Continental Army

Continental Army
Seal of the Board of War and Ordnance
Founder	Second Continental Congress
Commander-in-Chief	George Washington
Dates of operation	June 14, 1775 (1775-06-14) – 1783 (1783)
Allegiance	Thirteen Colonies (1775–1776) United States (1776–1783)
Size	80,000 at peak[1]
Allies	Kingdom of France
Opponents	British government, British Army, German auxiliaries
Battles and wars	American Revolutionary War Siege of Boston Battle of Long Island Battle of Harlem Heights Battle of White Plains Battle of Trenton Battle of the Assunpink Creek Battle of Princeton Battle of Brandywine Battle of Germantown Battles of Saratoga Siege of Augusta Battle of Monmouth Siege of Charleston Battle of Camden Battle of Cowpens Battle of Guilford Court House Battle of Eutaw Springs Siege of Ninety Six Siege of Yorktown
Colors	Dark blue
Succeeded by Legion of the United States United States Army

American Revolutionary War

Armed Forces
United States
Continental Army → Commander-in-Chief → Regional departments → Units (1775, 1776, 1777–1784) → Manual Continental Navy Continental Marines State forces → List of militia units → List of state navies → Maritime units
Great Britain
List of British units
France
List of French units
Related topics
List of battles Military leadership
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The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies representing the Thirteen Colonies and later the United States during the American Revolutionary War. It was formed on June 14, 1775, by a resolution passed by the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia after the war's outbreak. The Continental Army was created to coordinate military efforts of the colonies in the war against the British, who sought to maintain control over the American colonies. General George Washington was appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and maintained this position throughout the war.

The Continental Army was supplemented by local militias and volunteer troops that were either loyal to individual states or otherwise independent. Most of the Continental Army was disbanded in 1783 after the Treaty of Paris formally ended the war. The Continental Army's 1st and 2nd Regiments went on to form what was to become the Legion of the United States in 1792, which ultimately served as the foundation for the creation of the United States Army.