George Washington (1732-1799), the first President of the United States, was the first Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. General Washington had never led an army before and even recognized he had little experience leading larger groups of soldiers. The majority of his military experience was during the French and Indian War, where frontier warfare was prevalent. Although he had little experience leading armies, he had more experience than the majority of the other native-born Americans.

After the battles of Lexington and Concord, the different militia units from the surrounding areas trapped the British soldiers in Boston. One of the first actions as Commander-in-Chief, General Washington was tasked with taking the militiamen and turning them into soldiers of the Continental Army. While doing this, he was also charged with leading the Siege of Boston. In order to form an army, he had to instill order with discipline. Some of the punishments included the “lash, pillory, wooden horse, and drumming out of camp along with court-martial.” When describing the new recruits he described them as having little “discipline, order or government.” There was also a fear of outsiders. It was rumored that the British were taking advantage of a deadly smallpox outbreak, intentionally infecting American troops. After the British left Boston, Washington sent 1,000 smallpox-immune troops into Boston to prevent further spreading of the disease.

Even with having little discipline and the fear of smallpox, Washington turned the men into an army of soldiers that could accomplish great things. In a matter of days, the army placed nearly sixty cannons on Dorchester Heights, outside of Boston. The cannons were newly acquired in 1776 and were the defining difference in the Siege of Boston. Washington pointed the cannons at the town and ships, making the British retreat from Boston. The day is known to Bostonians as “Evacuation Day” and is celebrated yearly.

By: Jessica McKenzie

Credits and Sources:

George Washington’s Mount Vernon. “Biography of George Washington.” Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. Accessed September 20, 2016. http://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/biography/

Massachusetts Historical Society. “Siege of Boston.” Massachusetts Historical Society. Accessed September 20, 2016. https://www.masshist.org/online/siege/index.php

Stockwell, Mary. “Siege of Boston.” Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. Accessed September 20, 2016. http://www.mountvernon.org/digital-encyclopedia/article/siege-of-boston/

Thompson, Mary V. “Smallpox.” Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. Accessed September 20, 2016. http://www.mountvernon.org/digital-encyclopedia/article/smallpox/