The continental congress tried to standardize a uniform of brown but without any authority to raise money this was easier said than done. Army rank insignia the early revolutionary war era 1775 in 1775 there were not enough uniforms in the continental army to distinguish the officers from their men. Sailors followed the example of the most successful navy of the time the royal navy.
Before the revolutionary war americans drilled with militia outfits based on the british tradition. The american military adapted most of its rank insignia from the british. Order two.
19 20 soldiers stood at a greater distance apart and three orders were used to specify the distance to be expanded or contracted as necessary. The army further adapted this formation during the american revolution by forming and fighting in looser ranks a tactic that was known as loose files and american scramble. They relied on the militia until the continental army was born on april 23 1775 which is seen as the official beginning of the united states army.
When the revolutionary war began in april 1775 the colonists had no army and no formal fighting force. George washington was the commander in chief of the continental army reporting to the second continental congress his activities including command of the main army direction of the overall war effort on behalf of the united states and administration of the entire army were overseen by the board of war established in june 1776 he held the rank of general during the war. The continental army was formed by the second continental congress after the outbreak of the american revolutionary war by the former british colonies that later became the united states of america established by a resolution of the congress on june 14 1775 it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the thirteen colonies in their revolt against the rule of great britain.
