June 14--Flag Day
Today is Flag Day
The reason for the day being Flag Day is explained immediately below. This is a Federally observed day, but it is not one of those holidays that has been statutorily moved to a Friday or Monday and made a three day weekend holiday. Indeed, while it is a noted date, it is technically not a holiday.
1775 The Continental Congress created the Continental Army. The act formed the army out of existing units that had been mustered or raised by the thirteen colonies which were already serving in the field, and it also authorized the enlistment of volunteers directly into a Continental Army, with units that were directly formed for national service.
The nature of the Army at that time is somewhat confusing for people only familiar with the modern Army. Most of the American military establishment at the time was based upon colonial units, with militia being a very significant portion of that. The states, during the Revolution, both mustered militia for service and raised state units. Some loyalist militia was also mustered, so the war had the odd character of local musters of competing loyalties. The British forces sent to North American were entirely made up of a regular forces, a force which we'd now be familiar with, but which saw the majority of British and Hessian enlisted men serving under lifetime enlistments, a very common type of European enlistment at the time. The United Kingdom authorize wartime enlistments for the Revolution, showing hos seriously they took it, which was a novelty for the British at the time. French soldiers serving in North America during the war, like their British compatriots, were professional soldiers.
Because the creating of a national army was authorized on this day, this is viewed as the "birthday" of the U.S. Army. That first Continental Army, however, saw the amalgamation of a lot of troops who were actually serving in state enlistments, a feature of U.S. wartime armies that would continue up through the Civil War, but which rapidly passed away thereafter.
1775 The Continental Congress created the Continental Army. The act formed the army out of existing units that had been mustered or raised by the thirteen colonies which were already serving in the field, and it also authorized the enlistment of volunteers directly into a Continental Army, with units that were directly formed for national service.
The nature of the Army at that time is somewhat confusing for people only familiar with the modern Army. Most of the American military establishment at the time was based upon colonial units, with militia being a very significant portion of that. The states, during the Revolution, both mustered militia for service and raised state units. Some loyalist militia was also mustered, so the war had the odd character of local musters of competing loyalties. The British forces sent to North American were entirely made up of a regular forces, a force which we'd now be familiar with, but which saw the majority of British and Hessian enlisted men serving under lifetime enlistments, a very common type of European enlistment at the time. The United Kingdom authorize wartime enlistments for the Revolution, showing hos seriously they took it, which was a novelty for the British at the time. French soldiers serving in North America during the war, like their British compatriots, were professional soldiers.
Because the creating of a national army was authorized on this day, this is viewed as the "birthday" of the U.S. Army. That first Continental Army, however, saw the amalgamation of a lot of troops who were actually serving in state enlistments, a feature of U.S. wartime armies that would continue up through the Civil War, but which rapidly passed away thereafter.
1777 Continental Congress adopts the Stars & Stripes as the national flag.
No comments:
Post a Comment