Washington's General: Nathanael Greene and the Triumph of the American Revolution

"Washington said if he went down in battle, Greene was his choice to succeed him. Read this book and you will understand why." --Joseph J. Ellis, author of "His Excellency: George Washington" He was an unlikely warrior--a Quaker with a pronounced limp, Nathanael Greene surprised fellow patriots by rising quickly to become George Washington's favorite soldier and heir apparent. After taking command of the failed Southern Army, Greene formulated an unorthodox guerrilla strategy--to win by surprise attacks and hasty retreats, which cut the enemy's supply lines until the outwitted British leaders grew tired of hunger and bloody sacrifices. His strategy of turning defeat into victory allowed the rebel army to gain momentum toward a final push, setting the stage for the victory at Yorktown. Terry Golway's bold book, drawn from field documents, letters, diaries, and other sources, takes full account of the scope of Nathanael Greene's remarkable accomplishments, returning the forgotten patriot to his proper place in American history. "Golway's biography does justice to this remarkable man. It is both informative and entertaining, written in a lively style that reflects the best characteristics of history for the educated layman. Golway clearly admires his subject, but doesn't overlook Greene's flaws." --"New York Post""Golway rescues Greene from oblivion, and deservedly so . . . A fitting and welcome monument to a surprisingly complex actor in early American history." --"Kirkus Reviews"