General George Washington, “Letter to the President of the Continental Congress” (September 2, 1776)
The United States Army was born on June 14, 1775 when the Continental Congress called for companies of riflemen and adopted the militiamen in Cambridge, Massachusetts as the Continental Army, the first United States Army. This date is considered the birthday of the U.S. Army. George Washington was named to command the army on June 15, 1775.
A little more than a year later, Washington was deeply troubled by the troops because the militiamen were undisciplined and eager to leave as soon as their enlistments were up.
General George Washington, “Letter to the President of the Continental Congress” (September 2, 1776)
The Militia, instead of calling forth their utmost efforts to a brave and manly opposition, in order to repair our Losses, are dismayed, Intractable and Impatient to return. Great numbers of them have gone off, in some instances almost by whole Regiments, by half ones and by Companies at a Time. This circumstance of itself, Independent of others, when fronted by a well appointed Enemy, superior in number to our whole collected force, would be sufficiently disagreeable, but when their example has Infected another part of the Army, When their want of discipline and refusal, of almost every kind of restraint and Government, have produced a like conduct but too common to the whole, and an entire disregard of that order and Subordination necessary to the well doing of an Army, and which had been inculcated before, as well as the nature of our Military establishment would admit of, our Condition is still more Alarming, and with the deepest concern I am obliged to confess my want of confidence, in the generality of the Troops.
Source: Library of Congress
A few weeks later Washington would again write to John Hancock:
To place any dependance upon Militia, is, assuredly, resting upon a broken staff.
Read more about Washington, the militia and the creation of the U.S. Army in THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF AMERICA AT WAR.
The Hidden History of America At War (Hachette Books Random House Audio)
