(Portrait by Charles Willson Peale.  Independence National Historical Park Collection.)

These pages are dedicated to the memory of Major General Nathanael Greene (1742-1786) of Rhode Island.  Among America's officers, he was second only to George Washington.  Together, they shared the distinction of being the only Continental generals that served throughout the entire War of American Independence.  Greene distinguished himself in the Northern Campaign on the battlefields of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth.  In addition, he served the Army in the capacity of Quartermaster General.   However, his greatest contribution to the war came as commander of the Southern Department (1780-1783).   Arguably the war's greatest strategist, he successfully waged a war of attrition against the Crown forces in the South.  He led the Southern Army at Guilford Courthouse, Hobkirk's Hill, Ninety-Six, and Eutaw Springs.