The Second New Jersey Regiment, Helms' Company at Jockey Hollow
Steuben was a success because he grasped the fundamental differences between Americans and Europeans. Americans were much more individualistic. “The genius of the nation,” he once wrote, “is not to be compared with the Prussians, Austrians, or French. You say to a soldier ‘Do this,’ and he does it; but [here] I am obliged to say ‘This is the reason why you ought to do it,’ and then he does it.”on Steuben was a success because he grasped the fundamental differences between Americans and Europeans. Americans were much more individualistic. “The genius of the nation,” he once wrote, “is not to be compared with the Prussians, Austrians, or French. You say to a soldier ‘Do this,’ and he does it; but [here] I am obliged to say ‘This is the reason why you ought to do it,’ and then he does it.”
The Second New Jersey Regiment, Helms' Company at Jockey Hollow
Steuben was a success because he grasped the fundamental differences between Americans and Europeans. Americans were much more individualistic. “The genius of the nation,” he once wrote, “is not to be compared with the Prussians, Austrians, or French. You say to a soldier ‘Do this,’ and he does it; but [here] I am obliged to say ‘This is the reason why you ought to do it,’ and then he does it.”on Steuben was a success because he grasped the fundamental differences between Americans and Europeans. Americans were much more individualistic. “The genius of the nation,” he once wrote, “is not to be compared with the Prussians, Austrians, or French. You say to a soldier ‘Do this,’ and he does it; but [here] I am obliged to say ‘This is the reason why you ought to do it,’ and then he does it.”