined the characteristics a military officer should possess to effectively serve in a strenuous job in the United States Army. Steuben managed to whip the Continental Army into shape mainly during the darkest periods of the Revolutionary War due to the grit, discipline, and bravery he brought to the U.S. troops.
When von Steuben arrived at Valley Forge, it became apparent that the soldiers were poorly trained and lacked the necessary knowledge to fight effectively. This state of affairs left the army desperate, as the soldiers required training. Von Steuben was a veteran of the Prussian army and possessed all the skills an experienced soldier would need to conduct a battle and discipline other soldiers. Accordingly, due to the high level of uncertainty among the troops, they required mentorship and detailed manual guidance.
Von Steuben, tasked with retraining and instructing the army, took up this problem by writing a detailed manual called the Blue Book. Von Steuben understood that one of the central values of the army is the discipline and organization of the troops (von Steuben, 1779). In this regard, the book devotes considerable attention to how soldiers should behave on the battlefield and in peacetime. This meant universal rewards and punishments, which were also introduced in the Blue Book, so that the soldiers were motivated to follow orders and adhere to established rules.
One of the primary objectives of this book was to standardize the types of troops and their respective duties within the American army forces. In this way, von Steuben ensured that each detachment could learn the duties necessary for each type of military man. This goal enabled the significant reduction of the unsettled situation in the army and streamlined the duties assigned to soldiers in each position (von Steuben, 1779). At the same time, the book’s goals were also to describe drill training, which at that time became an innovation in the army, mainly consisting of people with no previous combat experience. The systematization of preparatory marches and formations enabled a significantly more effective struggle through the correct organization and deployment of troops.
One of the problems on the battlefield at that time was the problem of sanitation and hygiene. In this regard, the Blue Book introduced the necessary hygiene measures to be implemented in army camps to maintain sanitary standards, as Steinbeck did. This goal was to prevent many of the dangerous diseases that were a severe problem in the camps deployed by the army. They could inflict significant losses due to dysentery and accordingly require significant decisions.
Another purpose of the Blue Book was to provide a more comprehensive application of American military doctrine, which was still in its infancy. Most of the operations carried out by U.S. forces up to this point involved the guerrilla techniques used in the early years of the Revolutionary War. Irregulars were deployed to ambush British troops, and several tactics were employed during the confrontation.
The manual written by von Steuben revealed the deeper goals of the war company, emphasizing the importance of direct combat tactics (von Steuben, 1779). This opened up new opportunities for the American army, which could open up new strategies for confronting the enemy. This approach of open warfare later played a crucial role in military operations, enabling the American army to gain a significant advantage.
The second primary source for studying the Blue Book is its expanded and adapted reissue. It was published in 1985 under the title Baron von Steuben’s Revolutionary War Drill Manual (von Steuben, 1985). The publisher in this case is Courier Corporation, and relevant information can be found in online libraries or other university resources. However, this reading has essential information about the main points of the Blue Book.
With Steuben’s guidance, the American army kept the momentum going as he trained them in techniques of planning and managing services, programs, and resources, including maintaining hygienic standards and proper bookkeeping. In addition, Steuben taught the soldiers the correct methods for managing charges against the use of bayonets and ways of swearing in multiple languages (von Steuben, 1985). The main points of the Blue Book were grouped into regulations to guide the soldiers. During the revolution’s dark days, all officers’ uniforms were pieced together by volunteer patriots; hence, it was impossible to differentiate between a non-commissioned officer, an officer, or a soldier. One of these regulations was to have different uniforms for the NCOs, officers, and troops; according to him, uniforms served as precise indicators of different ranks.
Another critical point in the Blue Book is the significance of drilling and ceremonies. Most of the book is committed to coaching troops on the correct marching procedures, the necessary steps, and how to present their hands to their superiors (von Steuben, 1985). Since its inception, the soldiers have had to spend many days rehearsing on the parade ground and will continue to do so in the future. Another vital aspect that Steuben teaches the troops in his book is the benefits of maintaining high standards of cleanliness. Maintaining high hygiene standards could save troops from outside-of-combat, escapable deaths.
Furthermore, the book emphasizes the importance of paperwork in the military to promote accountability and transparency. Bookkeeping is vital as it encourages responsibility. The chain of command should record the number of ammunition and rifles available to each platoon. On the same note, those who fail to perform their duties effectively must be punished through forfeiture of payments, allowances, and confinement until the lost items are recovered.
Another key message from the Blue Book is that leaders should be humane by allowing their soldiers to take sick leave. One of the critical innovations was the instruction for officers to care for the wounded troops and withdraw units promptly to prevent defeat (von Steuben, 1985). Another key takeaway from the Blue Book is that as leaders, NCOs must lead from the front by coaching their subjects on what it means to be a soldier. They should provide incentive and reward systems to motivate them while serving as role models. Additionally, leaders should support the troops while still recognizing the tasks of military officers and remain vigilant and in control.
Finally, soldiers should follow and fulfill the general orders, which include obeying special instructions and executing their responsibilities in a military, professional manner. The book details each soldier’s duties, depending on their position and rank in the army (von Steuben, 1985). Lastly, all disciplined forces must report any violations of emergency orders, special orders, and all other matters covered in their instructions to the relief commander.
Secondary Sources
Baron von Steuben
One of the leading secondary sources is Baron von Steuben: The Life and Legacy of the Prussian General Who Drilled the Continental Army at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War. This text was independently published in 2019 in digital format (Rivera, 2019). This source can be found both online and in public libraries. The book contains essential information about the history of von Steuben and the book he wrote for the American army.
