Nathanael GreeneNathanael Greene was born in Potowomut on July 27, 1742. He was the son of a respected minister in the Quaker society, and also a prosperous businessman. He was educated by Lindley Murray and Ezra Stiles; who was later president of the Yale College. Consequently, he knew some reading, writing and commerce math. In 1770, he moved to Coventry, Rhode Island to take care of his father's business. He served in the Rhode Island assembly from 1770 to 1772, and again in 1775. He was expelled from the Quaker meeting because of attending a military meeting in 1773.On July 20, 1774, Greene married a beautiful woman named Catherine Littlefield.She came from Block Island and gave him ...view middle of the document...
Greene named his first son George in honor of the commander and chief. He then took command of Boston when the British evacuated the city. Afterwards, he took command of Long Island, when the continental army moved to defend New York in April of 1776. Nathanael was in command of the Brooklyn defense, where the British were expected to attack.In August, he was promoted to the rank of major general but missed the battle of Long Island due to the fact that he had a high fever and had to remain in bed. He was allowed to see his first action as major general in the battle of Harlem Heights he was placed in charge of the American forced guarding the shores of New Jersey at Fort Lee. This would lead to his most costly mistake of the entire war. He made his commander try to hold his army at Fort Washington. The British outnumbered the Americans, and they felt with little resistance.Greene was in charge of commanding the retreat of the Continental army across New Jersey. He commanded on the Battle of Trenton, and participated in the battle of Princeton. On march 2, 1778, Washington appointed Greene as Quartermaster General of the Continental Army. This section of the army was collapsing, and Greene had to work very hard to keep it going. He was still used by Washington to discuss strategies of war and attended all councils of war. This was not the end of Greene as a commander. After this, he participated in the Battle of Monmouth on 28 June 1778. He also led the force that moved away the British at the Battle of Springfield. On July 26, 1780, he resigned as Quartermaster General because he did not agree. with some decisions taken by the Congress. Washington gave Greene command of West Point. After General Horatio Gates lost the battle of Camden, Washington appointed Greene the new Southern Commander. The British had almost complete control of South Carolina and Georgia after their victory at Camden. Greene had as his major goal to reestablish an army of few, outnumbered, and demorali...
