General Josiah Harmar's Command PDF Download

Author: John Parker Huber
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Harmar's Expedition, 1790
Languages : en
Pages : 586

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Book Description
Problems of defense and military leadership followed the American armed forces when the Revolutionary War ended. Congress decided to disband the Continental Army and create in its place a single standing regiment of 700 men from 4 states. Since Pennsylvania contributed the most soldiers, they were given the opportunity to select the commander. In August 1784, Lieutenant Colonel Josiah Harmar was appointed. The purpose of this force was the protection of the public stores and the Northwest frontier, the occupation of the British forts as they were evacuated, the prevention of illegal intrusion by settlers on the territory west of the Ohio, and the protection of the surveyors in 1788 and of legal settlers in 1790. Harmar was handicapped in his tasks by the small size of the army and from the defensive strategy; Congress could not afford a larger army and the country would not support one. Despite these obstacles, in his 7 years as commander, Harmar's principal accomplishment was the recruitment, discipline, and maintenance of a well-led frontier army. This book takes a look at his command and how helped lay the foundations for an enlarged army and eventual peace in the Northwest.