Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben - Washington, DC - Statues of Historic Figures on Waymarking.com

Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben is one of four European military leaders who assisted the American cause during the Revolution honored with a statue in Lafayette Park just north of The White House in Washington, D.C. The public park is located directly north of the White House on H Street between 15th and 17th Streets NW. The monument was created in 1910, and the sculptor was Albert Jaegers.

"Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben is a bronze statue, by Albert Jaegers.

The inscription reads:
(Base, southeast side:)
Albert Jaegers, sculptor
(Base, front in raised letters:)
ERECTED.BY.THE.CONGRESS
OF.THE.VNITED.STATES.
TO
FREDERICK.WILLIAM.AVGVSTVS.HENRY.FERDINAND
BARON.VON.STEVBEN
IN.GRATEFVL .RECOGNITION .OF.HIS
SERVICES
TO
THE
AMERICAN.PEOPLE
IN.THEIR.STRVGGLE.FOR.LIBERTY
BORN.IN PRVSSIA
SEPTEMBER 17, 1730
DIED.IN.NEW.YORK.
NOVEMBER 28, 1794
AFTER.SERVING.AS AIDE.
DE.CAMP.TO.FREDERICK
THE.GREAT.OF PRVSSIA
HE.OFFERED.HIS.SWORD
TO.THE.AMERICAN.COLONIES.AND WAS APPOINT
ED.MAJOR.GENERAL AND
INSPECTOR GENERAL IN
THE CONTINENTAL ARMY
HE GAVE MILITARY.TRAIN-
ING.AND.DISCIPLINE.TO
THE.CITIZEN.SOLDIERS
WHO.ACHIEVED.THE.IN-
DEPENDENCE.OF.THE
VNITED.STATES. .
M.C.M.X
(Base, rear in raised letters:)
COLONEL.WILLIAM.NORTH
.MAJOR.BENJAMIN.WALKER
.AIDES.AND.FRIENDS
OF.GENERAL.VON.STEVBEN
(Base, beneath two male figures:)
MILITARY INSTRUCTION
(Base, beneath female figure and youth:)
COMMEMORATION"

-- Source

"Medium: Sculpture: bronze; Base: pink granite.

Dimensions: Sculpture: approx. 10 x 5 x 5 ft.; Base: approx. 15 x 20 x 20 ft.

Description: Standing portrait of von Steuben looking out into the distance as he inspects his troops in 1778. He is dressed in a U.S. Continental Army uniform consisting of a long buttoned vest with sash, tall boots, a three-cornered hat, and a long cape draped around his shoulders. His proper left hand concealed by his cape is at his waist. The sculpture is installed atop a square tiered base adorned with bronze figure groups on the right and left sides and ornamental reliefs on the front and back sides. On the front of the base, a relief of an American eagle appears at the top of a inscription made of bronze letters. On the back of the base is a plaque with profile reliefs of the heads of von Steuben's aides-de-camp, Colonel William North and Major Benjamin Walker.

On the northeast side of the base are two male figures who symbolize Military Instruction. One is a seated Native American wearing only a helmet as he instructs a nude youth standing in front of him on how to use the sword which he holds in his proper right hand. On the southwest side of the base are two figure who symbolize Commemoration. One is a seated nude female figure wearing only sandals and a robe draped across her lap. Behind her on her proper left is a tree which symbolizes American National life and in front of her is a nude youth kneeling under the tree. The female figure and the youth hold a ribbon which they tie to the tree in an attempt to graft the foreign stock represented by von Steuben to the American tree of life."

-- Source

ABOUT THE MAN:

"Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand von Steuben (born Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin von Steuben; September 17, 1730 – November 28, 1794), also referred to as the Baron von Steuben, was a Prussian-born military officer who served as inspector general and Major General of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He is credited with being one of the fathers of the Continental Army in teaching them the essentials of military drills, tactics, and disciplines. He wrote the Revolutionary War Drill Manual, the book that served as the standard United States drill manual until the War of 1812. He served as General George Washington's chief of staff in the final years of the war."

-- Source