Colonial Enlistment Analysis

From the outset of the war, the American Colonials lacked an Army or Navy. In the initial phase of the war the colonies military plan continued as in the French and Indian War, each of the New England states raised and administered their own forces under their own commander. Unity of command suffered since there was not unified chain of command, except by informal agreement. The Soldiers were volunteers and had various terms of enlistment and many provided their own clothing, weapons, and ammunition. The Provincial Congress knew it needed to get the support of all the colonies in the fight against the British and they appealed to the Continental Congress for a resolution. This led to the creation of the American Army on June 14, 1775. The militias and volunteers served their own states or regions and often melted away as fast as they formed. The new Army formed by recruiting Soldiers from several states. The Continental Congress chose George Washington to be Commander and Chief or the ten companies of riflemen enlisted into Continental service the next day.

The men saw family obligations and farm work as more important than military service and many refused to enlist for another year. The men mostly farmers did not want to take up long-term service in the military for fear their families and farms would suffer for it. Most of the enlistment lasted a year and the next year the Army had slightly over 8,000 troops instead of 20,000. The militia groups continued to fill the ranks but not to the numbers needed. At the time of the war the colonial population number about 2.5 million people with about 20 percent of the population being African American slaves who were not usually eligible for