Nathanael Greene's Loyalty

A good leader is someone who can think with a clear head while under pressure. He is someone who can unite people to a common cause. He should be able to be as good with logistics as he is in battle. He should be able to accept that there are others above him, and when assigned a task to do it faithfully. Finally, he should stay loyal to his cause even during hard or difficult times. Nathanael Greene was one of George Washington’s most trusted generals and close friend. He remained loyal to Washington throughout the entire war. When things started going bad for the colonists, Greene didn’t desert the cause. Instead he fought harder and continued to inspire his soldiers to stay strong. He accepted his position of power humbly, and when it was taken away from him he handled it gracefully (Golway). Nathanael Greene was a strong leader and a loyal friend during the American Revolution.

According to Terry Golway, Nathanael Greene was born into a Quaker family. His religion stated that it was wrong to become involved in any sort of warfare. Despite this, Greene was interested in Military strategy from a young age. He taught himself using all the books available to him. When revolution broke out in the colonies, Nathanael Greene was one of the first people to be part of a militia in his town. This showed his loyalty to his country by choosing

to fight and be looked down upon by his religion rather than stand by and watch.

Greene quickly climbed the ranks in the army to the position of Major General. He was enthusiastic about being on the battlefield. He gained Washington’s trust and became one of his most loyal generals. This is why his demotion to Quarter-master General came as a shock to him. A Quarter-master General’s job is to be in charge of all the supplies for the army. This was a job that Greene hated. However, because of his loyalty Washington and his country, he accepted it gracefully and performed it faithfully and well (Golway).

Greene’s career as Quarter-master General didn’t last very long, to his relief, because in 1780 Washington chose Nathanael Greene as the new general of the Southern army. Nathanael Greene “believed in Washington’s strategy of maintaining a regular army to persuade militia to fight.” (Fleming) Washington further shows his trust in Greene’s loyalty in this article by David Hayball. “Once when Washington placed Greene in charge while he went to attend a conference he said: ‘In my absence the command of the army devolves upon you. I have such entire confidence in your prudence and abilities that I leave conduct of it to your discretion with only one observation: that with our present prospects it is not our business to seek action nor to accept one except on advantageous terms.’” Washington’s secretary also stated: “ Greene is beyond a doubt a first rate military genius… and one in whose opinion the general places his utmost confidence.” (Golway) Governor Rutledge of South Carolina once congratulated Greene on his “services under most terrifying difficulties” saying “We now have full and absolute possession of every part of the state: and the legislative, judicial, and executive powers are in exercise of their respective authorities.” (Heathcote)

Nathanael Greene’s loyalty was not the only thing that made him stand out from other generals.

One of his best traits was his exceptional leadership. In a research paper by Colonel Brian D. Kerl, he says that a huge part of being a good leader is “the ability to plan and conduct a campaign”. When planning his southern campaign, Greene knew that the geography of the South would play a huge factor in the upcoming battles. He took into account the many rivers, tributaries, swamps and mountains. He even studied the river currents, knowing that the colonial army would need every advantage they could possibly

get.

Kerl says that there are four important lessons to be learned from Nathanael Greene’s experiences. The first lesson is that logistics are just as important as tactics. Though Greene may have viewed his time as Quarter-master General master general as a burden, it actually gave him some major tactical advantages over the British. He knew that if he could deplete the British armies resources, they would be much weaker and easier to defeat. The second lesson learned is that you must know your enemy. Greene had fought against Cornwallis while under the command of Washington. Because of this he was familiar with the tactics he used and was able to use them against him. The third lesson that Greene shows us is that militia forces are the best way to regain control of your own home front. These forces could fight the war at home by protecting their communities and homes. They could also help raise support for the war effort from their neighbors. The final lesson is that one must be able to balance ends, ways, and means. Greene was able to use his resources wisely. He attacked in weak spots and sacrificed areas that were not worth defending.

When thinking about great leaders of the American Revolution most people will look no further than George Washington. When researching Nathanael Greene, however, one can find that he did much more for the war effort than most first think. He was one of George Washington’s most trusted generals, and closest friend. Some credit him with defeating the British in the southern theater of the war. He was an exceptional leader who was able to rally people to fight and sustain and encourage the small army that he he had to work with. While little known, Nathanael Greene was one of the greatest heroes of the Revolutionary War.