Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States

WhenFrederichWilhelmvonSteuben,acolorful,charismatic,imposing,andgaymilitaryleaderfromPrussia,presentedhimselftotheContinentalCongressin1778,hehadonegoalinmind:towhipthenascentUnitedStatesmilitiamenintoshapeandturnthemintoanarmyfittofacethelikesofGreatBritain.BaronvonSteubensmilitarycareerwasalmostasfamedashisvibrantsociallife,andashewaslaudedfortheformer,hewasscornedforthelatter.VonSteubenlefthishomecountryasrumorscirculatedabouthissexuality.Abroad,vonSteubenmetwithBenjaminFranklin,whoinvitedvonSteubentovolunteerhisservicesfortheAmericancause.VonSteubensetouttotheAmericancolonies,wherehequicklybecamepartoftheinnercircleoftheFoundingFathers,andofGeorgeWashingtoninparticular.VonSteubenbroughtwithhimthemilitaryskillsthathehadlearnedinthemilitaryofFredericktheGreat,KingofPrussia,andhenowusedthemtotrainaneliteforceatValleyForge.RegulationsfortheOrderandDisciplineoftheTroopsoftheUnitedStates,alsocalledtheBlueBook,wasthepracticalmilitary-trainingmanualthatvonSteubenwrotewiththehelpofAlexanderHamilton.ThismanualhelpedwintheAmericanRevolutionandprovidedaguidefortheUnitedStatesmilitaryuntilaftertheWarof1812.Incredibly,someportionsoftheoriginalBlueBookarestillusedbytheAmericanArmedForcestoday.