The Quartermaster Department of the Continental Army was responsible for obtaining and distributing supplies to the army as well as for the physical movement of the army itself. While important to the overall wellbeing and functioning of the army, the position of Quartermaster General was a thankless one and could be quite tedious. The position was often filled by under-qualified candidates because most field commanders did not want to leave their posts. When Nathanael Greene became Quartermaster General in February 1778, the position had been vacant since the fall of 1777.
