Reasons I Committed to Revising General Greene’s Story (part four)

As mentioned in Part Two, Greene agreed with Congress to remain in the post of quartermaster general for one year. It was also agreed that he would choose those who would assist him. When the year ended Congress forced Greene to continue. They also decided to revamp the department and dismiss his chosen assistants.

During his appointment as quartermaster general, Greene worked diligently to supply the army. Some in Congress resented his diligence — and his determination to be free of the post as originally agreed upon. (Again as mentioned in Part Two, Greene mentioned in a letter that upon visiting Congress, he and Washington counted more than a dozen tables over-laden with food while the troops were expected to sustain themselves on rations.)

There were congressmen who felt Quartermaster General Greene was insubordinate in his constancy to properly supply the troops and remind them of the terms originally agreed upon. These members of Congress called for a hearing to determine if Nathanael Greene should be discharged from the Continental Army. General Washington, aware of the impending hearing, sent word to those congressmen with a military background to arduously defend Greene.

After almost a week of arguments it was determined that Nathanael Greene would be relieved of the quartermaster general post and again take up his position as battlefield commander.

In October of 1780, only a few months after the attempt to discharge Greene from the army, Congress appointed him to command the Southern Campaign. The focus of the British was now in the South. Two generals had previously served in this post and failed. It was time to assign the pivotal task to Greene — a commander that had already proven his dedication to the army and his ability to accomplish the impossible.

Greene was able to move quickly to get his small, sickly, and always poorly supplied southern troops in order. He swiftly adapted strategies and tactics to weaken the British Army in the South. The mere survival of the Continental Army during the Southern Campaign was a constant. As the main army under Washington experienced a time of repose, Greene's army was continuously engaged in battles, skirmishes, and sieges.

Fighting men and supplies were near impossible to attain. Greene petitioned the legislative bodies of the Southern States to allow enslaved men to join the Continental Army and obtain their freedom in exchange. This was denied. (According to Supreme Court Justice William Johnson's biography on Greene -- Sketches of the life and correspondence of Nathanael Greene, major general of the armies of the United States, in the war of the revolution (1822, Charleston, SC) there were those in the South who still resented Greene for making the request at the time this biography was printed.)

Greene petitioned Congress to send the monies needed to properly supply his men. Sporadically money would arrive — never enough.

Greene sought out equipped militia units from the Southern States to reinforce the Continental Army. Few arrived. The governor of Virginia sent militia to Greene — without properly outfitting them with weapons or food. Greene, struggling to supply his own troops in the field, was forced to send the desperately needed militia back with a rebuke to the governor for not supplying his militia units. Virginia's governor at that time was Thomas Jefferson.

The declaration of independence, which was announced to the world five years prior had not yet been obtained. Yet the author of this declaration failed to responsibly and realistically assist those on the front line attempting with their very lives to make it so!

The story of the Continental Army is very different from that of the Continental Congress. As school children we were taught about the American Revolution with the focus on specific members of Congress. Few Americans know of and therefore fully appreciate the immense struggles the army continuously faced to obtain our liberty. Their enormous effort, it seems, was not even fully appreciated by certain members serving in the Continental Congress at the time.

Pictures below:

Major General Nathanael Greene, commander of the Southern Campaign

Governor Thomas Jefferson

Supreme Court Justice William Johnson (biographer of Nathanael Greene)

Reasons I Committed to Revising General Greene’s Story (part three)

One cannot imagine the turmoil within both the Continental Congress and Army throughout the American Revolution. Britain was a powerful nation with the most able army and navy in the world. The declaration of war from the American Colonies was akin to the scrawny, unknown, Israelite child David challenging the burly, champion, Philistine warrior Goliath. The colonists were keenly aware.

The responsibilities of the Continental Congress were enormous. The reality of being subject to acute hardships, imprisonment, agonizing disability, or death was a constant for the Continental Soldier.

The officers of the Continental Army were subordinate to Congress. General Washington, certainly, and many of his senior officers attempted to communicate their continuous needs to congress of obtaining the monies necessary to properly supply the perpetual needs of a fighting army; offering sufficient and prompt pay to soldiers; granting commissions; and the list goes on and on.

General Nathanael Greene began his communication (and friendship) with Congressman John Adams at the start of the war. Greene encouraged a declaration of independence. He urged a taxation for the support of the army. He advocated for officers being denied promotions by congress. Washington, Greene and their fellow officers understood the critical needs of the army. Congress--safely and comfortably removed--did not.

