<P> Broadly speaking, Continental forces consisted of several successive armies, or establishments: </P> <Ul> <Li> The Continental Army of 1775, comprising the initial New England Army, organized by Washington into three divisions, six brigades, and 38 regiments . Major General Philip Schuyler's ten regiments in New York were sent to invade Canada . </Li> <Li> The Continental Army of 1776, reorganized after the initial enlistment period of the soldiers in the 1775 army had expired . Washington had submitted recommendations to the Continental Congress almost immediately after he had accepted the position of Commander - in - Chief, but these took time to consider and implement . Despite attempts to broaden the recruiting base beyond New England, the 1776 army remained skewed toward the Northeast both in terms of its composition and geographical focus . This army consisted of 36 regiments, most standardized to a single battalion of 768 men strong formed into eight companies, with a rank and file strength of 640 . </Li> <Li> The Continental Army of 1777--80 was a result of several critical reforms and political decisions that came about when it was apparent that the British were sending massive forces to put an end to the American Revolution . The Continental Congress passed the "Eighty - eight Battalion Resolve", ordering each state to contribute one - battalion regiments in proportion to their population, and Washington was subsequently given authority to raise an additional 16 battalions . Also, enlistment terms were extended to three years or "the length of the war" to avoid the year - end crises that depleted forces (including the notable near collapse of the army at the end of 1776 which could have ended the war in a Continental, or American, loss by forfeit). </Li> <Li> The Continental Army of 1781--82 saw the greatest crisis on the American side in the war . Congress was bankrupt, making it very difficult to replenish the soldiers whose three - year terms had expired . Popular support for the war was at its all - time low, and Washington had to put down mutinies both in the Pennsylvania Line and New Jersey Line . Congress voted to cut funding for the Army, but Washington managed nevertheless to secure important strategic victories . </Li> <Li> The Continental Army of 1783--84 was succeeded by the United States Army, which persists to this day . As peace was closed with the British, most of the regiments were disbanded in an orderly fashion, though several had already been diminished . </Li> </Ul> <Li> The Continental Army of 1775, comprising the initial New England Army, organized by Washington into three divisions, six brigades, and 38 regiments . Major General Philip Schuyler's ten regiments in New York were sent to invade Canada . </Li> <Li> The Continental Army of 1776, reorganized after the initial enlistment period of the soldiers in the 1775 army had expired . Washington had submitted recommendations to the Continental Congress almost immediately after he had accepted the position of Commander - in - Chief, but these took time to consider and implement . Despite attempts to broaden the recruiting base beyond New England, the 1776 army remained skewed toward the Northeast both in terms of its composition and geographical focus . This army consisted of 36 regiments, most standardized to a single battalion of 768 men strong formed into eight companies, with a rank and file strength of 640 . </Li>

By the time the united states entered world war i fighting was focused on