Washington. Jefferson. Hamilton. Franklin. Adams.

These are all great men who all played important roles in the founding of this country.

Each one of these men have been written about so extensively it can be overwhelming to study them.

But there is one man who was a peer of these men, that rarely gets any mainstream historical respect.

I’m talking about Nathanel Greene.

In 1775 Greene was appointed the title of brigadier general in the continental army.

From 1775-1780, Greene served under Washington in the northern campaign, mainly in Boston, New York and New Jersey.

Greene had some hits and some misses, but General Washington was fiercely loyal to him

In 1780 the American southern campaign was on the brink of disaster. Led by General Horatio Gates, the Continental army suffered a devastating defeat at the battle of Camden. Things were going so poorly, Gates resigned his position

General Washington needed a replacement for Gates and on Oct 14, 1780, Nathanel Greene was appointed Commander of the Southern Department of the Continental army.

When he took command the British held strong positions in many southern states.

Greene made the decision to not engage in the British in traditional battles but instead opted for a strategic retreat technique

Greene bobbed and weaved, poked and prodded, but never fully attacked British troops. What he did do was draw out the war long enough to weaken the British by luring then further into the interior, away from their supply lines

Greene led one indecisive battle after another, slowly buying time for General Washington and his troops to arrive as reinforcements.

And that they did. In Oct 1781, the British army surrendered at Yorktown to a combination of French and American troops.

The war was over. And without Nathanel Greene, Yorktown never happens.

Had anything happened to General Washington, Nathanel Greene would have been his successor.

British General Cornwallis said Greene was “as dangerous as Washington. He is vigilant, enterprising, and full of resources–there is but little hope of gaining an advantage over him.”

Nathanel Greene died young and in debt at the age of 43.

Largely forgotten by the history books, our country would have never been the same without him.

So this Memorial Day, pay some respect to a true patriot. Rest easy Nathanel.