The Drillmaster of Valley Forge

Paul Lockhart talked about The Drillmaster of Valley Forge: The Baron de Steuben and the Making of the American Army (Collins, 2008). In the book he recounts the life of Baron De Steuben who was responsible for training the Continental Army in battle tactics that would later help Washington’s troops defeat the British at Monmouth, Stony Point, and Yorktown. Mr. Lockhart relays that Steuben was educated in the war tactics of the Prussian army of Frederick the Great and carried these lessons over to his teachings of the Americans. Later in his career Baron De Steuben assisted in the creation of West Point and the authorship of the Blue Book, the first official guidelines for the American army. Professor Lockhart responded to audience members' questions following his remarks.

Paul Lockhart is a history professor at Wright State University. close