The patriots started the war with almost none of the supplies required to arm, clothe, shelter, equip and support an army. They lacked powder, muskets, cannon, lead, bayonets, cartridge boxes and paper, entrenching tools and such camp equipment as kettles. In June 1775 the Continental Congress organized two supply offices, the Quartermaster General and the Commissary General of Stores and Purchases, to procure and distribute necessities to the army.  But there were continual shortages and problems in keeping the Army supplied, especially with arms and ammunition.  The shortage of these and the facilities for producing them limited the number of men who could be kept in the field.

Militia dressed in whatever clothes they had, usually civilian or hunting clothes; uniforms were worn by those who belonged to the many independent companies which existed in the colonies. Sometimes the uniforms bore a dangerous resemblance to the coats of British soldiers.   Washington never ceased to strive for uniformity, issuing many orders on the colour and style, as well as a system to distinguish rank. In General Orders of July 14 1775, Washington directed that General Officers and their Aides were to be distinguished by the wearing of broad coloured ribands across the body from the right shoulder to the left hip, worn over the waistcoat and under the regimental coat. Officers of field rank and below were to adopt a system of hat cockades or plumes of various colours. Apart from these distinctions there might be little to distinguish an officer from his men.