Greene’s took part in the bloodiest fighting of the war in South Carolina from April 25 to September, 8, 1781(Buchanan, 1997, p. 397). Greene fought in three battles in South Carolina.
The first town Greene went to fight in was Camden, South Carolina. Greene’s a 140 mile journey to Camden was not easy, for they had to pass through swamps, and heavy timber trees in which were hard to pass through(Carborne, 2008, p. 186). When Greene arrived to Camden he and British Lord Francis Rowden faced each other on Hobkirk’s Hill, a ridge less than two miles north of Camden( Carborne, 2008, p. 186). The battle ended with Rowden’s army, and Greene lost 1/5 of his 950 soldiers (Carborne, 2008, p. 188-190). Greene was very much disappointed by his lose in Camden, but he gave one of his famous quotes: “We fight, get beat, rise, and fight again” (Buchanan, 1997, 397). The quote meant despite the experience of lose the army would still continue to fight. Greene disappointment did not last long Rowden’s men had experienced so many loses on Hobkirk’s hill, they were forced to abandon their post in Camden, and head for Charlotte ( Buchanan, 1997, p. 397 & Carborne, 2008, p. 192). Therefore, Greene started to accomplish his goal for the British lost an outpost.
After Camden fell Greene and his men went to the biggest outpost in South Carolina, a small frontier town called Ninety- Six (Carborne, 2008, p.193). Greene had a strategy for Ninety Six, where his men would sneak from trenches from a Fort’s wall. Greene’s plan had been inspired by classic European warfare (Carborne, 2008, p. 193-194). The plan could not work because Rowden came with a British force of 2,000 men. The result was bloody because the two sides ended up fighting in a ditch with bayonets (Buchanan, 1997, p.398& Carborne 197). The British had won, but they could not hold the outpost in Ninety-Six permanently, so they left (Carborne, 2008, p. 198). The British left Ninety Six because they had a hard time holding a base in Ninety Six, because the communication with Charlotte was impossible with the British posts breaking up (Greene, 1893, p. 259). From Ninety Six one saw that Greene had a pattern with his battles, for while he lost the battle the British would lose in the long run either by the lose of their troops or Outposts. As Gerald M. Carborne stated in his book, “Greene had won by losing; Guilford Courthouse, Camden, and now Ninety-Six had fallen from British Control.” (Carborne, 2008, p. 198). The term “won by losing” was perfect to describe how he defeated the British in the long run, despite the loss in battle.
Greene then went to an area in South Carolina for his troops to rest called the Hills of Santee (Buchanan, 1997, p. 398). However, Greene did not feel a sense of relaxation his troops did not have enough supplies, and Greene did not have enough to pay for supplies (Carborne, 2008, p. 199). Greene was also emotionally tired from the war as well. As he stated in a letter to his wife: “My nature recoils at the horrid scenes in which this country affords, and longs for a peaceful retirement where love and softer pleasures are to be found.” (Carborne, 2008, p. 199- 200). The letter showed Greene now wanted a more peaceful life with beauty and pleasure, as opposed to the horrible images he saw during the war.
After the “relaxation” period Greene and his men marched into Eutaw Springs, South Carolina. At Eutaw Springs, Greene fought one of the battles of the war against British field commander Colonel Alexander Stewart. The battle lasted for four hours, and both sides suffered heavy loses (Buchanan, 1997, p. 398). Stewart had lost 40 percent of his troops, and Greene had lost a quarter of his troops (Carborne, 2008, p. 206). The Battle of Eutaw Springs had also involved heavy looting, for many American troops went into the British tents and took food, drinks, and clothes from the British (Carborne, 2008, p. 204). Only American General John Eager was able to control the troops from looting (Buchanan, 1997, p. 398). Greene had lost the battle at Eutaw Springs, but he had “won by losing” again, because the British South Carolina army had become too weak for combat. As a result, the Battle of Eutaw Springs was the last major battle of the American Revolution in South Carolina.
Greene still focused on war duties after the Battle of Eutaw Springs, for the American Revolution was not officially over. Greene proposed a preposition to the Georgia legislature to train slaves as soldiers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia in exchange for their freedom (Carborne, 2008, p. 209). Greene had seen African- American’s fight in the Battle of Monmouth, and he had commanded an African American branch of troops in Rhode Island. Therefore, Greene saw first hand that African Americans could make good fighters. The state legislature agreed with Greene’s measure with the compromise that slaves would maintain there status as slaves. Greene did not agree with the measure, so he stopped to pursue the idea (Carborne, 2008, p. 209). Greene fought for slaves to acquire freedom in battle, but he did contradict his beliefs. Greene owned slaves on his Georgia plantation, where he lived during the last year of his life (Carborne, 2008, p. 21). Therefore, Greene’s opinions of slavery were of contradictory nature.
In December, 1782 Greene and his wife went to a liberated Charleston, South Carolina. Greene’s number one duty in Charleston was to clothe, and feed his men (Carborne, 2008, p. 215). Greene’s concern to give his men more supplies was valid, for his men began to plunder for supplies (Carborne, 2008, p. 216). Greene did not stand for plundering, so he needed to come up with a desperate solution for his troops. Greene trusted a business man named Banks to supply his troops with clothes other necessities (Buchanan, 1997, p. 399& Carborne, 2008, p. 217). Greene bought the supplies from banks on a type of credit, and Banks promised Greene he would use the pay debts owed to different merchants. However, the deal caused Greene to be in debt for the rest of his life (Buchanan, 1997, p. 399& Carborne, 2008, p. 217). The American Revolution ended in 1783, and Greene gave his final speech to his troops on June, 1783. Greene thanked the troops in his speech, and congratulated on their work in giving America Independence (Carborne, 2008, p. 220).
Greene mind was not financially at ease after the war. Greene had given up much of his fortune in order to support (Saba, 2010). Greene made a bunch of war time investments, during the war but they all failed (Carborne, 2008, p. 217). The biggest money problems were caused because of his deal with Banks. Banks had cheated, so Greene was forced to liquidate all of his fortunes in Rhode Island and his awards from southern states in order to pay for war expenses that were supposed to be financed by Banks (Hayball, 2006). Despite, Greene’s money problems he did have a place to live. The Georgia government rewarded Greene with a plantation called Mulberry Grove, which was located outside of Savannah, Georgia (Saba, 2010). After a year in a rented house in New Port, Rhode Island Greene and his family moved to Mulberry Grove on October, 14, 1785 (Carborne, 2008, p. 229).
Nathanael Greene only managed to stay at Mulberry Grove for less than a year. Greene’s year at the plantation was not at ease, for he was still hunted by financial problems and the plantation did not make a profit (Saba, 2010). Upon, visiting a nearby plantation Greene acquired sunstroke, which started with a headache and then went into his eyes (Buchanan, 1997, p. 399). The doctor tried to save Greene by bleeding him, but the effort did not succeed (Carborne, 2008, p. 235). Nathanael Greene died on the morning of June, 19, 1786 he was only forty three years old (Carbone, 2008, p. 235).
Greene was originally buried at Savannah Colonial Cemetery, but in 1902 Greene was reburied at the monument constructed in his honor at Johnson Square in Savannah Georgia. The remains of Greene’s son are buried there as well (Saba, 2010). Nathanael Greene left a big legacy after he died. Congress erected a monument at the nation’s capital; and there were many parks, counties, and cities named after Greene across America (Logan, 2009). Greene was a very famous general, who fought many battles and had good strategies.
