the south, his former judgment [ his defeat at Camden, when and fortune seemed to forsake Congress passed a resolution

him. He was anxious to come to action immediately, and to terminate the war by a few bold and energetic measures; and two days after his arrival in camp, he began his march to meet the enemy, without properly estimating his force.

requiring the commander in chief to order a court of inquiry on his conduct, as commander of the southern army, and to appoint some other officer to that command. The inquiry resulted in his acquittal; and it was the general opinion that he The active spirits of the was not treated by congress place being roused and encour- with that delicacy, or indeed aged, by the presence of a con- gratitude, that was due to an siderable army, and daily flock-officer of his acknowledged ing to the standard of their merit. He, however, received country, General Gates, by a the order of his supercedure delay of action, had much to and suspension, and resigned gain, in point of numbers. To the command to Gen. Greene the prospects of the enemy, on with becoming dignity, as is the contrary, delay would have manifested, much to his credit, been ruinous. To them there in the following order :was no alternative but immediate battle and victory, or immediate retreat. Such, however, was the nature of the Country and the distance and relative position of the two The honorable Major-Generarmies, that to compel the Amer- al Greene, who arrived yestericans to action was impossible. day afternoon in Charlotte, The imprudence of the Ameri- being appointed, by his Excelcan general, in hazarding an lency General Washington, with engagement, at this time, is fur- the approbation of the honther manifested by the fact, that orable congress, to the command in troops, on whose firmness he of the southern army, all orders could safely rely, he was great-will, for the future, issue from ly inferior to his foe, they him, and all reports are to be amounting to sixteen hundred made to him. veteran and highly disciplined regulars, and he having less than a thousand continentals.

Gen. Gates having retreated to Salisbury, and thence to Hillsborough, he there succeeded in collecting around him the fragments of an ariny. Being soon afterwards reinforced by several small bodies of regulars and militia, be again advanced towards the south, and took post in Charlotte. Here he continued in command until the 5th day of October, fifty days after

"Head-Quarters, Charlotte, 3d December, 1780. Parole, Springfield--countersign, Greene.

General Gates returns his sincere and grateful thanks to the southern army for their perseverance, fortitude and patient endurance of all the hardships and sufferings they have undergone, while under his command. He anxiously hopes their misfortunes will cease therewith, and that victory, and the glorious advantages of it, may be the furture portion of the southern army.

General Greene had already

spectable citizens, whose views and have evident signs of an ap differed widely from his own.proaching dissolution. But I

He had a handsome person, and was gentlemanly in his manners, remarkably courteous to all, and gave indisputable marks of a Social, amiable and benevolent disposition. A few weeks before his death, he closed a letter to a friend in the following words :-"I am very weak,

have lived long enough, since I have to see a mighty people animated with a spirit to be free, and governed by transcendent abilities and honor." He died without posterity, at his abode near New-York, on the 10th day of April, 1806, aged 78 years.

NATHANIEL GREENE,
Major-General in the American Army.

GENERAL GREENE, although commencement of a public ca descended from ancestors of ele-reer, which, heightening as it

vated standing, was not indebt ed to the condition of his family, for any part of the real lustre and reputation he possessed. He was literally the founder of his own fortune, and the author of bis own fame. He was the second son of Nathaniel Greene, a member of the society of Friends, an anchor-smith.

advanced, and flourishing in the midst of difficulties, closed with a lustre that was peculiarly dazzling.

Thus introduced into the councils of his country, at a time, when the rights of the subject, and the powers of the ruler, were beginning to be topics of liberal discussion, he felt it his duty to avow his sentiments on the momentous question. Nor did he pause or waver, as to the principles he should adopt, and the decision he should form. He was inflexibly opposed to tyranny and oppression in every shape, and manfully avowed it. But his character, although forming, was not completely developed until the commencement of the troubles which terminated in our independence. It was then that he aspired to a head in the

He was born in the year 1741, in the town of Warwick, and County of Kent, in the province of Rhode-Island. Being intended by his father, for the business which he himself pursued, young Greene received, at school, nothing but the ele ments of a common English ed ucation. But to him, an education so limited, was unsatis factory. With such funds as he was able to raise, he pur chased a small, but well selected library, and spent his evenings, and all the time he could re-public councils; and, throwing deem from his father's business, in regular study.

