During this halt was planned the brilliant attack upon Trenton; in this Greene bore a distinguished part, and strongly urged the following up of this blow by an attack upon the other posts of the enemy in New Jersey. During the winter of 1777, Washington established his quarters at Morristown. Greene was stationed with a separate division at Baskingridge; and through the whole of a long and severe winter, continual skirmishes took place, which very frequently were attended with decided advantages to the Americans. At the approach of spring, General Greene was dispatched to Philadelphia, to hasten the action of Congress upon the important subjects submitted for their decision. After his return, he with General Knox was sent to examine the passes of the Highlands on the Hudson, and take measures for their defense. The winter had thus far passed without much molestation, and early in May Washington removed from his quarters at Morristown to a strong station at Middlebrook. While encamped at this station, an incident occurred, which was well nigh depriving the army of some of its bravest officers. The delicate etiquette of military rank had never been fully understood by the new and inexperienced Congress; and when a report reached camp that a gentleman but recently arrived in the country had been appointed a major-general, with a commission of an earlier date than their own, it is not surprising that it should cause Generals Greene, Sullivan and Knox to declare their intention of resigning in case the report should be found true; and each of them addressed the President of Congress to this effect. Happily the rumor was unfounded; and by it Congress saw the necessity of a rigorous adherence to the established laws of promotion.
Nearly the whole of the following summer was employed in short marches and slight skirmishes, till the 10th of September, when they took up their position on the banks of the Brandywine.
Early on the morning following, the British appeared on the advance, preparing for an attack.
The passage of the ford, near which the chief of the American forces had been stationed, was manfully defended; but in the mean time a strong detachment, led by Howe and Cornwallis, had crossed the river by a circuitous march, and were rapidly gaining the American rear. A few minutes sufficed to show how judiciously this measure had been devised.
After a gallant resistance the Americans were forced from the field, in spite of all the efforts of their officers to rally them. Now was the time for Greene to display his coolness and his energy.
Marching along a road which intersected the flight of the Americans, and the advance of the enemy, he hurried his men forward with such rapidity that they marched four miles in forty-nine minutes. Here every thing was in confusion; ranks broken, troops scattered, the roads filled with fugitives, rushing forward they knew not whither, in the wildness of fear, and the enemy pressing close upon their footsteps with shouts of exultation. Throwing himself between them and his flying countrymen, he opened a sharp and well directed fire from his field-pieces, opening his ranks from time to time for the fugitives, and closing them the moment they had passed.
Having retreated in this manner for half a mile, until he came to a narrow defile protected on both sides by woods, he halted and drew up his men for battle; first depositing his cannon in a safe place, in case he should be forced to a hasty retreat. The British soon made their appearance, flushed with success, and thinking only of putting the last hand to their victorious conflict; but a close and destructive fire checked their pursuit, and compelled them to halt. So well chosen was Greene’s position, that it could neither be forced nor turned, and the sight of his fierce eye and firm countenance seemed to have inspired his men with an energy like his own. For two hours did he maintain the unequal conflict, and having wearied the enemy out, he gave up the contest, and drew off his troops to rejoin the army at their rallying point.
Howe was now resolved to follow up his success by another battle, or a stroke at Philadelphia, and advancing with two columns, was soon once more within striking distance of the Americans.
This being perceived by Greene, he managed to frustrate all his designs, till Howe, finding it useless to continue his skirmishes, made the best of his way to Philadelphia, where he made his triumphal entry on the 26th of September. At this time the main body of the British army were quartered at Germantown; a portion was in the city, and another part scattered between the two places. Washington now resolved on attacking the main army at Germantown, and began making preparations for that purpose.
Greene was ordered to march at once within the limits prescribed by Washington, which was done, and the effect was the sanguine and bloody battle of Germantown, which historians have so repeatedly described. Greene’s next orders were to examine the forts on the Delaware, and then retire to Valley Forge for winter quarters. It was customary with the generals when retired to quarters for the winter to receive their families; shortly after their arrival at Valley Forge Mrs. Washington joined her husband, and about the same time Mrs. Greene arrived, and the wives of other officers hastened to follow the example, and the cares and gloom of a winter encampment were illumined for a moment by this transient return of the sweets of domestic life. It was during this memorable winter that the intrigues against the commander-in-chief, commonly known as Conway’s cabal, became public. These calumnies were traced and ferreted out by the perseverance of Greene, and when exposed by him, fell to the ground, like drops from the melting icicle in the rays of the sun. In a letter to a friend, before they went to Valley Forge, he writes thus, “I have no hopes of coming home this winter, the general will not permit it; Mrs. Greene is coming to camp; we are all going into log huts; a sweet life after a most fatiguing campaign.”