Well, they were almost certainly Von Steuben’s ‘roommates’ for a time. Besties, even.
Von Steuben was about as openly gay as one could be in the period, and adoption was a common way for gay men of the period to establish legal ties with significant others, since gay marriage wasn’t an option. I believe both of them went on to marry women, though Von Steuben remained close with them. Von Steuben had other ‘intense’ relationships with men after the war, though which were friendly and which were romantic is not always certain.
Von Steuben never married nor had any known affairs with women, despite being very active in refined social circles all throughout his life.
Also, he had a dinner party during the war wherein the officers invited were to show up naked. Just guys bein’ guys!
Well, they were almost certainly Von Steuben’s ‘roommates’ for a time. Besties, even.
Von Steuben was about as openly gay as one could be in the period, and adoption was a common way for gay men of the period to establish legal ties with significant others, since gay marriage wasn’t an option. I believe both of them went on to marry women, though Von Steuben remained close with them. Von Steuben had other ‘intense’ relationships with men after the war, though which were friendly and which were romantic is not always certain.
Von Steuben never married nor had any known affairs with women, despite being very active in refined social circles all throughout his life.
Also, he had a dinner party during the war wherein the officers invited were to show up naked. Just guys bein’ guys!
Yeah, definitely as gay as you could be for the time!
I wonder how many officers showed up naked. Maybe a few awakened something