George Washington: Letter to John Hancock

One of the most serious obstacles faced by the Continental army during the early years of the Revolution was the recruitment and retention of soldiers. Initially, many patriots flocked to the army. In June 1775, the Continental Congress authorized the army to number 22,000, and by October, the total number of soldiers exceeded that number. However, many soldiers had signed short-term enlistments that lasted only a year. By 1776, a growing number of soldiers decided to leave the army after their enlistments were over. Soldiers were disappointed by a series of military reversals and by continuing problems with pay. The army was often two months or more behind in paying the soldiers. In addition, state militias, which were organized separately from the Continental army, paid higher bonuses to soldiers when they first enlisted. By April 1776, the size of the army had shrunk to about 10,000 or 11,000, and that number included some state militia units that were operating with the national military