This Day in History: June 15

Up to this time, the American officers had accepted the British practice of letting the sergeants drill the men, as it was thought to be ungentlemanly for officers to do so. Von Steuben set a precedent by working with the troops personally. The American officers felt threatened by this practice, as well as by the seemingly unlimited powers of Steuben’s office. Consequently, on June 15, 1778, Washington issued orders to govern the Inspector General’s office until Congress took further steps. The Baron’s willingness and ability to work with the men, as well as his use of profanity (in several different languages), made him popular among the soldiers. [More]