Major General Nathanael Greene

Natty Greene’s is our shortened version of Nathanael Greene, the prominent Major General during America's War for Independence for which our hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina is named. Greene’s efforts in leadership, strategy, resourcefulness and discipline throughout the war – especially in leading the Southern Campaign and highlighted locally by the "race to the Dan" and the Battle of Guilford Courthouse – are credited with changing the course of the war and leading to the Patriots’ victory.

Our choice of the name pays tribute to our roots and our region while shining light on an oft-forgotten but very important founding father of our country.

Nathanael Greene was an American General in the Revolutionary War and also an aide and confidant of General George Washington. Greene was born in Warwick, Rhode Island in 1742, the son of a successful farmer and ironmaster. In 1773, the Quaker church expelled Greene for attending a military parade. The following year he helped to organize a local military company. Because Greene had a slight limp due to a stiff knee, the company felt that he should not be an officer. He entered military service as a simple private.

In May 1775, only a month after the outbreak of the Revolution, the Rhode Island Assembly named Greene a Brigadier in charge of 1,500 soldiers. During the course of the war, Washington came to depend on Greene. Before long, Greene was virtually second in command. He took part in all the army’s operations until March 1778 when Washington asked him to assume the duties of Quartermaster General, a post that had been poorly handled. He performed as well as possible in that role - mostly due to constant squabbles with a less-than-helpful Congress - and improved the military's conditions during his tenure, but Greene longed to be back in the field leading men. 

General Greene was largely responsible for the triumph of the American forces in the South. After the British defeated the American army at Camden, South Carolina in August, 1780, Greene was chosen to succeed General Horatio Gates in command of the Southern Department. In early December, he took over a demoralized force. He quickly reorganized the southern army and devised a strategy of retreat northward into North Carolina and eventually Virginia, goading Lord Cornwallis, the British commander, into following him. His strategy forced the British to divide the forces, which led to the American victory at Cowpens in January 1781. Within eight months, Greene freed most of the Carolinas from British control. At the Battle of Guilford Courthouse on March 15, 1781, Greene suffered a defeat, although without a serious loss in manpower. The same could not be said for Lord Cornwallis, who was far from his base, and was compelled by lack of supplies to withdraw. Greene lost the battle but won the campaign. His strategic skill thereafter brought the war in the South – and the Revolution – to a successful close when Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown in October 1781.

Greene died in 1786, thus missing the chance to turn his military success into a role for the new country and greater popularity in history. More than 200 years later, we’ve chosen to help remember and celebrate one of the great men who had a hand in giving us the country we live in today. HUZZAH!

NOTABLE QUOTES

"The present moment is big with the most important consequences, & requires the greatest and most spirited exertions." - Nathanael Greene to Patrick Henry, from Guilford Courthouse as Greene's army prepared for the race to the Dan River near South Boston, Virginia

the Marquis de Lafayette proclaimed "... in the very name of Greene are remembered all the virtues and  talents which illustrate the patriot, the statesman, and the military leader..."

"I am determined to defend my rights and maintain my freedom or sell my life in the attempt." - Nathanael Greene

Thomas Jefferson wrote of Greene, "Second to no one in enterprise, in resource, in sound judgment, promptitude of decision, and every other military talent."

"Learning is not virtue but the means to bring us an acquaintance with it. Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful. Let these be your motives to action throughout life; the relief of the distressed, the detection of frauds, the defeat of oppression, and diffusion of happiness." - Nathanael Greene

NATHANAEL GREENE TIMELINE

August 1774

organized local milita group in Rhode Island

June 22, 1775

appointed brigadier of the Continental Army

March 1776

assigned command of city of Boston by General Washington 

August 9, 1776

promoted to be one of the four new major generals; put in command of Continental troops on Long Island

September 16, 1776

Battle of Harlem Heights

November 16, 1776

Battle of Fort Washington

December 26, 1776

Battle of Trenton

September 11, 1777

Battle of Brandywine

March 2, 1778

becomes Quartermaster General

June 28, 1778

Battle of Monmouth

August 29, 1778

Battle of Rhode Island

August 1778

resigns as Quartermaster General over disputes with Congress

June 23, 1780

Battle of Springfield

December 2, 1780

replaces Gates as Commander of Southern Army in Charlotte

March 15, 1781

Battle of Guilford Court House

April 25, 1781

Battle of Hobkirk’s Hill

May 22-June 19, 1781

Siege of Ninety-Six

September 8, 1781

Battle of Eutaw Springs

June 19, 1786

dies of sunstroke at 44 years old at his Mulberry Grove estate outside Savannah