Was Barron Von Steuben Gay? A While Ago Someone Told Me He Was And He Was Kicked Out Of The Army Because

was barron von steuben gay? a while ago someone told me he was and he was kicked out of the army because of it

Here, I made a presentation that includes this. But yes! He was gay!

Baron von Steuben was one of the first cases of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.“ 

Benjamin Franklin learned of a "brilliant Prussian” military genius, Lt. Gen. Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, who had a string of successes across Germanic Europe. There was a problem- he’d been asked to depart many of those states and countries because of his “affections for members of his own sex,”.

Then in 1777 von Steuben literally escaped imprisonment in what is now Germany and traveled to Paris. There, Franklin was interviewing candidates to assist Washington back in the colonies when his fellow Colonial representative Silas Deane brought von Steuben to his residence for an interview.

During the process, Franklin discovered von Steuben’s reputation for having “affections” with males and the issue became pressing, as members of the French clergy demanded the French court, as in other countries, take action against this sodomite, whom they considered a pedophile. 

Those allegations were fueled by von Steuben’s close ties to Prince Henry and Frederick the Great, also “widely rumored to be homosexual.”

Franklin decided von Steuben’s expertise was more important to the colonies than his sexuality. Along with Franklin and Deane, and personal friends of the baron: Pierre Beaumarchais, author of the “Figaro” plays and an arms dealer who supplied arms for the ship von Steuben eventually sailed on, and Claude Louis, Comte de Saint-Germain, the minister of war under Louis XVI. What the letter didn’t mention was that he was about to be arrested and appear before judges in France.

“It has come to me from different sources that M. de Steuben is accused of having taken familiarities with young boys, which the laws forbid and punish severely. I have even been informed that that is the reason why M. de Steuben was obliged to leave Hechingen and that the clergy of your country intend to prosecute him by law as soon as he may establish himself anywhere.”

Washington rewarded von Steuben with a house at Valley Forge, which he shared with his aide-de-camps Capt. William North and Gen. Benjamin Walker. Walker lived with him through the remainder of his life, and von Steuben, who neither married nor denied any of the allegations of homosexuality, left his estate to North and Walker. His last will and testament has been described as a love letter to Walk and has been purported to describe their “extraordinarily intense emotional relationship,”.

Adding to that were the constant rumors about his sexuality, which by 1790, reached one of the revolution’s first families, the Adamses of Massachusetts.

Charles, the son of John and Abigail Adams- was what today would be called the black sheep of the family. His biggest problem was alcoholism but, as revealed in letters among the various members of the family, the Adamses had other concerns.

“There are references to [Charles’] alleged proclivity for consorting with men whom his parents regarded as unsavory.” One of these men was von Steuben. Charles had become infatuated with and adored Von Steuben. It is clear from the family letters that the Adamses were concerned about a relationship between Charles and the baron. Von Steuben’s sexuality was an open secret, one that he himself never challenged, other than to ask Washington to defend his moral character. But John Mulligan another one of Baron von Steuben’s “boys” was extremely close with Charles. 

It was von Steuben, a gay man, who played a giant role in not only the creation of American military, but the idea of military academies, a standing Army and even veterans organizations. As said by many: if George Washington was the father of the nation, then von Steuben, a gay man, was the father of the United States military.

More Posts from Paranoid0peach and Others

6 years ago

Myths, Creatures, and Folklore

Want to create a religion for your fictional world? Here are some references and resources!

General:

General Folklore

Various Folktales

Heroes

Weather Folklore

Trees in Mythology

Animals in Mythology

Birds in Mythology

Flowers in Mythology

Fruit in Mythology

Plants in Mythology

Folktales from Around the World

Africa:

Egyptian Mythology

African Mythology

More African Mythology

Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

The Gods of Africa

Even More African Mythology

West African Mythology

All About African Mythology

African Mythical Creatures

Gods and Goddesses

The Americas:

Aztec Mythology

Haitian Mythology

Inca Mythology

Maya Mythology

Native American Mythology

More Inca Mythology

More Native American Mythology

South American Mythical Creatures

North American Mythical Creatures

Aztec Gods and Goddesses

Asia:

Chinese Mythology

Hindu Mythology

Japanese Mythology

Korean Mythology

More Japanese Mythology

Chinese and Japanese Mythical Creatures

Indian Mythical Creatures

Chinese Gods and Goddesses

Hindu Gods and Goddesses

Korean Gods and Goddesses

Europe:

Basque Mythology

Celtic Mythology

Etruscan Mythology

Greek Mythology

Latvian Mythology

Norse Mythology

Roman Mythology

Arthurian Legends

Bestiary

Celtic Gods and Goddesses

Gods and Goddesses of the Celtic Lands

Finnish Mythology

Celtic Mythical Creatures

Gods and Goddesses

Middle East:

Islamic Mythology

Judaic Mythology

Mesopotamian Mythology

Persian Mythology

Middle Eastern Mythical Creatures

Oceania:

Aboriginal Mythology

Polynesian Mythology

More Polynesian Mythology

Mythology of the Polynesian Islands

Melanesian Mythology

Massive Polynesian Mythology Post

Maori Mythical Creatures

Hawaiian Gods and Goddesses

Hawaiian Goddesses

Gods and Goddesses

Creating a Fantasy Religion:

Creating Part 1

Creating Part 2

Creating Part 3

Creating Part 4

Fantasy Religion Design Guide

Using Religion in Fantasy

Religion in Fantasy

Creating Fantasy Worlds

Beliefs in Fantasy

Some superstitions:

Read More

6 years ago

What’s Up For August 2018?

