 Before the American Revolution started each colony had its own militia.
 Colonial militias were often comprised of volunteers who agreed to serve for a
short amount of time.
 The “soldiers” trained themselves and practiced every so often.
 Soldiers often provided their own equipment.
 As the Revolutionary War started it was quickly realized that local militias would
never stand a chance against the well trained and supplied British Army.
 The Second Continental Congress agreed to create a national army called
Continental Army and chose George Washington as the commander.
 All free males between the ages of 16-60 were required to serve.
 Most of the men who made up the army were young in age.
 Becoming a soldier gave many men steady employment and also an opportunity
for excitement and adventure.
 Recruitment bonuses in the form of cash (very rare at this time in the colonies) and
the promise of land were also powerful incentives to join the army.
 A strong sense of patriotism motivated many to join the army to defend their
homes and land.
 Soldiers who agreed to enlist in the army were promised the following:
 Food rations - salted meat, hard bread, and dried food.
 Each year soldiers were to be issued a uniform, arms, ammunition, a haversack, canteen,
blanket, and knapsack.
 Most soldiers did not receive the promised items above. Typically a uniform, arms, and
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ammunition were given.
During the campaign season (fighting season) which was typically Spring-Fall soldiers
were organized into six-men groups called a mess.
Each mess would share a tent.
However, shortages of canvas led to shortages of tents and overcrowding was common
resulting at times to 8 or more men to a tent. Sometimes soldiers had to make their own
tent using whatever supplies they could find.
When winter set in soldiers often built log cabins to live in until spring. Most cabins
housed up to 12 men. The cabins were more sturdy that the tents but the living
conditions were just as bad.
 The biggest challenge was supplying the army.
 The colonies had been relying on British manufactured goods, but once the war
began those supplies were no longer getting shipped to the colonies.
 The Continental Army formed a special department called the Quartermaster.
 The Quartermasters job was to get and deliver needed supplies to the soldiers in
the fields.
 The Quartermaster asked each colony and its people to help provide food,
clothing, blankets, and other items but there was still not enough for everyone.
 Quartermasters also ran into issues with colonial governments not cooperating or
wanting to spare any supplies.
 Lack of gold and silver meant that supplies could not be purchased from Europe or
elsewhere.
 If supplies became available, getting them to the soldiers proved difficult.
 The British set up naval blockades to block incoming ships
 Poor roads and uncooperative waggoneers
 By the time supplies reached soldiers they were often late, spoiled, or damaged.
 Soldiers quickly became frustrated by the inability of Congress to supply them
with basic provisions.
 Pay for soldiers rarely arrived on time, if at all. Often pay was in the form of paper
currency which due to inflation, was essentially worthless.
 Many women were involved in the Continental Army in a variety of roles.
 While women could not officially enlist to fight (though some disguised themselves
and did so anyway) women were present in military camps to be with their
families.
 Women performed essential support services such as:
 Nursing
 Laundry
 Cooking
 Clothing maintenance
 By the time the American Revolution began about half a million people living in the
13 colonies were African American. The majority of African Americans were
enslaved at this time (mostly in the south). There were some free African
Americans, mainly in the northern colonies.
 The British worked to recruit African Americans to fight on their side, often times
promising freedom, salary, and land as incentives.
 It is estimated that about 8,000 African Americans served with the Continental
Army in some capacity.
 At first many were worried about African Americans serving in the army, thinking
there might be an uprising. However, the need for new troops forced Congress to
authorize the enlistment of free and enslaved African Americans.
 Free blacks joined for the same incentives as white men. Enslaved blacks often
went as substitutes for their masters with the promise of freedom as their incentive.
 Native Americans fought on both sides of the war.
 Most Native Americans viewed the war as a contest for their lands, and less for the
liberty and freedom of the colonists.
 Both the Americans and the British urged Native Americans to stay neutral and not
take sides, claiming that this was a “family quarrel in which the Indians are not
concerned.”
 Some Native Americans joined the British with the hopes that a British victory
would lead to protection against westward expansion by Americans.
 Some Native Americans, mostly those living closest to the colonies, fought on the
side of the Americans.