The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-27
TODAY IN HISTORY
Birthday Of Nathaniel Greene.
FRIDAY, MAY 27, 1910.

Next 10 Washington, Nathaniel Greene
was the most potent force IN our struggle
for national independence. He wcs born
on May 2I. lIi2. In n little farmhouse In
Rhode Island. His boyhood was spent,
llke that OF the other youth of the neigh
borhood. probably n little less exciting,
for his father was a strict Quaker and
pastor Of a church at East Grcenwich,
He was also captain of industry" at
that period. with his FIVE brothers he
owned forge grist mill. sawmill. as
well as store FOR the sale OF general
merchandise.
Nathaniel received little education and
! early In life was employed assisting his
father. unClcs and cousins in the opera
tion of these various enterprises. That
he might read the Bible and run the
business. his father had The boy instruct
ed in the rudImcnts by an itlnerant
teacher but further than that he would
not go.
When he had grown TO manhood, how
| ever. and certain portion of the husl-
ness was turned over TO him by his
! father, he became a great reader. and
studied considerable law i'm order to as
stst him as merchant When the cause
OF liberty began Its asccndcnCy. Greene
was one Of the first in tho Quaker COM
mnnlty to cspouso IL. He received a
charter for the organization or n military
company In his town. and several ad
Joining villages, to be known as the Kent
lsh guards.
Greene walked with limp. and I'm
consequence he joined the company as
a private. although he was suggested for
a lieutenanCy, but he feared that his
lameness would bring rdIcule upon the
company. Not being the possessor of n
musket. and none being oh,ainable AT any
point nearer than Boston. he rode all
the way on horseback and secured one
and sent II back home concealed under
a merchants load OF goods
While in Boston he. had watched the
British troops drill on the commons and
he persuaded n British deserter 10 accom-
pany him back TO Rhode Island to act as
a drillmnster for the guards"
When the Quakers saw Greene, the son
OF their former pastor a member nj the
military. they thrice summoned him to
appear at the monthly meeting. and upon
his refusal he was formally cast out OF
the congregation. The Quaker had turned
soldier. and soldier he was henceforth
| to remain.
When the news Of Lexington came to
Greene's home al Coventry, without a
moments delay he took down bis re-
Gently purchased musket. and with his
company headed for Boston. While
Greene was absent the patriots at home
! mustered together an army of 1000 and
/ he WAS made briGadler general, rapid
/ promotion from private, even in those
days. He returned home, perfected al
| arrangements. and in n few days he was
! on his way to Boston with his Rhode
! Island army.
From This on. through the entire war
! The tribute paid TO Greene bv the late
! John Fiskc, pronounced as II Is. Is none
! too strong For intellectual callbcr
declares Fiske, "the other officers were
dwarfed in comparison with Greene. whc
comes out at the end Of the war witt
/ u military reputation scarcely, II at all
! inferior to that OF Washington. Nor was
! Greene less noted for the sweetness and
! purity OF his character than for the scop,
| OF his intelligence"
Greene fought with distinction at For
! Washington, at Trenton, at Germantown
| succeeded Gates at the south. and hi,
| southern campaign. perhaps more thar
/ any other in the course OF the war. re
! fleets credit on the American arms anC
/ their commander. lie died I'm 1856 OF
| his fine estate at Mulberry Grove, Savau,
nah, which had been given to him bl
/ the state of Georgia as n recognition o
! his splendid services in the cause o
! American independence.
| May %. 1879. is the date OF the enact,
] ment OF the haheas C0TpmS law. Fort