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Communicating America’s Founding Principles
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NATHANAEL GREENE - FROM QUAKER TO MAJOR GENERAL
Nathanael Greene was born in the Warwick Township of Rhode Island on August 7, 1741. His family was part of a Quaker community which adhered to the tenets of the Bible and were known as pacifists. As a youth, Greene received good instruction in math, reading, and writing, but it was his interest in history that led him to become an avid reader. For the most part, books had to be imported from England and were somewhat rare and expensive. As an enterprising lad, Greene began making and selling toys to earn money with which to purchase books on earlier world events.
As tensions between Britain and the colonies worsened, Greene’s studies became focused on learning as much as he could about military strategy. After one of his father’s merchant ships was captured by the British Navy, Greene organized other townsmen and formed the East Greenwich Militia Company to prepare a defense against the Crown’s aggressions. In 1775, the Assembly of Rhode Island established an Army of Observation in which the 33-year-old Greene was given the rank of general of the state troops.
In May of 1775, the British defeated the Northeastern Patriots in the Battle of Bunker Hill. However, 8 months later, General Washington succeeded in breaking the hold the British army had over the city of Boston by forcing General William Howe and his troops to vacate the city and harbor of Boston. During the time of the Siege of Boston, Nathanael Greene was introduced to General George Washington. Washington was so impressed with Greene’s leadership qualities that he promoted him to Brigadier General in the Continental Army. In fact, Washington considered Greene to be best suited to succeed him in case of his own capture or death.
In April of 1776, the Continental Army had moved south in order to confront the British who had amassed forces in the New York Harbor. Greene was promoted to Major General and put in charge of the Continental defenses in both Long Island and Brooklyn. In later conflicts, Greene also participated in the Battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, and Germantown. In 1780, Washington made Greene Commander-in-Chief of the Southern army, and he and his troops would soon encounter, and outmaneuver, Britain’s General Charles Cornwallis in battles across North Carolina and Georgia.
Throughout the 8 years of the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress lacked the resources to adequately pay its soldiers. However, for George Washington, and many of his officers, it was considered an honor and duty to their serve their country without pay. Indeed, there were times when they covered shortages of arms and supplies for their troops out of their own finances. After the war, it was not uncommon for these officers, Greene among them, to return home to find their properties and families facing financial and other hardships.
For his bold leadership in saving the southern colonies from being overtaken by the British, Greene was given property in Savannah, Georgia. After moving there with his family, he attempted to settle down in his new home. Unfortunately, he had to sell much of this property in order to pay debts he had accrued during the war. These stresses, as well as exertions of the war, possibly contributed to his stroke on June 19, 1786 from which he died at age 44, two years prior to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
A grateful nation has sought to honor Nathanael Greene as an American Revolutionary War hero. There are bronze equestrian statues in Washington, D.C., at the Philadelphia Art Museum, and in numerous locations in the southern states. The U.S. Air Force has named multiple sea crafts after Green, including an Army cargo ship (1904); four Coast Guard ships; a Liberty-class merchant steamship (1942); a Navy U.S.S. nuclear submarine (decommissioned in 1986); and an Army tugboat.
References:
Nathanael Greene | Accomplishments, Facts, & American Revolution | Britannica
Nathanael Greene | American Battlefield Trust
Nathanael Greene | George Washington's Mount Vernon
As tensions between Britain and the colonies worsened, Greene’s studies became focused on learning as much as he could about military strategy. After one of his father’s merchant ships was captured by the British Navy, Greene organized other townsmen and formed the East Greenwich Militia Company to prepare a defense against the Crown’s aggressions. In 1775, the Assembly of Rhode Island established an Army of Observation in which the 33-year-old Greene was given the rank of general of the state troops.
In May of 1775, the British defeated the Northeastern Patriots in the Battle of Bunker Hill. However, 8 months later, General Washington succeeded in breaking the hold the British army had over the city of Boston by forcing General William Howe and his troops to vacate the city and harbor of Boston. During the time of the Siege of Boston, Nathanael Greene was introduced to General George Washington. Washington was so impressed with Greene’s leadership qualities that he promoted him to Brigadier General in the Continental Army. In fact, Washington considered Greene to be best suited to succeed him in case of his own capture or death.
In April of 1776, the Continental Army had moved south in order to confront the British who had amassed forces in the New York Harbor. Greene was promoted to Major General and put in charge of the Continental defenses in both Long Island and Brooklyn. In later conflicts, Greene also participated in the Battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, and Germantown. In 1780, Washington made Greene Commander-in-Chief of the Southern army, and he and his troops would soon encounter, and outmaneuver, Britain’s General Charles Cornwallis in battles across North Carolina and Georgia.
Throughout the 8 years of the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress lacked the resources to adequately pay its soldiers. However, for George Washington, and many of his officers, it was considered an honor and duty to their serve their country without pay. Indeed, there were times when they covered shortages of arms and supplies for their troops out of their own finances. After the war, it was not uncommon for these officers, Greene among them, to return home to find their properties and families facing financial and other hardships.
For his bold leadership in saving the southern colonies from being overtaken by the British, Greene was given property in Savannah, Georgia. After moving there with his family, he attempted to settle down in his new home. Unfortunately, he had to sell much of this property in order to pay debts he had accrued during the war. These stresses, as well as exertions of the war, possibly contributed to his stroke on June 19, 1786 from which he died at age 44, two years prior to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
A grateful nation has sought to honor Nathanael Greene as an American Revolutionary War hero. There are bronze equestrian statues in Washington, D.C., at the Philadelphia Art Museum, and in numerous locations in the southern states. The U.S. Air Force has named multiple sea crafts after Green, including an Army cargo ship (1904); four Coast Guard ships; a Liberty-class merchant steamship (1942); a Navy U.S.S. nuclear submarine (decommissioned in 1986); and an Army tugboat.
References:
Nathanael Greene | Accomplishments, Facts, & American Revolution | Britannica
Nathanael Greene | American Battlefield Trust
Nathanael Greene | George Washington's Mount Vernon
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