The Continental Congress asked all of the thirteen colonies to send soldiers to Massachusetts to prepare to fight. They decided that George Washington from Virginia should lead this new army. George had fought in the French and Indian War and had gained valuable experience. He came to the meeting all dressed in his uniform, to show that he would like to be the army's general.  It was his understanding of of soldiers and war that made him stand out from the other leaders like Artemas Ward, Charles Lee, or John Hancock. 
 

                The Continental Army 
  George left Philadelphia immediately to take charge of his new army.  They had already fought their first major battle, The Battle of Bunker Hill.  It had taken place in Boston, on June 17, 1775.   He arrived in Massachusetts to meet his army less that three weeks after the Battle of Bunker Hill.  There were 14,000 soldiers, mostly from the north colonies with no uniforms, only their normal clothes.  Those with guns had flintlock muskets which couldn't shoot very far.  Some of Washington's soldiers had fought on the frontier and in the French and Indian War. Slowly Washington started to create an army called the Continentals. 
 
 
 
 

   The Continental army was lead by George Washington and was made up of only about 10,000 soldiers at one time. They had no uniforms, and if they had guns they had old guns that were mostly stolen from their fathers, otherwise they carried swords, spears, and axes.  Most of the men were inexperienced and just enlisted in the army for one year at a time. They were low on ammunition, weapons, and supplies such as food. 

  The British was, unlike the Continentals, made up of professional soldiers who got paid to fight. They had the best training, the most experienced officers, and the newest weapons. The British used mercenaries, hired soldiers, to fight on their side. The British also had Indian Allies because most tribes hated the colonists since they took their land. The British had 50,000 soldiers and the Continentals had no more than 10,000.  So really, the British had the greater advantage over the Continentals and newcomers.

   As soon as Washington's army was in Long Island, New York they had news that the British had moved to the New York Harbor and there were forts there as well as in Long Island. The General of the British, General Howe, attacked the Continentals on Long Island. For three days the Continentals fought the British bravely but he saw they were in trouble and knew somehow he must save his army. so Washington moved his army to Manhattan and then to New York City. The British then followed them to the city and forced Washington north and took over his fort bearing his name. The British pushed the Continental Army onto the mainland and then took the White Plains. The army suggested to Washington that they could go to a forest and fight there. But General Washington said they should retreat.  So they crossed the Hudson river and retreated passed the Susquehanna River.