After the Revolutionary War, Congress saw no need to maintain a standing army for the United States. After the “Treaty of Paris,” the United States government’s defense was left up to each state’s militia. The United States kept only 80-85 soldiers in its entire army. These men were tasked with taking inventory of the leftover Revolutionary War military armaments and keeping them repaired and safely stored.
In 1790, when General Josiah Harmar was ordered to raise an army and hold a campaign against the hostile Indians north of the Ohio River, there was no army to start with. Very few soldiers were available. He was forced to recruit men who were not accustomed to war and lacked discipline. He was aided by the Kentucky Militia, who were also lacking discipline and unruly. Harmar was defeated.
In 1791, Arthur St. Clair had the same problem. He raised an army that had little training or discipline. There was no war machine ready to go. The muskets were in poor condition, the tents were not rainproof, the pack saddles were way too large, supplies were lacking, and the artillery shells available would not fit the cannons. The artillery was manned by untrained infantry soldiers who had received little training and practice. St. Clair’s army was also defeated and routed by what some historians say was the worst defeat ever suffered by the United States Army.
In 1793, General Anthony Wayne faced a similar problem but refused to start his campaign until his army was well-trained and disciplined. Wayne camped and trained at Legionville along the Ohio River, where there were few distractions. President Washington became anxious and asked Wayne when he would start his campaign. Wayne answered that the men are not ready. Weeks went by, and Secretary of War Henry Knox urged Wayne to get started. Wayne answered, “The soldiers are ready. “There is not a Quaker in the lot”. Wayne’s campaign was successful.
In 1796, Congress recognized that Anthony Wayne’s success was mainly due to having an army that was well-trained, disciplined, and well-supplied before starting a military campaign. Congress voted on November 1, 1796, to have Anthony Wayne oversee the transition from a legion-style war army to a standing, peacetime, regimental army trained and ready for battle on standby. This became the first standing army of the United States.
Possibly, this was the most important lesson that came from the Indian Wars in Ohio. It can be said that the structure of today’s military army started in Greenville on November 1st, 1796.
Wayne’s 1st Sub Legion became the first American Regiment, a paid army trained and on standby, ready for the next military crisis.
