Brief guide to manuscripts collections| William L. Clements Library The University of Michigan Nathanael Greene Papers |
Nathanael Greene was born into a Quaker family in Rhode Island, worked in his father's iron foundry, and served in the General Assembly. When the state voted to raise three regiments in 1775 he was appointed brigadier general in command of them. He served through the siege of Boston and took his troops to New York the next spring. Promoted to major general, he fought around New York and accompanied Washington in the attack on the hessians at Trenton in December. The next winter he spent at Valley Forge.
Greene distinguished himself by his ability to gather and regulate supplies. He was appointed quartermaster general early in 1778 and reorganized the confused department to make it function effectively. he resumed his command in the field for the battle of Monmouth and later fought in Rhode Island with Sullivan. thereafter he continued to exercise his quartermaster duties until he resigned in August, 1780.
After the southern army was defeated in August, Greene replace Gates as commander. On his way south he accomplished the prodigious task of equipping and supplying his almost destitute army. Upon taking over the command he establisxhed cordial relations with the militia and partisan corps and won the warm regard of a circle of able officers. Facing the brilliant and stronger Cornwallis, Greene proceeded to out-general him. He maneuvered more cleverly, won some battles, and left the British with empty victories: Cowpens, Guilford, Hobkirk's Hill, Camden, Ninety-Six, Eutaw Springs. Cornwallis, drawn northward from his base at Charleston, pushed into Virginia and was forced to surrender at Yorktown. Savannah and Charleston remained in enemy hands. Greene moved up to the latter and sent Wayne to the former. Savannah was evacuated in July, 1782, and Charleston in December. Greene had become entangled in financial difficulties growing out of his efforts to supply his army, and with the return of peace he retired to the plantation given him by the state of Georgia, though he made frequent visits to Rhode Island.
Military correspondence of Nathanael Greene, American general in the Revolution.
This collection of Greene Papers contains a full record of Greene's command in the Southern Department, 1780-1783. His duties compelled him to maintain a wide correspondence. He reported regularly to Washington, to the president of Congress and certain committee members, and to the Board of War. he wrote to governors of the southern states, merchants selling to the quartermaster's department, civilians with complaints, certain British officers, and business associates during his later years. The bulk of these letters are to and from his subordinate officers in the quartermaster's department, in the militia of the southern states, and in the regular southern army. Although there is very little early private correspondence, the collection does contain 96 letters by and to Cathjerine Greene, Nathanael's engaging wife, and 70 letters of Greene's friend Charles Pettit of Philadelphia, which offer a view of Greene's personal affairs.
Purchased, 1937
A selection of letters between Greene and General Anthony Wayne is published in 'After Yorktown: the Wayne-Greene Correspondence, 1782,' ed. Robert G. Mitchell, Sources of American Independence; Selected Manuscripts from the Collections of the William L. Clements Library (Chicago, 1978).
The Greene Papers project of the Rhode Island Historical Society is currently publishing The Papers of Nathanael Greene (Chapel Hill, 1976- ), which is intended to be comprehensive. Seven volumes have appeared as of the end of 1995.
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