At fourteen he served at the siege of Prague, and in 1762 was on the 
        staff of Frederick the Great. While at Paris in 1777 he was induced to 
        got to America, and his services were joyfully accepted by congres and 
        Washington. He was appointed inspector-general, prepared a manual of 
        tactics for the army, remodelled its organization, and improved its 
        discipline. In 1780 he received a command in Virginia, and took part 
        in the siege of Yorktown. Congress in 1790 voted him an annuity of 
        2400 dollard and land near Utica, New York. 
 

Source: Chambers's Biographical Dictionary.