The summer Perseids are here! 

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The Perseid meteor shower is the best of the year! It peaks on a Moonless summer night from 4 p.m. EST on August 12 until 4 a.m. EST on August 13.

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Because the new Moon falls near the peak night, the days before and after the peak will also provide nice, dark skies. Your best window of observation is from a few hours after twilight until dawn, on the days surrounding the peak.

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Unlike most meteor showers, which have a short peak of high meteor rates, the Perseids have a very broad peak, as Earth takes more than three weeks to plow through the wide trail of cometary dust from comet Swift-Tuttle.

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The Perseids appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, visible in the northern sky soon after sunset this time of year. Observers in mid-northern latitudes will have the best views.

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You should be able to see some meteors from July 17 to August 24, with the rates increasing during the weeks before August 12 and decreasing after August 13.

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Observers should be able to see between 60 and 70 per hour at the peak. Remember, you don’t have to look directly at the constellation to see them. You can look anywhere you want to-even directly overhead.

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Meteor showers like the Perseids are caused by streams of meteoroids hitting Earth’s atmosphere. The particles were once part of their parent comet-or, in some cases, from an asteroid.

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The parade of planets Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars–and the Milky Way continue to grace the evening sky, keeping you and the mosquitoes company while you hunt for meteors.

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Watch the full What’s Up for August Video: 

There are so many sights to see in the sky. To stay informed, subscribe to our What’s Up video series on Facebook.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com

6 years ago

Keeping Yourself Protected

Keeping Yourself Protected

Ways to provide protection from spiritual and physical beings:

Make a witches bottle: They provide you with protection against curses, hexes, and spells sent your way as well as to protect your property and possessions.  

Salt circle: A salt circle provides the person inside with protection from negative entities and demons. Line your window sills and door way entrances with salt to create an impenetrable barrier.      

Iron: Repels evil.Three iron nails driven into a doorway or window sill will block negativity from entering your home. Note: Iron repels Fae!

Plants: Some plants have protective properties. 

Ask your deity for protection

Mint leaves in your shoes protects you from curses

Put pepper in protection sachets to protect against magickal attacks.

Burn bay leaves to reverse curses

Scrawl your home and clothes with protective sigils

Quartz Crystals: Provides protection.

Visualization

Paint your front porch blue to ward off ghosts:They fear water so this may confuse them.

Hang an upside down horse shoe above your door: to ward off evil spirits.

Hang wind chimes around your home: To scare off bad spirits

Nazar or evil eye: Protects your home from bad luck.   

Rowan: Two branches from rowan trees bound together with red thread in the shape of a cross. It provides protection when hung above doorways, according to celtic traditions.

Arrowheads: Placed above your door will help keep burglars and unwanted guests out.

Cinnamon Sticks: Tied over the door will protect your home.

Rosemary wreath: A wreath of rosemary bound with green thread can provide your home with protection. Add other plants that correspond with protection as well. 

Ivy: Grown up your house provides protection,

Mistletoe: Hung in the house protects it from thunder and lightning.

Acorn: According to Norse mythology, placing an acorn on the window sill protects the home from being struck by lightning. 

Pine branch: Where it for protection.

Create your own protection amulet

Place mirrors around your home to deflect the evil eye  

Sources: Charissascaulderon.com, scribol.com                                  

Stay safe and have a Happy New Year!

==Moonlight Academy==    

6 years ago

The smallest constellation by area is Crux.

7 years ago

The love that was gifted to me was too much

Too much to handle

So I settled for less

Not knowing it wouldn't be enough

                                               Bluer Than

                                               Bluer than Blue

6 years ago

Three of Jupiter’s moons may have liquid oceans.

7 years ago
                                    Temples Of Knowledge (Series 8)
                                    Temples Of Knowledge (Series 8)
                                    Temples Of Knowledge (Series 8)
                                    Temples Of Knowledge (Series 8)
                                    Temples Of Knowledge (Series 8)
                                    Temples Of Knowledge (Series 8)
                                    Temples Of Knowledge (Series 8)
                                    Temples Of Knowledge (Series 8)
                                    Temples Of Knowledge (Series 8)
                                    Temples Of Knowledge (Series 8)

                                    Temples of Knowledge (Series 8)

1. Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, England 

2. Library from the East, University Club, New York, NY 

3. Queen’s College Library, University of Oxford, England

4. Library of Parliament, Canada

5. Edinburgh Library, Edinburgh, Scotland. 

6. The Theological Hall, Strahov Monastery Library, Prague

7. Marsh’s Library. Dublin, Ireland

8. Stanford White Library, Bronx, New York City

9. Shiba Ryotaro Memorial Museum Library, Osaka, Japan

10. Biblioteca Civica di Fermo, Fermo, Italy

7 years ago
Always Incredible To Witness Something Like This. Shoutout To Everyone That Pulled An All Nighter To

Always incredible to witness something like this. Shoutout to everyone that pulled an all nighter to see this. Captured just outside of Wichita, Kansas.

6 years ago

i don’t really give a shit about this tumblr being removed from the app store thing but above all i am really glad this is happening now and not in 2011 so i don’t have to scroll past some “PSA: TUMBLR HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE APP STORE!” “oh HELL NO!!! Dr who fandom grab your tardises!!!” “*50 gif reaction images of the supernatural guy looking pissed off” type of shit

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