Nathanael Greene 1746 – 1789
Nathanael Greene was born in Rhode Island. Sometime in his childhood, he developed a slight limp that would trouble him for the rest of his life. In 1774, he helped organize the Rhode Island militia called the Kentish Guard; even so, because of his limp, he was not allowed to be an officer in the Guards. After the War for Independence began, the Rhode Island legislature created the Rhode Island Army of Observation and placed Greene in command. Joining George Washington’s Army in April 1776, Greene became a trusted officer and advisor. George Washington appointed Green the third Quartermaster of the Continental Army; he served from March 1778 – August 1780. After the betrayal of Benedict Arnold in September 1780, Greene briefly was the commandant of West Point. Later, he led the southern Continental Army. His subordinates during the Southern Campaign were his second in command, Friedrich von Steuben, cavalry commander, Henry Lee, the Marquis De Lafayette, Daniel Morgan and Francis Marion. At the end of the War, he resigned his commission and moved near Savannah, Georgia. Greene was an expert strategist and George Washington’s most trusted subordinate. His statue graces Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol representing Rhode Island. Fourteen counties across American are named in his honor. Several ships have been named for him.
Montgomery Meigs USMA 1836 1816 -1892
The son of a nationally known obstetrician, Montgomery Meigs was born in Augusta, Georgia. When his family moved to PA, Montgomery attended the University of Pennsylvania at the age of 15. He was intent on joining the U. S. Army and sought an appointment to West Point as his best route to becoming an officer. After graduating, he served at the Mississippi River making improvements near St. Louis. In 1853, he was supervising the Washington Aqueduct and the enlargement of the U. S. Capitol building the wings and dome of the Capitol. In May 1861, Meigs was appointed the Quartermaster General of the Army replacing General Joseph Johnston who resigned to join the Confederate Army. He was efficient, hard-working and honest as he planned for acquiring and transporting supplies for Union troops. Meigs served as the Quartermaster General throughout the Civil War. He commanded U.S. Grant’s base of supplies at Fredericksburg and Belle Plain (1864), commanded a division at the defense of Washington (1864), personally supervised the supply of Sherman’s March to the Sea and into North Carolina (1865). Meigs personally chose the site of Arlington Cemetery after the Congress authorized purchase of land for national cemetery sites for fallen Union soldiers in 1862, though he didn’t authorize burials there until 1864. He was the superintendent of all military cemeteries until 1882. Montgomery Meigs was one of a handful of people at the bedside of Abraham Lincoln across the street from Ford’s Theater. Meigs had heard that William Seward had been attacked by a knife-wielding assailant and rushed to Rodgers House where he learned about the shooting of Lincoln. He rushed to Petersen House where Lincoln had been taken. Meigs stood at the front door throughout the night; he alone determined who was allowed into the house. When the President died in the early morning, Meigs went to sit with the president’s body. Five days later in the funeral procession, Meigs rode at the head of the two battalions of Quartermaster Corps soldiers. After his retirement in 1882, he edited The Volunteer Quartermaster, which was considered the guide for officers and employees of the Quartermaster Department until WWI.
Winfield Scott Hancock USMA 1844 1824 – 1886
Winfield Scott Hancock was an identical twin, sons of Benjamin Franklin Hancock born near Philadelphia. He was named after General Winfield Scott, a hero of the War of 1812. His twin was named for an early mayor of Philadelphia. In 1840, Winfield received an appointment to West Point where he graduated in 1844 and was assigned to the Infantry branch. His first assignment was in Indian Country. After a very successful recruiting assignment in Kentucky, he was sent to Puebla, Mexico where he would serve under General Winfield Scott for whom he was named. He was wounded at Churubusco and developed a fever which kept him out of further battles. Returning to the US, he had several assignments as a quartermaster throughout the country from MN, MO, CA to FL for ten years. At the beginning of the Civil War, he was rushed back to the east to assume quartermaster duties as the Union Army grew but was quickly promoted and given command of an Infantry Brigade which he led successfully at the Battle of Williamsburg in the Peninsula Campaign. At this time, he began to be called, “Hancock the Superb” taken from a telegraph statement from Army commander, MG George McClellan. He continued to lead his troops throughout 1862 and was wounded twice in separate battles. His most well-known leadership was at the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. His heroic defense of Cemetery Ridge, repelling Picket’s charge was a turning point in the 3-day battle. He was wounded, but refused to leave the battlefield until the day was won. After the war, he was tasked to supervise the execution of the conspirators in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. In the years after his heroic actions during the Civil War, Hancock was considered as a candidate for President. In 1880, he was the nominee of the Democratic Party running against James A. Garfield, also a Civil War veteran. After his loss to Garfield, he became the President of the National Rifle Association. His last major public duty was to preside over the funeral of President Ulysses S. Grant in 1885.
George Washington Goethals USMA 1880 1858-1928
Born in Brooklyn, NY, George was the son of immigrants from Belgium. He entered the College of the City of NY at age 14 and completed three years of college there before entering the United States Military Academy. He graduated second in his class in 1880 and was commissioned into the Army Corps of Engineers. He stayed at West Point in the summer and Fall of 1880 as an assistant instructor of astronomy. His first Army assignment was in the Department of Columbia in Vancouver, WA where he performed reconnaissance, astronomical work and surveys of the area, most importantly the replacement of a 120-foot bridge across the Spokane River. From 1885-1889, he taught again at West Point. Soon, he was sent to assist in improving navigation on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. He would later design and construct Riverton Lock at Colbert Shoals which was a world record for lock height (26 feet). He served in the Spanish-American War as the Chief of Engineers for the United States Volunteers. In 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Colonel George Washington Goethals as chief engineer of the Panama Canal. Under his leadership the Canal was completed two years ahead of schedule in 1914. He was the first Civil Governor of the Panama Canal Zone. After resigning as the Governor of Panama, he was appointed to be the acting Quartermaster General of the United States Army during the critical beginning period after the US entered WWI – December 1917 – May 1918. During that time, about 2 million US soldiers had arrived in France and 10,000 soldiers were arriving each day along with their equipment and munitions. In WWII, the liberty ship, USNS George W. Goethals as well as the dredge Goethals were named in his honor. Many streets in the US and Panama are named for him as well as the Goethals Bridge from Staten Island to Elizabeth, NJ. A US stamp contains his image.
Edmund Gregory USMA 1904 1882-1961
Born on July 4th, Edmund seemed destined to be a patriot. After attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, he graduated in the Class of 1904 going into the Infantry. He had three tours in the Philippines and later at Vancouver Barracks, Washington. He was a professor of History and English at West Point 1911-1912. In 1920, he transferred to the Quartermaster Corps before he was sent to Shanghai, China. In 1940, he was named the Quartermaster General advancing from full Colonel directly to Major General. During WWII, he was responsible for development, procurement and distribution of billions of dollars of supplies and equipment for the fighting man around the world. He also oversaw 900,000 civilian employees of contractors who produced the equipment, ammunition, supplies and vehicles used in the war. In 1945, he was promoted to Lieutenant General, the first Quartermaster officer to hold that rank. Edmund Gregory made this promise to American fighting men: Let me make this simple promise to the American people. The Quartermaster Corps will never fail your boys! We will deliver the goods. Wherever they go – to whatever point American fighting men penetrate – Quartermasters will be by their side to “Keep ‘em Rolling to Victory!” When WWII was over, Gregory was the Chairman of the War Assets Corporation that was responsible for disposing of surplus supplies, equipment and wartime bases. He served in that capacity until his retirement in 1946 after forty-two years in the Army.