Washington himself and Oliver Cromwell are perhaps the only two
civilian generals in history who stand in the first rank as
military leaders. It is doubtful indeed whether it is not rather
character than military skill which gives Washington his place.
Only one other general of the Revolution attained to first rank
even in secondary fame. Nathanael Greene was of Quaker stock from
Rhode Island. He was a natural student and when trouble with the
mother country was impending in 1774 he spent the leisure which
he could spare from his forges in the study of military history
and in organizing the local militia. Because of his zeal for
military service he was expelled from the Society of Friends. In
1775 when war broke out he was promptly on hand with a contingent
from Rhode Island. In little more than a year and after a very
slender military experience he was in command of the army on Long
Island. On the Hudson defeat not victory was his lot. He had,
however, as much stern resolve as Washington. He shared
Washington's success in the attack on Trenton, and his defeats at
the Brandywine and at Germantown. Now he was at Valley Forge, and
when, on March 2, 1778, he became quartermaster general, the
outlook for food and supplies steadily improved.
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