The 1781 victory at Yorktown, with the French army and navy's indispensable help, sealed the War. Despite this Washington won important strategic victories. Army desertions continued at a rapid pace and mutinies occurred. In addition, citizen support was at its lowest. In 1781, the Continental Congress was bankrupt and cut funding dramatically. Washington also became skillful in protecting himself from sniping generals and interfering politicians. He retreated his army through New Jersey and crossed the Delaware River into Pennsylvania to put a barrier between the pursuing British troops and his exhausted, dispirited forces.Īs the eight-year war dragged on, Washington learned to fight a quasi-guerilla style of warfare-a "war of posts"-against a superior, though tactically conservative foe. But Washington reacted calmly, while limiting the military damage. The frequently critical General Charles Lee trumpeted Washington's "critical indecision" and expressed the need for General Horatio Gates to replace the general. In response, some called for Washington's removal from command because of this series of blunders. New York was abandoned with Washington nearly captured, Fort Washington fell, and most disastrously Fort Lee was so slowly evacuated that the British seized precious cannons, muskets, and supplies. Washington managed to force the British out of Boston in 1776, but his next tests under fire were defeats. When it became clear that the Crown wanted to crush independence, Congress lengthened enlistment terms and ordered States to contribute regiments in proportion to their population. He initially employed one state's militia - Major General Philip Schuyler's ten regiments in New York - in an unsuccessful attempt to invade Canada. Under these conditions fighting the powerful British army was a gargantuan task.ĭespite these impediments, Washington organized this seemingly motley amalgamation into three divisions, six brigades, and thirty-eight regiments. Because eighteenth century communication was very poor and maddeningly slow, gaining the Continental Congress' required approval for anything took long periods of time. There were no established protocols for exercising coordinated authority, for supplying and feeding the troops, for transportation, or any other of the myriad tasks necessary for a field army. Rather, it was a loosely and poorly coordinated band of militias and citizen-soldiers under control of the individual states. When Washington assumed command, the Continental Army truly was not even an army. Washington served as Commander-in-Chief of the army throughout the War. The Army was formed by the Continental Congress in 1775 after the outbreak of the American Revolution. His close coordination with governors and state militias, his cooperative relations with Congress, and his professional attention to supplies, logistics, and training all contributed to the success of the Continental Army.Ī trained, experienced leader during the French and Indian War, Washington was the logical choice to lead the Continental Army. Historians have praised Washington for his choice and supervision of the generals, how he encouraged morale, and held together the army. The victories, while qualified, are remarkable in this light.ĭespite these various problems and disadvantages, Washington led an army that defeated the world's premier war machine of its day. The group was also hardly united for too much of the war and led by generals often squabbling, undermining, or fighting with each other. The army was ragtag, barely trained, half-starving, and woefully unequipped. Even some of the victories were more strategic than measurable in military terms. Remarkably, however, Washington's army won only three of the nine major battles that he oversaw and was often retreating. As Major General and Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, George Washington won the military struggle for American Independence.
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