January 10, 1781.
My Dear Colonel:
General Du Portail being on his way to the northward, gives me an
opportunity to write you, which I should have done before, had not my
letters to His Excellency contained as full information of the state of
things as I was able to give, from the little time I had been in the
department.
When I was appointed to this command, I expected to meet with many
new and singular difficulties; but they infinitely exceed what I
apprehended. This is really carrying on a war in an enemy’s country;
for you cannot establish the most inconsiderable magazine, or convey
the smallest quantity of stores from one post to another, without
being obliged to detach guards for their security. The division among
the people is much greater than I imagined; and the whigs and tories
persecute each other with little less than savage fury. There is
nothing but murders and devastations in every quarter.
The loss of our army at Charleston, and the defeat of General Gates,
has been the cause of keeping such shoals of militia on foot; and their
service has been accompanied with such destruction and loss, as has
almost laid waste the whole country. Nothing has been more destructive
to the true interest of this country than the mode adopted for its
defence. Two misfortunes happening one after the other, may have
rendered it unavoidable the last season; but should it be continued,
the inhabitants are inevitably ruined, and the resources of the country
rendered incapable of affording support to an army competent to
its defence. Government here is infinitely more popular than to the
northward; and there is no such thing as national character or national
sentiment. The inhabitants are from all quarters of the globe, and as
various in their opinions, projects, and schemes, as their manners and
habits are from their early education. Those in office, from a vanity
to be thought powerful, join in the measure of imposing upon the public
respecting the strength and resources of these southern States: and
while Congress, and the minister of France, are kept under this fatal
delusion, I fear little support will be given to this department. The
inhabitants are numerous; but they would be rather formidable abroad
than at home. They are scattered over such a vast extent of country,
that it is difficult to collect, and still more difficult to subsist
them. There is a great spirit of enterprise among the black people; and
those that come out as volunteers are not a little formidable to the
enemy. There are, also, some particular corps under Sumpter, Marion,
and Clarke, that are bold and daring; the rest of the militia are
better calculated to destroy provisions than oppose the enemy.
At Philadelphia, and all my journey through the country, I endeavored
to impress upon those in power, the necessity of sending clothing, and
supplies of every kind, immediately to this army. But poverty was urged
as a plea, in bar to every application. They all promised fair, but I
fear will do but little: ability is wanting with some, and inclination
with others.
Public credit is so totally lost, that private people will not give
their aid, though they see themselves involved in one common ruin.
It is my opinion that General Washington’s influence will do more
than all the assemblies upon the continent. I always thought him
exceeding popular; but in many places he is little less than adored,
and universally admired. His influence in this country might possibly
effect something great. However, I found myself exceedingly well
received, but more from being the friend of the General, than from my
own merit.
This country wants, for its defence, a small but well appointed army,
organized so as to move with great celerity. It should consist of
about five thousand infantry, and from eight hundred to a thousand
horse. The enemy cannot maintain a larger force in this quarter,
neither can we. The resources from the country are too small to subsist
a large body of troops at any one point: and to draw supplies from a
distance, through such long tracts of barren land, will be next to
impossible, unless the business can be aided by a water transportation;
and, in either case, it will be accompanied with an amazing expense.
Could we get a superiority of horse, we could soon render it difficult
for Lord Cornwallis to hold his position so far in the country. Nor
should I be under any apprehensions, with a much inferior force to
his, of taking post near him, if I had but such a body of horse. But
the enemy’s horse is so much superior to ours, that we cannot move a
detachment towards them without hazarding its ruin.
When I came to the army, I found it in a most wretched condition. The
officers had lost all confidence in the General, and the troops all
their discipline. The troops had not only lost their discipline, but
they were so addicted to plundering that they were a terror to the
country. The General and I met at least upon very civil terms; and he
expressed the greatest happiness at my being appointed to succeed him.
General Smallwood and he were not upon good terms; the former suspected
the latter of having an intention to supplant him, but many think
without reason. Others, again, are of opinion, his suspicions were well
founded, and that Smallwood was not a little mortified at my being
appointed to this department, and got outrageous when he heard Baron
Steuben was coming also. How the matter was, I know not; certain it
is, he is gone home, having refused to act under Baron Steuben, and
declares he will not serve at all, unless Congress will give him a
commission, dated at least two years before his appointment. This, I
think, can never happen, notwithstanding his private merit, and the
claim of the State. The battle of Camden here is represented widely
different from what it is to the northward.
Colonel Williams thinks that none of the general officers were entitled
to any extraordinary merit. The action was short, and succeeded by a
flight, wherein every body took care of himself, as well officers
as soldiers. Not an officer, except Major Anderson, and one or two
Captains, that brought off the field of battle a single soldier. The
Colonel also says, that General Gates would have shared little more
disgrace than is the common lot of the unfortunate, notwithstanding he
was early off, if he had only halted at the Waxhaws or Charlotte--the
first about sixty, and the last about eighty miles from the field of
battle. What little incidents either give or destroy reputation! How
many long hours a man may labor with an honest zeal in his country’s
service, and be disgraced for the most trifling error either in conduct
or opinion! Hume very justly observes, no man will have reputation
unless he is useful to society, be his merit or abilities what they
may. Therefore, it is necessary for a man to be fortunate, as well as
wise and just. The greater part of the loss of the Maryland line, in
the action of Camden, happened after they began to retreat: indeed,
this was the case with all the troops. What gave Smallwood such great
reputation, was his halt at Salisbury, which was nothing but accident.
You know there are great parties prevailing in the Maryland line; and
perhaps his merit is not a little diminished on that account. I think
him a brave and good officer, but too slow to effect any thing great
in a department like this, where embarrassments are without number,
and where nothing can be effected without the greatest promptitude and
decision. This army is in such a wretched condition that I hardly know
what to do with it. The officers have got such a habit of negligence,
and the soldiers so loose and disorderly, that it is next to impossible
to give it a military complexion. Without clothing, I am sure I shall
never do it. I call no councils of war, and I communicate my intentions
to very few. The army was posted at Charlotte when I came up with
it; and in a council it had been determined to winter there; but the
difficulty of procuring subsistence, and other reasons, induced me not
only to take a new position, but to make an entire new disposition.
All this I effected by a single order, having first made the necessary
inquiry respecting the new positions, by sending a man to examine
the grounds and other requisites. If I cannot inspire the army with
confidence and respect by an independent conduct, I foresee it will
be impossible to instil discipline and order among the troops. General
Leslie has arrived, and joined Lord Cornwallis, whose force now is more
than three times larger than ours. And we are subsisting ourselves by
our own industry; and I am not without hopes of forming something like
a magazine. I am laboring also to get clothing from every quarter.
Baron Steuben is in Virginia, and is indefatigable in equipping and
forwarding the troops from that State. I left General Guest in Maryland
for the same purpose; but I have got nothing from there yet, nor do
I expect much for months to come. The North Carolina State have such
a high opinion of the militia, that I don’t expect they will ever
attempt to raise a single continental soldier; notwithstanding the most
sensible among them will acknowledge the folly of employing militia.
But I must have tried your patience, and therefore will make a full
stop concerning matters in this department, and inquire how you go on
to the northward.
* * * * *
I beg my compliments to General Washington’s family, to General Knox
and his family, and all other of my acquaintances.
I shall be exceedingly obliged to you if you will communicate to me,
with great freedom, every thing worthy of note that is said or respects
this department.
Yours affectionately,
N. Greene.
To Col. Alexander Hamilton.