Editing Thomas Mifflin (section)

== Military service ==
[[File:The Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton January 3 1777.jpeg|thumb|''[[The Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton, January 3, 1777]]'', painting by [[John Trumbull]] (Mifflin on far left, leading the cavalry charge)<ref>{{cite book|last1=Caldwell|first1=John|last2=Rodriguez Roque|first2=Oswaldo|title=American Paintings in The Metropolitan Museum of Art|volume=1|date=1994|publisher=[[The Metropolitan Museum of Art]]|pages=214–15|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dYdWBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA214|chapter=Thomas Mifflin}}</ref>]]
Early in the Revolutionary War, Mifflin left the Continental Congress to serve in the Continental Army. He was commissioned as a major, then became an [[Washington's aides-de-camp|''aide-de-camp'']] of George Washington.

On August 14, 1775, Washington appointed him to become the army's first quartermaster general, under order of Congress.<ref name=Risch>{{cite book |last=Risch |first=Erna |title=Supplying Washington's Army |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Army Center of Military History |year=1981 |url=http://www.history.army.mil/books/RevWar/risch/risch-fm.htm |pages=30–31 |access-date=June 10, 2010 |archive-date=June 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617002456/http://www.history.army.mil/books/RevWar/risch/risch-fm.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Although it has been said that he was good at the job despite preferring to be on the front lines, questions were raised regarding his failure to properly supply Washington and the troops at [[Valley Forge]], alleging that he had instead warehoused and sold supplies intended for Valley Forge to the highest bidder. Reportedly, after Washington confronted him about this,<ref name=Unger>{{cite book |last=Unger |first=Harlow Giles |title=Patrick Henry, Lion of Liberty |publisher=Da Capo Press |year=2010 }}</ref> Mifflin asked to be relieved as quartermaster general but was persuaded to resume those duties because Congress was having difficulty finding a replacement.

Mifflin's leadership in the [[Battle of Trenton]] and the [[Battle of Princeton]] led to a promotion to [[major general (United States)|major general]].<ref name=Wright>{{cite book |last1=Wright |first1=Robert K. Jr. |author-link1=Robert K. Wright Jr. |last2=MacGregor |first2=Morris J. Jr. |title=Soldier-Statesmen of the Constitution |chapter-url=http://www.history.army.mil/books/RevWar/ss/mifflin.htm |publisher=[[U.S. Army Center of Military History]] |chapter=Thomas Mifflin |pages=109–11 |date=1987 |access-date=November 26, 2013 |archive-date=September 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903075759/http://www.history.army.mil/books/RevWar/ss/mifflin.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> In Congress, there was debate regarding whether a national army was more efficient or whether the individual states should maintain their own forces.  As a result of this debate the [[Board of War|Congressional Board of War]] was created, on which Mifflin served from 1777 to 1778. He then rejoined the army but took little active role, following criticism of his service as quartermaster general. He was accused of embezzlement and welcomed an inquiry; however, one never took place. He resigned his commission, but Congress continued to ask his advice even after accepting his resignation.