Washington Takes Command: The Continental Army Rises
The Continental Congress unanimously appointed George Washington as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army on June 15, 1775, one day after creating the army itself. John Adams nominated Washington, reasoning that a Virginian commanding an army of New Englanders would bind the Southern colonies to the revolutionary cause. Washington accepted the position and refused all salary, asking only that Congress reimburse his expenses, which he meticulously documented and eventually submitted as a bill for over $400,000. He took command of the army at Cambridge, Massachusetts, on July 3 and spent the next year transforming an undisciplined militia into something approaching a professional force. Washington's willingness to serve without pay established a powerful precedent about civilian leadership and public service.
June 15, 1775
251 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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