The Saber and Scroll
British not only paid better , but also did so in coin money , as opposed to the inflated paper currency the Americans could offer . Greene ’ s expenditures put him at odds with Congress , which accused him of inflating purchases and profiteering . 38
Regardless of the pushback from Congress , Greene diligently carried out his duties as Quartermaster . Brokering deals with New England and French companies , he obtained much-needed supplies and equipment . He enlisted skilled tradesmen to build and repair transport vehicles , weapons , and a myriad of other equipment that required routine maintenance . He even established standards for encampments that mitigated many of the messes he had encountered as a commander . These standardizations included site selection considerations , latrine locations , and security checkpoints emplacements . Additionally , Greene established chains of supply stores and magazines , the construction of boats , and transportation routes that took into consideration both land routes and waterways . 39 Greene made vast improvements to the Quartermaster Department , seemingly making the best of a less than ideal situation for a man who pined for battlefield glory .
Regardless of his improvements to the department , his conflict with Congress only grew worse over time . When a projections report was submitted to Congress proposing a supply budget for 1779 , the number came in at over $ 200 million , a figure that infuriated Congress , which opened an investigation into the quartermaster and commissary departments . 40 Congress subsequently halted all bills of credit and recommended that the army look to the colonies to support the war , a burden they ultimately refused . This left the army with no way to fund itself . Greene saw the proverbial “ writing on the wall ,” and wrote Congress his conditional resignation as Quartermaster General . His request was ignored .
Greene was adamant about moving out of the department , but Congress ignored his repeated requests for resignation . When he finally got a response , it was in the form of an investigation into his department on accusations of inflation and profiteering . Fortunately , for Greene , the results of the investigation were favorable , finding no fault in either his organization or the administration of the department . Nevertheless , Congress felt it was in their best interest to intervene anyway , proposing a complete overhaul of the department aimed at cutting costs while bolstering accountability . Congress ’ interference with Greene and his department provoked him to write Congress a scathing letter that almost cost him his commission . However , at Washington ’ s pressing , Greene maintained his commission and Congress finally honored his resignation on July 26 , 1780 . 41
Between his resignation from the quartermaster department and his assignment as the commander of the Southern Department , Greene was sent to preside over the trial of Major John André in the wake of the Benedict Arnold affair . André was sentenced on September 29 , 1780 , and was hanged October 2 . Following the tribunal ,
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