Baron Frederick William von Steuben, whose home and grave are at the Steuben Memorial in Oneida County, was born in 1730 and died in 1794. A German-born officer and drillmaster of the American Revolution, he arrived at Valley Forge in February, 1778, and found "an army of skeletons...naked, starved, sick, discouraged," and undisciplined. By day he drilled them for the victorious campaigns of that summer. By candlelight he wrote a Manual of Arms that is still the basis for the discipline of our armed forces. His services were indispensable to the achievement of American independence.