Angelic Troublemakers, Tactical Deviants
Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand von Steuben (1730–1794), a Prussian military officer, played a pivotal role in the American Revolutionary War. He was hired by George Washington to train the Continental Army and transformed it into a disciplined fighting force. Historians believe he was homosexual—and served as an openly gay man in the military at a time when sex between men was punished as a crime. Benjamin Franklin recommended von Steuben, emphasizing his qualifications while downplaying rumors of his dismissal from the Prussian military. Von Steuben's impact earned him recognition as one of the fathers of the United States Army.
Von Steuben's Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States stood as a pivotal publication of the Revolution and served as the official manual for the United States Army and state militias until the War of 1812.
Photo: Etienne Frossard