The Saber and Scroll
Greene felt that the troops were “ living symbols ” of the American cause and that the “ righteousness of the cause ” would be judged by how the troops were perceived . 46 This dynamic would arguably be more significant in the South where atrocities were being committed by both sides . Greene believed that if his soldiers lacked discipline , not only could they lose local Whig support , but also could also energize dormant Loyalists and turn neutral parties against them . By conducting themselves appropriately , they could bolster support while mitigating resistance .
Public opinion had long been a part of Greene ’ s strategy . This is evidenced through his general orders and directives dating back to 1775 where he ordered his troops “ to prevent plundering , destruction to property , or even insults to civilians .” However , at the time Greene only applied these orders to the Whigs . In the South , Greene came to believe that these same courtesies needed to be extended to the Tories if they were to succeed . His orders during the Southern Campaign stated that there needed to be “ a happy medium between too great severity and too much indulgence [ and that ] [ a ] ny punishment for Tories should not extend to ‘ proscription and confiscation .’” 47
Greene ’ s defensive strategy was also out of necessity for his lack of a standing army . Though he understood that neither side could maintain a large force in the region , he needed to buy time until he could build a regular army strong enough to take on Cornwallis . There was no shortage of Partisans in the Southern colonies , but Greene loathed militiamen . His experience had shown him that they were unreliable and that they often scattered in battle . Nonetheless , the bulk of Greene ’ s force throughout the Southern Campaign was comprised of militiamen . 48
The Partisans in the south had been fighting their war since the beginning of the revolution and possessed a unique set of skills obtained from fighting irregular warfare with Natives . They also possessed an unparalleled knowledge of the Southern landscape , one that differed greatly from those in the northern and middle-Atlantic colonies . While Greene may not have cared for irregular troops , they were indispensable to him , and he put them to work the best way he could when they decided to show up . 49
Supplies were also an issue in the Southern colonies . While the northern and middle-Atlantic colonies were more densely populated and established , the Southern colonies contained vast expanses of wilderness . The supply issues experienced in the North were naturally worse in the South . Furthermore , the years of bloody civil war had wrought havoc on the southern landscape , which found both armies scrounging for resources . Although Greene had done well to establish contracts for supplies in preparation for his command of the Southern Department , there was no shortage of problems facing his supply crisis .
Greene ’ s Southern Department needed a strategy that took all of these elements into account . Against con-
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