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windsweptlassie:
hello I'm asking you bc I feel like you would know but what is the thing with baron von steuben and the "pantsless flaming shots party" ?? idek. i'm curious. have no idea what's going on. anyway thank you

publius-esquire-deactivated2018:

“Once, with the Baron’s permission, his aides invited a number of young officers to dine at our quarters, on condition that none should be admitted that had on a whole pair of breeches. This was, of course, as pars pro toto; but torn clothes were an indispensable requisite for admission, and in this the guests were very sure not to fail. The dinner took place. The guests clubbed their rations, and we feasted sumptuously on tough beefsteak and potatoes, with hickorynuts for our dessert. Instead of wine we had some kind of spirits, with which we made “salamanders”, that is to say, after filling our glasses, we set the liquor on fire, and drank it up flames and all. Such a set of ragged, and, at the same time, merry fellows, were never brought together. The Baron loved to speak of that dinner and his “sanscullottes”, as he called us. Thus this denomination was first invented in America and applied to the brave officers and soldiers of our revolutionary army.”

- Recounted by Pierre Duponceau in Life of Frederick William von Steuben

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