Leading the Way to Victory

Leading the Way to Victory. . , General Nathanael Greene , A Rhode Island merchant with virtually no military experience, Greene became one of General George Washington's most trusted leaders. Understanding how critical supplies and logistics were to the war effort, Greene was selected to serve as Quartermaster General of the Continental Army. It was in this role that Greene demonstrated his exceptional capability as both a commander and brilliant strategist., In 1780 General Greene was selected to command the Southern Department, which included South Carolina. Greene took command of a ragged, poorly supplied, and demoralized army that had been decimated at the Battle of Camden in August of 1780. After the stunning American victory at Cowpens on January 17, 1781, he pursued the British Army on an exhausting race through North Carolina., The two armies collided on March 15, 1781 at Guilford Courthouse. Even though Greene was defeated, the British were so worn out and battered from the long march and battle that they retreated to rest and refit. Greene returned to South Carolina, where he lead the campaign to force the British out of the state for good., General Francis Marion , Francis Marion began his Revolutionary War service as a captain in the 2nd South Carolina Regiment. He initially faced the British in 1776 during their first attempt to capture Charleston. By 1780 Marion was the commander of the 2nd South Carolina when the British, this time stronger and better prepared, returned to try their luck once more., Although Charleston fell to the British, Marion was not captured because he was outside of the city recuperating from a shattered ankle he received after jumping from a second floor window to escape a wild party that had gotten out of control. After recuperating, Marion rode to offer his services to Major Genéral Horatio Gates, who sent him to lead a local unit of militia. After the defeat at Camden forced Gates to retreat into North Carolina, Marion and his militia were left as one of the only remaining organized units of resistance in South Carolina., Marion and his men used their knowledge of the landscape to wreak havoc on the British, attacking without warning and then vanishing into the swamps and bottomlands. It was his ability to attack and evade that earned Marion the nickname "Swamp Fox" and made him such a valuable asset to General Greene when he took command in late 1780., Lieutenant Colonel Henry Lee III , A 19 year old student at the College of New Jersey when the Revolutionary War began, Henry Lee left his studies behind to join the Continental Army. It was there that he became known for his skillful use of cavalry and light infantry to carry out partisan (guerrilla) warfare. Lee's exploits and bravery in battle earned him the nickname "Light-Horse Harry" and brought him to the attention of commanding general and fellow Virginian, George Washington., Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, he led a combined cavalry and light infantry unit known as Lee's Legion. Lee and his soldiers were sent south with General Greene. Because of his skill with partisan tactics, Lee and his legion were assigned to work with General Marion and his South Carolina militia. Together, they would cause a great deal of trouble for the British in South Carolina in the spring of 1781., While he was a brave soldier and bold leader, Lee also had a habit of seeking glory rather than following orders. He also had a way of creating tension with his superiors and fellow officers. Though Lee and Marion worked well with one another, rising tensions between the two would eventually lead to them parting ways in May of 1781.