Talk:Continental Army/Archive 1

Archive 1

Design of article

The ongoing question is how much detail goes in this article, and how much is moved to others? My intent is to use this article to give an overview of the interaction of congress and army, to create a general time sequenced narrative of major events, most of which get their own article. Any suggestions (or better yet help) as to how to complete this are certainly welcome. - Lou I 16:57 21 May 2003 (UTC)

Dates seem incorrect

"Most of the Continental Army was disbanded on November 3, 1783 after the Treaty of Paris. A small residual force remained at West Point and some frontier outposts, until the Congress created the United States Army by their resolution of June 3, 1783." So the United States Army was created before the dissolution of the Continental Army, or is this a typo? --Proteus71 21 Apr 2005

Fixed typo: the correct date is 3 June 1784. --Kevin Myers 15:42, Apr 21, 2005 (UTC)

Continental Army's founding date

"The Army was created by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 15, 1775."

The US Army celebrates their founding as the Continental Army on June 14 (http://www.army.mil/cmh/faq/birth.htm) though it is the case that elements of their founding, such as having a Commander in Chief designated, were conducted on June 15. Is this a typo, or is the author choosing a different date than the US Army for reason?

Flag

Marc Leepson was on MSNBC trying to sell his book Flag ISBN 0312323085 (ISBN given to see if it's reputable or whatnot)... and he talked about the Continental Army first using a flag that had the U.S. flag Stripes... but the stars were replaced with the Union Jack... does anyone know (and can they find a copy) of the flag since it may be good for this article... gren グレン 19:21, 3 July 2006 (UTC)

Uhhh, interestingly enough it () happened to be on the main page... reading more about it I'm not sure if it should be included or not. gren グレン 00:36, 4 July 2006 (UTC)

Ranks

What are the ranks of the Continental Army?--Unknown user

That's a good question; this should clearly be in the article. The ranks are a simpler version of what we know today. Here's a basic list, from top to bottom. —Kevin Myers 04:34, 14 July 2007 (UTC)

General officers (commanders of large units)

• General and Commander in Chief (Washington)
• Major general (usually commanded a division)
• Brigadier general (usually commanded a brigade)

Field officers (overall operations of a regiment)

• Colonel (commanded a regiment)
• Lieutenant colonel (2nd in command of a regiment)
• Major (particularly responsible for administration)

Company-grade officers

• Captain (commanded a company or troop)
• Lieutenant
• Ensign (known as a cornet in a cavalry troop)

Non-commissioned officers

• Sergeant (3 or 4 per company)
• Corporal (in charge of a squad; 3 or 4 per company)

And finally

• Private (53–76 per company)

the amercian flag is a very important part of the world today.

Should this section be at top level rather than a subsection of Demobilization--Yendor1958 (talk) 10:43, 5 January 2012 (UTC)

Missing are ranks utilized by the artillery, at least for a few years into the War:

• Bombardier - in charge of a canon, overseeing a team of gunners and matross[es?], matross[i?].
• Gunner - the next rank up from matross.
• Matross - equivalent to a private as I understand it, the grunts who did all the hard work including hauling the canon from place to place with rope harnesses when oxen or horses were unavailable.

Thanks, Wordreader (talk) 07:19, 17 September 2012 (UTC)

Also, I don't see any fifers or drummers. Just from my impression, they rank higher in importance than privates, maybe similar to a corporeal? In payee and roster lists that I've seen, the fifers and drummers are listed higher up on the page than privates. In lists where only higher ranking soldiers are named and privates are not, fifers and drummers are named. Wordreader (talk) 07:24, 17 September 2012 (UTC)

Recent edit for discussion

The following material, in a list like format, was recently added to the article by an anon editor. Opinions requested. WBardwin 23:28, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

Lexington and Concord, April 19, 1775 Purpose-the Americans were in rebellion about the British taxes and the Intolerable Acts put on them. To punish them British troops could just shoot all the ones rebelling against them. Strategies- warlike preparations were being made by the British. Minute were created by the Americans. They were ready to fight at anytime. It was not known if the British or the Americans shot the first shot. Since it was not known it was known as “The Shot Heard Round the World”. Ten were wounded and eight minutemen were killed. With out shots of victory the British marched on to Concord. The colonists had hidden the rest of the American cannons that the British thought they had taken. Minutemen stored guns in Concord that were found by the Britain Spies. As a surprise attack the British planned to capture the weapons. The Americans also had spies. At about midnight on April 18-19, 1775 about 700 redcoats left Boston. Paul Revere and his friend William Dawes were watching them. They said to everyone “The British are coming!” Morale of Troops-On the way back from Concord the British had little to shoot at. The Americans could shoot from behind trees, walls, and stone fences. This smashed the British. Results-This battle started the war. The British took over Boston. The British had 247 killed or wounded. Only about 100 colonists were dead so they had less than the British.-

Bunker Hill- June 16 1775 at Charlestown, Massachusetts Purpose- To get the control of tallness ignoring Boston Harbor Battle Strategies-on Breeds Hill the night of June 16 colonists came in and put up a fort out of dirt and logs. Morale of Troops- There was 3,800 American troops. "I thank thee, O Lord, for sparing me to fight this day." is what an American was praying. Results-Technically the British won only because they drove off the Americans from Breeds Hill, but since soldiers died the Americans won.

Battle of Saratoga- 1777 Saratoga, New York Cause or Purpose-John Burgoye came to America and plan to win a war. The plan was to capture Hudson River Valley. Battle Strategies- Burgoye started in Canada. Burgoye’s army had said “south to lake Champlain.”Burgoyne brunt back Furt Ticon deroga “The British headed through”. Morale-Before the battle, the British morale was high because they thought their plan would win the war. Results-the victory for the Americans was a turning point in the war. It showed the British strategy failed. The most important part France was convinced that it was safe to join the Americans side

Battle of Trenton December 25, 1776 at Trenton, New Jersey Purpose-British troops were there in search of Washington but were ruled to take winter quarters in Trenton, Princeton and other New Jersey cities. Battle Strategies- Washington crossed the Delaware River and took about 2400 troops. The Americans had marched in the night and were ready to plant their attack the next morning. They shocked their enemy by taking about 900 prisoners. They also striked Princeton, too, and they won. Morale- The American morale was rejuvenated and thousands helped to fight. Results- After those wins the Americans captured again most of New Jersey.

Bonhomme Richard and Serpis Battle at Sea September 23, 1779 Cause-To be able to fight on sea against the British. Battle Strategies-Americans turned merchant ships into warships. The ship of John Paul Jones’, the Bonhomme Richard, fought the British ship named Serapis. Morale of Troops-The first sea battle was won by the British. After that the Americans had high morale. The morale that helped them win the war was Captain Jones’. Results-Eventually the Americans forced the British navy men on the Serapis to surrender.