294 GREENE COUNTY. 



Rhode Island he managed with a skill almost unparalleled in the 

 annals of war. As the head of the Quarter-Master's depart- 

 ment, he rendered incalculable benefit to his country. It 

 was an office which required much prudence and vigor, and 

 Greene, surrounded by embarrassments, conducted its various 

 and important duties with capacity, diligence, and integrity. 

 Upon his resignation of this office, in August, 1780, Washing- 

 ton said to him : " You have rendered the path of duty in the 

 Quarter-Master's department so broad and plain, that it will 

 not be easy for your successors to mistake it." Congress, in 

 1780, authorized the Commander-in-Chief to nominate a suc- 

 cessor to General Gates in the southern military department. 

 Washington, having a high sense of General Greene's qualifi- 

 cations, and induced also by the wishes of the southern dele- 

 gates, nominated him for this responsible office ; and without 

 loss of time, and disregarding his private concerns, he pro- 

 ceeded to the south. 



Upon assuming the command he found himself surrounded 

 by difficulties, but in a short time he succeeded in giving con- 

 fidence to the army. The victory at the Cowpens, although 

 achieved under the immediate command of General Morgan, 

 was the first stroke of General Greene's policy in the south. 

 At the battle of Guilford Court-House, he was compelled to 

 retreat, but not without much loss on the part of the enemy. 

 About this time, when there was much to discourage him, he 

 was advised to retire to Virginia, but the gallant soldier re- 

 plied, " I will recover South Carolina or die in the attempt." 

 On the 8th Sept., 1781, the victory at the Eutaw Springs 

 covered him with glory. For his conduct on this occasion he 

 received the thanks of Congress, a British standard, and a gold 

 medal. After the war he returned to Rhode Island, from 

 which he came to Georgia, and settled at Mulberry Grove, 

 formerly the property of Gov. Graham, situated on the Savan- 

 nah river, 14 miles from the city of Savannah, a gift from the 

 State of Georgia. Shortly after his settlement it pleased Di- 

 vine Providence to cut short that life, the most of which had 

 been spent in the service of his country. He died at the house 

 of Mr. William Gibbons, near Savannah, from exposure to an 

 intense heat of the sun, June 19, 178G. When the news of 

 his death was received in Savannah, universal gloom pervaded 



