Gerald M. Carbone

Nice, succinct biography on arguably the greatest general in the American Revolution save Washington and Arnold (before his treason). One thing author Gerald Carbone did that I really liked is he didn't fix spelling or other "errors" from Greene's letters. This made the quotes more authentic and real to me and humanized Greene all the more.

I also appreciate how Carbone compared Greene's lack of military education (other than reading books) to those of his enemies, like Cornwallis. Yet Greene's battlefield instincts proved correct over and over again.

Without Greene's efforts, specifically in the South, the Revolution might have lasted some years longer.… (mais)

Nathanael Greene is probably my favorite person from this era in American history - he is, in my opinion, the most unknown and underrated of the founding fathers and the general who was most responsible for the colonial victory over the British during the Revolutionary War. He was the general most trusted by Washington as a field commander and he served at Boston, New York, Delaware, New Jersey and Philadelphia. He was the Quartermaster for the Continental Army and he finished his military career as the commanding general for the Southern Army setting up Cornwallis for his final defeat. Carbone covers all of this and more in a book that offers plenty of primary source citations for the academic but is very readable for the history buff or the casual biography fan. A very well done book about one of the most prominent faces and forces in the American Revolution.… (mais)

Great book on Greene's military service
I thought that Mr. Carbone created a super story on Greene's military service, but there was little pages dedicated to Greene's own personal life. The author makes it perfectly clear that Greene understood military tactics and knew when and how to use them. Even after Greene's defeats in New York and Pennsylvania, Greene still bounces back with victories in New Jersey and a partial victory at Monmouth.
Mr. Carbone gave extensive coverage of Greene's southern command that eventually lead to the British surrender at Yorktown. I would have liked to have read something of the man; especially when you consider that Greene was raised as a Quaker, developed a very successful business and yet he takes up the call and joins the continental army. And I thought maybe that the author would have covered Greene's burial site, but no mention was given. Overall, the author gives Greene his just dues as a great patriot and that he was someone that General Washington relied on throughout the Revolutionary War. Highly recommend.… (mais)