Everyone knows how General George Washington led the American Revolution. But 250 years later, can you name his second-in command?
It was Rhode Island native son, Major General Nathanael Greene of Coventry–a man so trusted, Washington chose him as his successor should he ever be captured or killed.
From Rhode Island Forge to Washington’s Inner Circle
“They were very good friends when they met early on in his military career in Boston. Washington realized that Nathanael was kind of a brilliant man, a logistics master,” said Josh Wojnar, trustee and caretaker of the Greene homestead, “Spell Hall” in Coventry. It was once the site of the family forge, as well.
Greene was an unlikely Revolutionary War hero. He was nicknamed “The Fighting Quaker” because he was born in the Potowomut section of Warwick into a strict Quaker community; a pacifist faith. He was eventually banished from his Meeting House for joining the war effort.
“He realizes that we need certain freedoms in the colonies at the time, and he was willing to give up his religious beliefs to help everyone acquire those freedoms,” said Wojnar.
Choosing Revolution Over Tradition
Putting his faith, family and fortune on the line, Greene, along with his East Greenwich lawyer, James Mitchell Varnum, formed a local militia: The Kentish Guards.
Following his pivotal meeting with George Washington, Greene rose to the rank of Major General and was tasked with a special mission: take on the Southern campaign and push British General, Lord Cornwallis’ troops, out of the Carolinas and Georgia.
“He realized that if we were going to have any chance of winning this war against the greatest military in the world, we had to bring them to our playing field,” said Wojnar.
The strategy that saved the South
In what is considered a brilliant tactical move, Greene deployed a new tactic: guerrilla warfare. He split his small army, forcing Cornwallis to do the same. And instead of standing in a line and shooting at the enemy, they went into hiding.
“Nathanael realized, Nope, there’s too many of them. There’s not enough of us. And if we do these guerrilla tactics and take some pot shots, we’re a little better off,” said Wojnar.
It worked. Cornwallis’ troops were worn down and surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia.
Major General Nathanael Greene’s strategy earned him another nickname: ”Savior of the South”.
“If it wasn’t for this man, who not many of us know about, we might not live in the America we live in today”, said Wojnar.