There was a need for more guidance on the roles and duties of citizens who volunteered to serve as soldiers during the early American Revolutionary War. The Continental Army in the United States did not have a central leadership and was comprised of a state-controlled military force that worked separately. Soldiers were guided by laws and regulations created by the state legislatures. In 1777, von Steuben stepped forward to aid the American president in training the armed forces and establishing the identity of the United States troops as a unified military force (Rivera, 2019).
Steuben volunteered his military expertise the following year through Stateman Franklin, who sent a letter of reference to the president. After the meeting, the president was impressed with Steuben’s forceful character and military presence. Steuben’s character began training a company that had one hundred guards in the basics of soldiering. He demonstrated his capability as a train master through his extraordinary experience and skills. His tactfulness earned him the designation as the inspector general of the armed forces.
The book’s title has its own origin and is not fictitious; it is based on a real historical event. In 1779, paper was scarce due to the war, forcing Steuben to bind his book, Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States, using blue-colored paper he had on hand (Rivera, 2019). This aspect of binding the writing using blue paper gave the manual its nickname, the Blue Book. The Congress in America endorsed the book and ordered it used throughout the military in March 1779 (Rivera, 2019).
Three years later, the U.S. president facilitated the enactment of the Posse Comitatus Act, which encompassed some of the regulations proposed by Von in his book. As a result, the guidelines on personal management provided in the Blue Book substituted the British social pedigree, station, and class system. Steuben consolidated all military positions into a united force built on a fair and flexible social structure. With clear-cut standardization, the recruits would successfully achieve what was expected of them. Within a short time, the discipline of the United States Army nearly resembled that of the world-class military of the day in Europe.
Steuben’s work was the official guidebook to military maneuvers and training for a long time, and some of his regulations are still used in contemporary manuals. The Blue Book’s usefulness accelerated the publication of the formal non-commissioned officer (NCO) manual in 1904, with the latest version published in 2002 (Rivera, 2019). The present-day manual offers vital information, including the significance of the professional development of non-commissioned officers, the responsibilities of non-commissioned officers, and their history.
Until 1779, there was no standardized approach to selecting qualified personnel in the army (Rivera, 2019). Typically, the regimental commanders could spot a specific trait in an individual and promote them on this ground. However, Steuben’s book affirmed the significance of recruiting qualified soldiers for the NCO ranks. Furthermore, during the War of Independence and the Second World War, non-commissioned officers received their promotions directly from regimental commanders. That suggests that NCOs who would transfer regiments would only lose their position as NCOs if the general in chief of the army gave special permission.
There is a good selection process, and the NCO officials are evaluated and promoted based on their military knowledge and performance. This allows for choosing the best talent, and at the same time, changing departments does not remove the duties of non-commissioned officers. Since 1779, when Steuben’s book was formally published, many changes have been made in the functioning of non-commissioned officers (Rivera, 2019).
For instance, the NCO’s selection process, training, and ranking structure have undergone significant improvements. Additionally, NCO officials constantly train and support their soldiers, and generally, the military force has recognized the importance of having a strong and professional corps. Provided the American Army recruits and trains professional non-commissioned officers, America will become the backbone of the army.
A Handsome Flogging
The second crucial secondary source is A Handsome Flogging: The Battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778. It was written by William R. Griffith and published by Savas Beatie in 2020 (Griffith, 2020). This reading can be accessed through the EBSCOhost scholarly database. The book contains essential information for this study regarding the combat operations conducted by the American Army. In particular, one of the main events described in the book is the battle between America’s troops and the adamant British fighters.
This book recounts the final battle between America’s troops and the determined British fighters who opposed the quest for independence. Accordingly, Griffith (2020) is an essential book about America’s realization of freedom and the U.S. Army’s significant role in this process. Without this book and several others covering similar content, the present work’s topic would lack much meaning.
Monmouth remains an essential town to America due to its role in the country’s struggle for independence. In this small market, von Steuben’s military regulations and orders led to a historic victory for the country, making the Blue Book crucial to the Americans and the entire U.S. Before the battle, the U.S. fighters hid themselves inside Valley Forge due to fear (Griffith, 2020). As a result, the team lost all the confrontations between them and the professional British soldiers that had been staged earlier. However, Steuben’s book allowed them to identify each other, operate under organized command, and launch planned and controlled ambushes. The achievement led to a draw between the two forces, forcing the U.K. fighters to retard, which led to independence.
The information inside this source is vital to anyone studying U.S. history. The book lends a special meaning to the Blue Book, beyond informing concerned readers of the origin of items like the uniform worn by U.S. troops. Moreover, Griffith (2020) plays a significant role in revealing a previously neglected aspect of U.S. history. Many sources focus mainly on George Washington and the other American fighters while disregarding the Prussian commander responsible for the team’s success. True history requires fairness, and this source provides a significant basis for realizing this necessary aspect.
Conclusion
The Steuben Blue Book is vital to U.S. Army troops as it provides guidelines and regulations to help them maintain discipline and order.Throughout the book, soldiers can learn about and readthe army’s history, culture, values, and the training they mustundergo. Thanks to the experience that he passed on to the Americans, being a competent military leader, the American army acquired new, necessary abilities.They were concerned withthe primary forms of formation, hygiene, and discipline among soldiers during and outsideof battle. Steuben, more than anyone else, was responsible for transferring European military practice and thinking to young American troops. He successfully formed the first real United States Army and subsequent ones.
References
Rivera, Charles. 2019. Baron Von Steuben: The Life and Legacy of the Prussian General Who Drilled the Continental Army at Valley Forge During the Revolutionary War. Independently Published.
Von Steuben, Friedrich. 1779. Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States. Philadelphia: Styner and Cist.
Von Steuben, Friedrich. 1985. Baron Von Steuben’s Revolutionary War Drill Manual. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.
William R. Griffith. 2020. A Handsome Flogging: The Battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778. El Dorado Hills: Savas Beatie.