As with all armies, the Continental Army needed to be supplied on a regular basis with essential items such as food, clothing, and blankets. The position of Quartermaster-General, which still exists to this day, was established for this precise purpose. The problem was, however, that because of the radically decentralized system of government under the Articles of Confederation, the Quartermaster-General needed to rely on the individual states to provide him with the requisite supplies, and these were by no means always forthcoming.
The states jealously guarded their sovereignty and didn't take kindly to being told what to do, even if it was essential for the war effort. As there was very little spare gold or silver available in the colonies, the Quartermaster-General couldn't go over the heads of the states and purchase what he needed abroad. However, outside help was available in terms of military training, and this made George Washington's command of the Continental Army much easier.
The Prussian general Baron von Steuben offered his services to Washington to help him train and organize the Continental Army more effectively. As Washington's men often saw themselves primarily as fighting for their individual states, it was often difficult to organize them into a unified fighting unit. No one could deny that the Continental Army lacked bravery or ideological zeal, but they still needed to be organized into a more professional fighting force if they were to defeat the British. Thanks to a combination of Washington's military genius and von Steuben's flair for organization, the Continental Army became just such a force, enabling it to overcome the many restrictions imposed by a decentralized political system.
There were few challenges George Washington did not face while a leader in the Revolutionary War. The Continental Army was undermanned. Most of his troops had no regimented training or battlefield knowledge. Communication with other generals, strategists, or companies was a risk that took time. Getting a message to the right party without having a delay was accomplishing his task half way if he were expecting a reply! Whereas any of those issues alone would be difficult enough. These could be among the least of Washington's worries. According to George Washington's Mount Vernon Website, getting enough supplies was such a chronic undertaking, it was often debilitating. Ultimately, challenges like these have negative impacts on battle readiness and morale. The Site says, "He repeatedly had to exhort Congress and the thirteen states to remedy desperate shortages of men, shoes, shirts, blankets, and gunpowder (2019)". Since we know convincing congress is like moving mountains, winning these conflicts gave him hope succeeding in battles in the field.
The main issue was funding. The Articles of Confederation did not allow the national government to demand payment from any particular colony, and many soldiers went unpaid or without supplies for long periods of time. Throughout the time at Valley Forge, Washington wrote letters to the Continental Congress begging for funds and supplies for his men. This would continue after the war as many Revolutionary War veterans lost everything they owned due to debts and taxes.
Another issue was training. The Continental Army was expected to fight the strongest empire in the world in pitched battles. Another issue that affected training was that many of the state militias did not feel as though they had to fight outside their home state or listen to a commander from another state. Washington's greatest accomplishment early in the war was avoiding having his army destroyed in one battle. Through the help of foreign leaders such as Frederick von Steuben, Washington was able to train his army and instill higher morale and military discipline. This and valuable intelligence allowed Washington to win key battles against the British army at Trenton and Yorktown.
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