The Glorious Cause - Jeff Shaara [290]
The flow of supplies began to increase from Virginia, von Steuben’s efforts showing results. Greene had sent William Smallwood home to Maryland, considered that his skills at recruiting were of even more value to the army than what Smallwood brought to the field. The new recruits began to arrive, some already influenced by von Steuben’s zeal, entire companies marching with good order. Others simply wandered in, stragglers who had escaped Charleston or Camden, who had no better place to be. There were others as well, farmers who left their land for the winter months, to offer what help they could. Greene welcomed them all. As the training began in earnest, Greene used the lessons he had learned at Valley Forge, and though the numbers grew slowly, the men in his command were indeed becoming an army.
JANUARY 1781
It was a show Greene had seen before, the huge Virginian announcing himself with a grand parade. Back in the summer, Daniel Morgan had been ordered to accompany Gates to the Carolinas, but had resigned from the army instead. Morgan claimed sickness, but many in Washington’s camp believed that Morgan simply refused to serve under Gates. Greene was among them. With the collapse at Camden, Gates had sent an urgent request for Morgan to reconsider, and surprisingly, Morgan had complied. Gates had assigned him to command a unit which, for Morgan’s own reasons, was rarely in the same camp with Gates. Now, with Gates gone, Morgan had decided that joining Greene was more to his liking.
Greene had watched as Morgan passed the headquarters, the last bit of his grand entrance, leading his familiar riflemen, those men only a small part of his command now. He had inspired his usual audience, the troops coming out of their tents, gathering along the road, most of them cheering. Morgan was no stranger to this army, and even the men who had never seen him had heard tales. Greene knew that some of the stories were accurate, though, of course, many more were not. Greene had caught Morgan’s attention, a short nod from the big Virginian toward the window where Greene watched him. A summons was not necessary. Morgan knew his duty, would make his appearance at the appropriate moment.
Greene was still writing his report on Gates, struggled with the words. Morgan’s arrival had been a welcome distraction, but Greene had returned to the work, driven by thoughts of Washington, the request to sort out the truth.
His thoughts were jarred by the cascade of sounds outside. The door opened, and Burnet said, “Sir. General Morgan is here.”
“He knows I’m here, Major!” Morgan burst past the startled young man, seemed to fill the room, leaned across the desk, put a huge hand in front of Greene. Greene took the hand, felt the man’s strength, a hearty shake, and Morgan sat heavily, said, “Thank God Almighty, Nat! That’s what every one of ’em is saying! Thank God Almighty! Now we have a commander!”
“Welcome to headquarters, Daniel.”
“It’s a different army already! All over the countryside, all the way to the mountains. Those boys over there, rowdy bunch. Had nothing good to say about Gates, but they like you, Nat! The word is, old Cornwallis is done for. He just don’t know it yet!”
Greene felt engulfed by the man’s joy.
“That’s all very kind, Daniel. But we require more than good wishes, or strong morale. We require good officers, men who can both lead and train their men. You know as well as I do that General Washington has never had great confidence in militia. Yet militia is nearly all we have to work with.”
Morgan laughed.
“That suited Gates just fine, you know. He loved to ride through their camps, just to hear the salutes. You know, Nat, the real reason he kept so many green troops around is that they’d never take him anywhere so he’d come under fire. It used to be