World History

Continental Army & American Revolutionary War Generals

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Top 10 Continental Army Generals

1. Nathanael Greene //

Despite this not being a ranked list, Nathanael Greene was Washington’s most important subordinate.  From his early poor advice during the New York campaign, to his involvement at Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and Springfield and his critical work as quartermaster general, Greene was the commander-in-chief’s most trusted lieutenant, the one he supposedly wished to succeed him should that become necessary.  Greene’s successful southern campaign further solidifies his spot at the top of my list.

2. Benedict Arnold //

Benedict Arnold’s leadership at Ticonderoga, Canada, and Saratoga earned him a spot on my list.  While his treason had little actual impact on the war’s outcome, it did have a psychological effect.  He is considered one of the best combat leaders of the revolution.  As an aside, he asked permission to hang three spies about one month before his own treason.

3. Horatio Gates //

Horatio Gates’ early efforts as adjutant general to organize the army played to his strengths.  He deserves praise for the victory at Saratoga where he was, after all, in command.  He served as president of the Board of War.  His defeat at Camden, South Carolina was a milestone in the southern campaign.  His role in the Conway Cabal is less clear.  But the fact that he did want Washington’s job and spent a good part of the war breathing down the commander-in-chief’s neck made Washington, in my opinion, a better commander.  That, I believe, was Gate’s major contribution.

4. Marquis de Lafayette //

The Marquis de Lafayette grew from an inexperienced youth into a competent, nimble strategist, especially during the Virginia campaign of 1781.  He was unswerving in his support of Washington.  But his most important service was not on the battlefield, but in his efforts to bring French support to the United States.  It was Lafayette who told the French government that without their assistance, the United States would likely lose the war.

5. Henry Knox //

Henry Knox got the guns from Ticonderoga, organized and trained the artillery, directed the Delaware crossing, gave Washington bad advice at the Chew House at Germantown, and established our first military academy at Middlebrook.   Artillery won the battles of Trenton and Yorktown and made significant contributions at Princeton and Monmouth.  Even in defeat at Brandywine and Germantown, the artillery arm played a critical role.  I believe that Knox ranks after Washington and Greene as the most important general of the revolution.  The father of the artillery corps.

6. Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben //

While the army, even in defeat in 1777, maintained high morale and had started down the road to professionalism, it was as Inspector General that the Baron Frederick Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustus von Steuben pulled, pushed, and schooled them in the techniques of a professional army.  His work at training and instilling discipline, as well as leadership on the field and on the staff, all contributed significantly to ultimate victory.

7. Daniel Morgan //

Daniel Morgan is the only brigadier general in my accounting.  His brilliant tactical coup at the critical battle of the Cowpens alone earns him a spot on my list.  He played important roles at Quebec and Saratoga and after Monmouth.  He seemed to understand better than any other general the best manner in which to employ militia.

8. John Sullivan //

John Sullivan was an average general at best, but present at Canada, Long Island, Trenton, Princeton, the Philadelphia Campaign, Valley Forge, Newport, and the Indian Campaigns.  His important, though mixed, leadership in these campaigns makes him worthy of inclusion on this list.

9. Louis Duportail //

Louis Duportail was chief engineer of the Continental Army and a totally unknown and overlooked figure.  Washington realized the critical role of engineers and highly valued his services and advice.  Duportail made significant contributions during the Philadelphia campaign, in winter quarters, in the Highlands, at Savannah, and at Yorktown.  He advised Washington against attacking Philadelphia and New York City.  Another father, this time of the engineer corps.

 10. Lord Stirling //

Lord Stirling – William Alexander was at Brooklyn, where he commanded the rear guard that allowed the army to escape, at Trenton, the Philadelphia Campaign, Valley Forge, Monmouth, and the Highlands.  As senior general, he commanded the main Continental Army on a few occasions in Washington’s absence.  He deserves credit as a competent, though certainly not brilliant, military leader and an unwavering supporter of the commander-in-chief, especially during the Conway Cabal.

Greene, Arnold, Gates, Lafayette, Knox, Steuben, Morgan, Sullivan, Duportail, and Stirling.

American Officers

George Washington was nominated by John Adams to be the Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. He was qualified due to serving in the British army during the French and Indian War and had shown an ability to lead. While he was not born into a particularly wealthy family by the time he was given command of the Continental Army he was the richest planter in Virginia. Washington showed an ability to hand pick talented generals, but he too believed that an officer was to be a gentleman and was to be above reproach and should not associate themselves with the lower class. (At Valley Forge he did sleep with the men so he did not stick to that every time)

This was a common mentality in the United States and it led to certain men being put into positions due to their social standing. Horatio Gates, Charles Lee, and Benjamin Lincoln are just a few names that were put in charge of large armies due to their social standing rather than their ability. Men such as Nathanael Greene, Daniel Morgan, John Stark, and Benedict Arnold were consistently looked over in favor of these men.

During this period officers were not to lead from the back, but from the front. It was a matter of honor and if one fled from the field such as Horatio Gates did at the Battle of Camden, then he was viewed as a coward. This led to many officer deaths. Men such as Richard Montgomery and Johann de Kalb died with their men while leading charges in battle. While death’s to officers happened it was not standard practice. Men were supposed to act as gentlemen during battle and were not to target officers. This was not the case in many battles during the Revolutionary War, especially during guerrilla warfare.

Here is a list of  Generals that fought in the Revolutionary War:

British Officers

The same was true for the British officers. Many American officers left the British army during peacetime since it was extremely hard to gain rank. Many British ranks were bought which meant that the officer class of Great Britain were extremely wealthy and consisted of some of the wealthiest individuals in English society. Officers were educated in military tactics and success on the battlefield usually meant political success.

During the Seven Years’ War with France, Britain became the most powerful Navy in the world. Their Navy would play an important role during the American Revolutionary War as it successfully blockaded the colonies and made it difficult for colonial merchants. The commander of the British Navy during the Revolutionary War was Admiral Richard Howe, the older brother of Sir William Howe.

The British Empire also sought the aid of the Hessians and Native Americans during the War of Independence.

The British officers that served in the Revolutionary War were as follows:

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