Washington's Generals in the Revolution Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which man from Rhode Island was made Major General in late 1775? He was present at most of the major battles in the middle colonies and was sent to command the Southern Department in 1780.

Answer: Nathaneal Greene

Made Commander of Rhode Island troops after Lexington and Concord, Greene was known as one of Washington's most reliable officers. His tactics in the Southern states, while rarely leading to a clear-cut victory, kept the Rebel cause alive and cost the British forces men and resources that couldn't be easily replaced.

2. Which Massachusetts officer was one of the first men created Major General in the Continental Army? He was present at the siege of Boston.

Answer: Artemas Ward

Artemas Ward fought in the French and Indian War and was made Commander of the Massachusetts Militia in 1774. He was overall commander of the troops besieging Boston until the appointment of Washington, later commanded the Northern Department, and resigned due to ill health in 1777.

3. A prosperous Connecticut merchant before the war, which man helped take Fort Ticonderoga, was wounded at Quebec and Saratoga, and was later made Commander of Philadelphia?

Answer: Benedict Arnold

Benedict Arnold was one of the most effective American officers in the first three years of the war, taking part in most of the major battles and being seriously wounded twice. He felt that his contributions were overlooked, later changed sides, and fought for the British. His name is a byword for traitor to this day in the USA.

4. Which Massachusetts general served with Roger's Rangers in the French and Indian War and was another of the first American generals named by Congress? He commanded rebel forces at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Answer: Israel Putnam

Israel Putnam joined the American troops at the siege of Boston the day after Lexington and Concord. He was in overall command at Bunker Hill, and is sometimes credited with the quote, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes". Putnam resigned after suffering a stroke in 1779.

5. A former British officer in the French and Indian War, he was a planter living in Virginia when the Revolution began. Who offered his services to the rebel cause and was made a Major General in 1775?

Answer: Charles Lee

Charles Lee was welcomed by most of the Continental Army with open arms due to his experience with the British Army. He soon became unpopular as he had a very low opinion of American troops and their commander and was vocal about it. He was court-martialed after a poor performance at Monmouth in 1778, and dismissed in 1780 amid rumors of a plot to overthrow Washington as Commander-in-Chief.

6. A delegate from New Hampshire to both the First and Second Continental Congress, which man was appointed Brigadier General in 1775?

Answer: John Sullivan

John Sullivan from New Hampshire had a reputation in the Continental Army for bad luck, as troops under his command seemed to take heavier losses than other formations in battle after battle. Some detractors claimed that this was due to his inexperience, but he never lost Washington's trust as a leader.

He was captured at Long Island in 1776 and was later exchanged. In 1779 he led a punitive expedition against the Iroquois nation.

7. A veteran of the British Army, which officer had bought a small plantation in Virginia in 1773? After offering his services to Washington, he was made a Brigadier General in 1775.

Answer: Horatio Gates

Horatio Gates served in the British Army from 1745 until 1769. Due to his experience, there were many in Congress who thought that Gates would make a better commander in chief than George Washington. His victory at Saratoga seemed to some to be proof of his superior qualification for overall commander of the army, but his detractors insist that he took all of the credit for what was essentially a joint effort. Defeated at Camden in 1780, he never held another command.

8. A New York veteran of the French and Indian War, as well as a delegate to the Continental Congress, which man was made a Major General in 1775? He planned the invasion of Canada in 1775 and the American defenses at Saratoga in 1777.

Answer: Phillip Schuyler

Phillip Schuyler was an able commander, well thought of in the army, but his health problems limited his effectiveness in the field. He planned the American invasion of Canada, and the American defenses around Saratoga that stopped Burgoyne's troops and led to a great victory. Even so, he was blamed for the loss of Fort Ticonderoga and resigned from the army after being acquitted in a court-martial in 1779.

9. Which Pennsylvania officer led the 4th Pennsylvania regiment in the attack on Quebec in 1775? He was promoted to Brigadier General in 1777.

Answer: Anthony Wayne

Anthony Wayne was Colonel of the 4th Pennsylvania regiment during the American attack on Quebec in 1775, and was promoted to Brigadier General in 1777. His division suffered a horrible defeat in a British nighttime bayonet attack at Paoli during the Philadelphia campaign, which he avenged with a similar attack on Stony Point in 1779. For this attack he earned the nickname, "Mad Anthony".

10. Which man served in the French and Indian War, first as a civilian teamster and later as a soldier? He raised a company of riflemen in Virginia and led them to the siege of Boston.

Answer: Daniel Morgan

Daniel Morgan was a frontiersman from Virginia who served as a civilian teamster and later a rifleman in the French and Indian War. He raised a rifle company in Virginia and led them at the siege of Boston. Morgan and his riflemen played a large part in the victory at Saratoga. Morgan retired in 1779, but returned and was promoted to Brigadier General in 1780. Morgan won a significant victory at the Battle of Cowpens in 1781.

He retired again later that year.

Source: Author Reamar42

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ponycargirl before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

George Washington was the Commander In Chief of The Continental Army. How well do you know the other American Generals from the Revolution?

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