Nathanael Greene

Nathanael Greene (August 7, 1742 (N.S.) – June 19, 1786), was a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. When the war began, Greene was a militia private; he emerged from the war with a reputation as George Washington's most gifted and dependable officer.

Early years of the war

In 1775, Greene helped raise a contingent of men to join the American forces around Boston. Due to a bad limp, he was unable to secure an officer's commission, so he took up a musket and became a private. After five months, his abilities and drive clear, he was appointed a brigadier by Congress on June 22. To him Washington assigned the command of the city of Boston after it was evacuated by Howe in March 1776. Greene's letters of October 1775 and January 1776 to Samuel Ward, then a delegate from Rhode Island to the Continental Congress, favored a declaration of independence. On August 9, 1776, he was promoted to be one of the four new major generals and was put in command of the Continental troops on Long Island; he chose the place for fortifications, and built the redoubts and entrenchments of Fort Greene on Brooklyn Heights. Severe illness prevented him from taking part in the Battle of Long Island.

Related Topics:
1775 - Brigadier - Washington - Boston - Howe - Samuel Ward - Continental Congress - August 9 - 1776 - Long Island - Fort Greene - Brooklyn Heights - Battle of Long Island

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Greene was prominent among those who advised a retreat from New York and the burning of the city so that the British might not use it. He was placed in command of Fort Lee, and on October 25, 1776, succeeded General Israel Putnam in command of Fort Washington. He received orders from Washington to defend Fort Washington to the last extremity, and on October 11, 1776, Congress passed a resolution to the same effect; but later Washington wrote to him to use his own discretion. Greene ordered Colonel Magaw, who was in immediate command, to defend the place until he should hear from him again, and reinforced it to meet General Howe's attack. Nevertheless, the blame for the losses of Forts Washington and Lee was put upon Greene, but apparently without him losing the confidence of Washington, who himself assumed the responsibility.

Related Topics:
New York - October 25 - 1776 - Israel Putnam - Fort Washington - October 11 - Magaw

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At Trenton, Greene commanded one of the two American columns. After the victory there, he urged Washington to push on immediately to Princeton, but was overruled by a council of war. At the Brandywine, Greene commanded the reserve. At Germantown, Greene's command, having a greater distance to march than the right wing under Sullivan, failed to arrive in good time: a failure which Greene himself thought would cost him Washington's trust. But when they arrived at length, Greene and his troops distinguished themselves.

Related Topics:
Trenton - Princeton - Brandywine - Germantown - Sullivan

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At the urgent request of Washington on March 2, 1778, at Valley Forge, he accepted the office of Quartermaster General. His conduct in this difficult office, of which Washington heartily approved, has been characterized as "as good as was possible under the circumstances of that fluctuating uncertain force." However, he had become Quartermaster General on the understanding that he should retain the right to command troops in the field. Thus we find him at the head of the right wing at Monmouth on June 28, 1778. In August, Greene and Lafayette commanded the land forces sent to Rhode Island to co-operate with the French admiral d'Estaing, in an expedition which proved abortive. In June 1780, Greene was in command in a skirmish at Springfield, New Jersey. In August, he resigned the office of Quartermaster General after a long and bitter struggle with Congress over the interference in army administration by the Treasury Board and by commissions appointed by Congress. Before his resignation became effective, it fell to him to preside over the court which, on September 29, 1780, condemned Major John André to death.

Related Topics:
March 2 - 1778 - Valley Forge - Monmouth - June 28 - Lafayette - D'Estaing - Springfield, New Jersey - September 29 - 1780 - John André

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