The Saber and Scroll Journal Volume 9, Number 3, Winter 2020 | Page 102

The Saber and Scroll
a fledgling ; however , he possessed qualities that quickly set him apart from his contemporaries . These qualities quickly found Greene in the graces of the eventual Commander-in-Chief , George Washington .
It could be reasonably argued that many Americans have an overly romanticized mental image of the American Revolution . One where American Patriots set aside their disagreements , banded together , and worked seamlessly to win their independence . This image was largely propagated by nineteenth-century poets and authors , such as William Gilmore Simms , and it seems that any deviance from this narrative would be viewed as almost unpatriotic . However , the reality of the situation throughout the war was a far cry from the charming portrayals commonly found in pop culture . 18
Although there were certainly social , economic , and cultural divisions between the Northern and Southern colonies , perhaps the most significant divisions among the colonies were provincial . Boundary disputes between provinces were commonplace and did not simply dissipate when the war began . Rather , these divisions transcended civil affairs and manifested among the provincial militias who remained autonomous and suspicious of one another . In early 1775 , there was no formal , overarching command structure or even a common supply line . Seemingly , the only unifying factor at this time was the cause itself . 19
Greene saw this dynamic and felt that only through unity did the rebel forces stand a chance . While most of the other colonial militia leaders stood stubborn in their independence and suspicions , Greene did not hesitate to become subordinate to another colonial commander . On May 23 , 1775 , Greene offered his services to Artemas Ward , commander of the Massachusetts militia , requesting to serve as one of Ward ’ s subordinate commanders . 20
This is not to say that Greene was alone in this idea of a consolidated army . On the contrary , Greene attended a meeting on June 5 , 1775 , featuring Generals Joseph Spencer , Israel Putnam , William Heath , and John Thomas , who were trying “ to give shape and order ” to the mobs in the encampment . However , an idea of a “ single head ” to command the army only “ crept in ” over time . Greene , on the other hand , did not hesitate to offer his services under Ward and had done so nearly a month before Congress established the Continental Army . The Continental Army was established on June 14 , 1775 , under the command of George Washington , with Greene selected as one of its first Brigadier Generals . 21
As evidenced by George Washington ’ s General Orders from July 1775 , troop discipline was a major concern . Greene , however , stood at the forefront of troop discipline . He understood in 1775 what Baron Friedrich von Steuben proved two years later at Valley Forge : that discipline and drill were vital keys to the success of the military . Greene held his soldiers to the highest standards , which not only garnered him the favorable attention of Washington and other generals but also made his
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