The Continental Army

On June 15, 1775, the Second Continental Congress chose George Washington to be commander in chief. He was chosen for his military experience and because he came from the most important of the Southern Colonies: Virginia. He also had an impressive appearance and a confident manner which made him a likely candidate alongside his excellent participation in the military committees. Washington recognized that he did not have the experience or the knowledge to command an entire army of men. His experience came from being in the frontier during the French and Indian War where he commanded a brigade of troops. He was the first colonist to command such a large group of men. He also gained experience during his political leadership in his native Virginia and when directing the business affairs of his plantation at Mount Vernon. Along with his experience, George Washington was very determined, a good leader and a unshakable sense of honor and duty. 

Washington took formal command of the army on July 3, 1775. He described the army at first as a "mixed multitude of people under very little discipline order or government." He was a very firm believer in discipline. In fact, he wrote: "Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak and esteem to all." He also wanted to control the comings and goings of officers and men by instituting roll calls and strength returns. Other things he altered was to make the distinction between officers and enlisted men more rigid, along with introducing new punishments like the lash, pillory, wooden worse, among others. But Washington had other duties. Not only did he establish discipline in the existing army, but he also had to form a new one enlisted specially for the Continental service. After the congress with the congressional committee, the plan for the new army emerged. This new army would be composed of 26 regiments of infantry of 728 men each, plus one regiment of riflemen and one of artillery men. 

In the year of 1776, 20,372 men were uniformly paid, supplied, administered and enlisted. The general, by choice, received no salary throughout the revolution. The plan on paper seemed plausible but when Washington tried to put it in action, he found he could not do it. The army resisted the reorganization and were reluctant to enlist for another year's service as that would mean abandoning their farms and families. Another problem Washington faced was the lack of supplies. However, these were easily arranged as the Congress and individual colonies sponsored trips to the West Indies, where they bought war materials from the French and Dutch exhortations. They also obtained supplies when Washington sent troops to capture British ships. When the British left, the stores of cannon and ammunition the British were forced to leave behind were a welcome addition to the meager American arsenal and helped win the revolution.