5230. MILITIA, Washington on use of.—
In conversation with the President, and
speaking about General [Nathaniel] Greene,
he said that he and General Greene had always
differed in opinion about the manner
of using militia. Greene always placed them
in his front; himself was of opinion they
should always be used as a reserve to improve
any advantage, for which purpose they
were the finest fellows in the world. He
said he was on the ground of the battle of
Guilford, with a person who was in the action,
and who explained the whole of it to him.
That General Greene's front was behind a
fence at the edge of a large field, through
which the enemy were obliged to pass to get
at them; and that in their passage through
this, they must have been torn all to pieces,
if troops had been posted there who would
have stood their ground; and that the retreat
from that position was through a
thicket, perfectly secure. Instead of this, he
posted the North Carolina militia there, who
only gave one fire and fell back, so that the
whole benefit of their position was lost. He
thinks that the regulars, with their field pieces,
would have hardly let a single man get
through that field.—
The Anas. Washington ed. ix, 146.
Ford ed., i, 232.
(1793)
See Army and War.
