U.S. History

The Drillmaster of Valley Forge: The Baron De Steuben and the Making of the American Army

Paul Lockhart

About the Program

Paul Lockhart 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.  This event was hosted by Valley Forge National Historic Park in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

About the Authors

Paul Lockhart

Paul LockhartPaul Lockhart is a history professor at Wright State University.
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Program Information

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Past Airings

  • Sunday, July 5th at 2:45am (ET)
  • Saturday, July 4th at 1:45pm (ET)
  • Saturday, March 21st at 1:30pm (ET)
  • Sunday, February 8th at 10pm (ET)
  • Saturday, February 7th at 4:45pm (ET)
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