In this situation, Washington wrought mightily to “new model” the
American fighting forces. Late in 1776, heeding at last his pressing
argument for longer enlistments, Congress had called upon the States to
raise 88 Continental battalions, and had also authorized recruitment of
16 “additional battalions” of infantry, 3,000 light horse, three
regiments of artillery, and a corps of engineers. A magnificent dream of
an army 75,000 strong! Washington knew, however, that it was more than
“to say Presto begone, and every thing is done.” Very early that winter
he sent many of his general officers into their own States to hurry on
the new levies. Night and day, too, he was in correspondence with anyone
who might help in the cause, writing prodigiously. Still the business
lagged painfully. “I have repeatedly wrote to all the recruiting
Officers, to forward on their Men, as fast as they could arm and cloath
them,” the Commander in Chief advised Congress on January 26, “but they
are so extremely averse to turning out of comfortable Quarters, that I
cannot get a Man to come near me, tho’ I hear from all parts, that the
recruiting Service goes on with great Success.” For nearly 3 months
more, as events turned out, he had to depend for support on ephemeral
militia units, “here to-day, gone to-morrow.” April 5 found him still
wondering if he would ever get the new army assembled.