RE - George Washington and the Continental Army Lesson

George Washington and the Continental Army

George Washington and the Continental Army

When the American Revolution began, George Washington was named commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. He displayed extraordinary leadership abilities in the role. Washington reorganized the army, secured additional equipment and supplies, and started a training program to turn inexperienced recruits into a professional military.

For the common soldier in the Continental Army, life was hard. Enlistments lasted from one to three years, and the states differed in how well and how often they paid their soldiers, housed them when they were not on the march, and supplied them with food, clothing, and equipment. These issues undermined morale, as did the army's stern discipline, the chances of being wounded or killed, and British victories.

On Christmas night 1776, Washington led his troops to a victory that was a turning point for America winning the Revolutionary War. As a snowstorm pounded Washington and his soldiers, they crossed the Delaware River to stage a surprise attack on a fort occupied by Hessian mercenaries fighting for the British. This victory proved Washington's army could fight as well as an experienced European army.

Washington and his troops spent the winter of 1777-1778 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. They spent six months there. The army's problems with wages, housing, food, clothing and equipment were at their worst. Disease spread throughout the camp, increasing the suffering of the 12,000 men. As conditions worsened, almost 4,000 soldiers were too weak or ill to fight. Yet that winter Washington ordered an intense training program - like a modern boot camp - that turned the Continental Army into a capable and self-assured infantry.

Who are the Hessians?

Pronounced heh-shens, the Hessians are mercenaries or hired soldiers from Germany. BUT, it is important to note that Germany in the 1790's did not exist as Germany does today. Instead, Germany was actually the Holy Roman Empire - a collection of several states each ruled individually by their respective kings as well as a unified Emporer who was elected by the various kings and controlled the entire empire.

Hessians primarily came from the German state of Hesse-Kassel. Hesse-Kassel was allied with the German State of Hanover - which was controlled by the British King (George III, as did his father and grandfather before him, ruled over both Great Britain and the state of Hanover). Because of the ties, George III was able to "borrow" soldiers from various German states to use in his wars. While the Hessians were mercenaries - at this time it simply meant they were soldiers who earned pay rather than being conscripted. They were employed by their various rulers and loaned to the British rather than being "guns for hire" as we typically think of when talking about mercenaries.

French Alliance

Another turning point in the war was the decision by France to support the American cause. Benjamin Franklin, serving as the American ambassador to France, convinced the French to form a military alliance with the Americans, and France agreed to wage war against Britain until America gained independence. Facing both an American and a European war, Britain would need to pull troops out of America to fight closer to home.

French support for America was personified in Marquis de Lafayette. He commanded American troops and fought battles in many states. He also returned to France for a time to work with Franklin and the French king on how best to win American independence.

 

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