The Saber and Scroll
Greene ’ s time as a combatant commander in the Northern Theater ( 1775 – 1777 ) served as a significant learning period . Seemingly , he learned his lessons well , as he continued to develop and refine his repertoire , preparing him for subsequent assignments of increased responsibility and autonomy . His next assignment played to his strengths and experience learned not only from his time as a commander , but also from running his father ’ s businesses : Quartermaster General of the Army .
When the army arrived at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777 , the supply situation was in shambles . Simply put , the soldiers did not have the resources required to survive the impending winter , let alone be comfortable . The future of the war also hung in the balance , as supply problems routinely plagued Washington ’ s army . Crucial items such as gunpowder and ammunition were in short supply , in addition to a shortage of food , blankets , and even shoes .
Greene possessed a great understanding of logistics , as evidenced by his letter to George Washington on December 1 , 1777 , where Greene not only outlined how the winter encampment at Valley Forge should be established , but also provided a list of necessary actions to be taken for their sustainment . Additionally , he warned of the adverse effect of too much leisure time , addressed troop psychology , and emphasized the necessity for exercise during the army ’ s winter hiatus . He even discussed leveraging logistical warfare against the British in their quarter . 32
The large quantities of agricultural goods provided by the approximately seventy-five thousand farmers throughout the Northern Theater had dried up for many reasons : “ bad planning , no planning , inexperience , ineptitude , criminality , villainy , the structure of governance in America , and a large dose of bad luck .” By the end of 1777 , the Continental Army ’ s Quartermaster General , Major General Thomas Mifflin , and Commissary General , Colonel Joseph Trumbull , had abandoned their posts in pursuit of other endeavors , leaving Washington ’ s commissary general lost as to what to do . Thus , to supplement the quartermaster and commissary departments , Washington relied on his aspiring young General Greene to scour the countryside for provisions and equipment . 33
Greene headed out with his detail of troops numbering in the thousands to procure supplies for the suffering masses collected in Valley Forge . He was given full authority to seize whatever assets deemed vital to the sustainment of the army . Well aware of his authority , Greene also understood the power of public opinion . Thus , he implemented a system of providing receipts for all goods commandeered for the army ’ s use . It was a system of goodwill that promised repayment for any materials or livestock surrendered .
However , this goodwill was not always enough for those who were desperate , had no interest in assisting the cause , or had legitimate concerns about the grossly inflated Continental currency . To protect their resources from being seized , some locals began hiding their wagons , livestock , and other provisions in the woods or wherever they
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