At a period of life, unusually early, Greene was elevated, by a very flattering suffrage, to a seat in the legislature, of his native colony. This was the

from him, as unsuitable to the times, the peaceful habits in which he had been educated, sternly declared for a redress of grievances, or open resistance. This open departure from the sectarian principles in which he

had been educated, was follow- | power to dissolve. It is a fact ed, of course, by his immediate of notoriety, that when time dismission from the society of and acquaintance had made him Friends. thoroughly acquainted with the

The sword was earliest un-character and merits of General sheathed in the colony of Mass- Greene, Washington entertainachusetts; and on the plains of ed, and frequently expressed an Lexington and Concord, the anxious wish, that, in case of blood of British soldiers, and his death, he might be appointAmerican subjects, mingled ed his successor to the supreme first in hostile strife. Nor was command. Rhode-Island, after that san- During the investment of guinary affair, behind her sister Boston, by the American forces, colonies, in gallantry of spirit, a state of things, which lasted and promptitude of preparation. for months, no opportunity preGreene commenced his milita sented itself to Greene, to acry pupilage in the capacity of a quire distinction, by personal private soldier, in Oct. 1774, in a exploit. But his love of action, military association, command- and spirit of adventure, were ed by James M. Varnum, after-strongly manifested; for he was wards brigadier general. But one of the few officers of rank, Rhode-Island having in the who concurred with General month of May, 1775, raised Washington, in the propriety of three regiments of militia, she attempting to carry the town by placed them under the com- assault. mmand of Greene, who without loss of time conducted them to head-quarters, in the village of Cambridge.

On the 2d of July, 1775, General Washington, invested, by congress with the command in chief of the armies of his country, arrived at Boston. Greene availed himself of an early opportunity amid the public demonstration of joy, to welcome the commander in chief, in a personal address, in which, with much warmth of feeling, and kindness of expression, he avowed his attachment to his person, and the high gratification he derived from the prospect of being associated with him in arms, and serving under him, in defence of the violated rights of his country.

This was a happy prelude to a friendship between these two great and illustrious officers, which death, alone, had the

On the evacuation of Boston by the British, the American troops were permitted to repose from their toils, and to exchange for a time, the hardships and privations, of a field encampment, for the enjoyment of plenty, in comfortable barracks. During this period of relaxation, Green continued with unabating industry, his military studies, and as far as opportunity served, his attention to the practical duties of the field. This course, steadily pursued, under the immediate supervision of Washington, could scarcely fail to procure rank, and lead to eminence. Accordingly, on the 26th of August, 1776, he was promoted by congress, to the rank of major-general in the regular army.

A crisis, most glowing, and portentous to the cause of freedom, had now arrived. In the retreat which now com

through the gloomy and omin ous period that followed.

In the obstinate and bloody battle of Brandywine, General Greene, by his distinguished conduct, added greatly to his former renown. In the course of it, a detachment of American troops, commanded by General Sullivan, being unexpectedly attacked by the enemy, retreat

menced, through New-Jersey, General Washington was accompanied by General Greene, and received from him all the aid, that, under circumstances so dark and unpromising, talents, devotion, and firmness could afford. Possessed alike of an ardent temperament, hearts that neither danger nor misfortune could appal, and an inspiring trust in the righteous-ed in disorder. General Greene, ness of their cause, it belonged to the character of these two great and illustrious commanders, never for a moment to despair of their country. Hope and confidence, even now, beamed from their countenances, and they encouraged their followers, and supported them under the pressure of defeat and misfortune.

Greene was one of the council of Washington, who resolved on the enterprise of the 26th of December, 1776, against the post of the enemy at Trenton. The issue is known, and is glorious in our history. About one thousand Hessians, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, with their arms, field equipage, and artillery were the trophies of that glorious morning, which opened on the friends of American freedom, with the day-star of hope. He was again of the council of the commander in chief. in planning the daring attack of the 2d of January, 1777, on the British garrison at Princeton, as well as his associate in achieving its execution. In both these brilliant actions, his gallantry, prudence, and skill be ing alike conspicuous, he received the applauses of his commander. He continued the associate and most confidential counsellor of Washington,

at the head of Weedon's Virginia brigade, flew to their support. On approaching, he found the defeat of General Sullivan a perfect rout. Not a moment was to be lost. Throwing himself into the rear of his flying countrymen,

and retreating slowly, he kept up, especially from his cannon, so destructive á fire, as greatly to retard the advance of the enemy. Aiming at length at a narrow defile, secured on the right and left by thick woods, he halted, sent forward his cannon, that they might be out of danger, in case of his being compelled to a hasty retreat, and formed his troops, determined to dispute the pass with his small arms, This he effected with complete success, notwithstanding the vast superiority of the assailants; until after a conflict of more than an hour and a half, night came on, and brought it to a close. But for this quicksighted interposition, Sullivan's detachment must have been nearly annihilated.

On this occasion, only, did the slightest misunderstanding, ever occur, between General Greene and the commander in chief. In his general orders after the battle, the latter neglected to bestow any special applause on Weedon's brigade.