WI Von Steuben Arrives Earlier

General Friederich Wilhelm von Steuben is solely creditied with turning an army of American amatuers(though enthusiastic)into the equivalent of a professional european army at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-78.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Wilhelm_von_Steuben

But WI after failing in France in 1775 he somehow gets the idea to had to head to America? WI the siege of Boston turns into OTL's Valley Forge? How would this affect the outcome of the campaigns of 1776-77? Wold these result in pretty much the same strategic consequences but ultimately much more bloody for the British?
 
Ameri-wank! ;)

Seriously, I dunno if the army would have been ready for him at that point. Americans needed a lot of losing before they started to see the advantages of drill and discipline.
 
I can see that however, General Steuben was also instrumental in developing Washington's general staff so we'd see a more organized army at least.
 
America probably still would have lost New York City.
Could a more professional army though have won at Brandywine in 1777?

And if so, what would this lead to?

It would seem like Philadelphia would be saved as the British would have to march back to New York City. Would saving the defacto capital mean anything? Would the British retreat lead to an earlier Monmouth scenerio in the fall/winter of '77/'78 where the Americans would try to block the British retreat to New york.
 
I've often postulated an WIs of an American victory at Brandywine, as IMO it could have happened IOTL. Washington accurately predicted the British flanking movement but was let down by conflicting reports of the whereabouts of the British force(largely because he lacked a proper general staff). Give Washington the proper support staff and you see him attack across Chad's Ford catch Knyphshean in a double envelopment then swing back and repulse the British attack atop battle hill.

Howe could march towards Valley Forge and then towards Philadelphia but he can't resupply and reinforce at Chester. That would put Washington in between Howe and the British fleet(having already left the Chespeake). Washington could follow Howe or break contact and move through Philadelphia and position himself between Howe and the rebel capital. This is all of nothing to say about Forts Mifflin and Mercer, which even if Howe takes the city, need to be reduced before the British can resupply. I can see all of this leading to a surrender at Germantown on top of a victory at Saratoga.
 
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