It was a British tradition that standing armies were a menace to liberty, and the tradition had gained strength in crossing the sea.

Washington would have wished a national army recruited by Congress alone and bound to serve for the duration of the war.

There was much talk at the time of a "new model army" similar in type to the wonderful creation of Oliver Cromwell.

The Thirteen Colonies became, however, thirteen nations.

Each reserved the right to raise its own levies in its own way.