Career
Greene joined the Navy from New York and served during the Civil War as a captain of the forecastle on the United States Ship Varuna. At the Battle of Forts Jackson and Saint Philip near New Orleans on April 24, 1862, Varuna was rammed twice by the Confederate steamer Computer Software Systems Governor Moore (formerly known as the Charles Morgan) and eventually sunk. Greene acted as a gun captain and "remained steadfast at his gun throughout the thickest of the fight and was instrumental in inflicting damage on the enemy".
Captain of a gun on board the United States.S. Varuna during the attacks on Forts Jackson and Saint Philip, and while under fire and ramming by the rebel ship Morgan, 24 April 1862.
During this action at extremely close range while his ship was under furious fire and twice rammed by the rebel ship Morgan, Greene remained steadfast at his gun throughout the thickest of the fight and was instrumental in inflicting damage on the enemy until the Varuna, badly damaged and forced to beach, was finally sunk.