Congressman John Adams chaired the Board of War and Ordinance. This committee served as oversight for operations of the Continental Amy, which included commissioning and advancing officers. (As a congressman John Adams was appointed to/sought out a seat on ninety committees. He chaired twenty. These assignments outnumbered any of his colleagues.)

Colonel Henry Knox was a close friend of Greene prior to and throughout the war. Henry served as chief of artillery from the start of the war. In May of 1777, the Board of War and Ordinance was prepared to replace Colonel Knox as chief of artillery and appoint a French artillery officer, Philippe Charles Tronson du Coudray in his place, giving Coudray a commission of major-general (the rank given would also supersede that of Generals Nathanael Greene and John Sullivan).

Washington addressed this issue in a letter to congress on May 31, 1777:

"General Knox, who has deservedly acquired the character of one of the most valuable officers in the service, and who combating almost innumerable difficulties in the department he fills has placed the artillery upon a footing that does him the greatest honor; he, I am persuaded, would consider himself injured by an appointment superseding his command, and would not think himself at liberty to continue in the service. Should such an event take place in the present state of things, there would be too much reason to apprehend a train of ills, such as might confuse and unhinge this important department."

Generals Greene and Sullivan, along with Colonel Knox, presented their own objections to congress--and made clear their own intention of resigning their commissions should congress place foreign officers--not committed to the cause of American liberty as they were--above their command.

Congressman John Adams was highly offended. He viewed the objection of the generals, and Colonel Knox, as insubordinate. He demanded an apology to congress.

No apology was given. Congress came to their senses and Henry Knox remained chief of artillery with the commission of Brigadier General (eventually major general). The French officer Coudray was not given a commission superseding that of Greene or Sullivan.

John Adams ended his friendship with Nathanael Greene.

Pictures below:

David & Goliath

Congressman John Adams

Major General Henry Knox

Major General John Sullivan

Commander-in-Chief General George Washington

Reasons I Committed to Revising General Greene’s Story (part two)

Quartermaster General Thomas Mifflin (a well-known and respected founding father) all but abandoned his post prior to the winter of 1777/78. This is the reason the Continental Army was in such desperate need for basic supplies when they entered Valley Forge on December 19, 1777. Men were sick and dying for want of these supplies. Six months later the Continental Army would face the British on the field of battle at Monmouth Courthouse (June 28, 1778) and hold their own against the might of the British Army.

How did a dying, starving, naked, poorly supplied army accomplish this? Every American school child knows the answer — the Baron von Steuben came to Valley Forge and drilled the troops, turning them into a well-trained army. HOW DOES ONE DRILL AND TRAIN DYING MEN?

It seems, no one bothered to ask. Or, perhaps it was that no one cared to tell. The answer to this compelling question is Nathanael Greene. He submitted to the pleas of General Washington and Congress to take what he considered a demotion from battlefield commander to quartermaster general. Within three weeks he had supplies coming in to Valley Forge. Now Von Steuben had troops strong and equipped to train.

Greene agreed to remain in the post for one year. Though Congress had granted the term, they disregarded Greene's agreement when the year ended. Greene was forced to serve for a second year. During his appointment as quartermaster general Greene worked diligently to supply the army. Some in Congress resented his diligence — and his determination to be free of the post as originally agreed upon. (Upon visiting Congress as quartermaster general along with General Washington, Greene stated in a letter that he and Washington counted more than a dozen tables over-laden with food while the troops were expected to sustain themselves on rations. He and Washington noted the fine suits the congressmen wore, as the army struggled to obtain proper clothing to cover their bodies against the elements.)

Quartermaster General Greene's persistence offended some in Congress. They felt General Greene was insubordinate in his constancy to properly supply the troops and remind them of the terms originally agreed upon. Members of Congress called for hearings to determine if Nathanael Greene should be discharged from command and from the Continental Army.

After almost a week of hearings, it was determined by a narrow margin that Nathanael Greene would be relieved of the quartermaster general post and again take up his position as battlefield commander.

Within a few months’ time, the same members of Congress who determined to remove Nathanael Greene from the army — along with those who supported him — would seek him out to command the Southern Campaign. Two generals had already made the attempt and failed. It was time to assign the pivotal task to Greene — a commander that had already proven his dedication to the army and his ability to accomplish the impossible.

The March to Valley Forge, December 19, 1777, Painted by William Brooke Thomas Trego

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1883. On display at the Museum of the American Revolution