Editing Continental Army (section)

===Governing bodies===
Military affairs were at first managed by the [[Continental Congress]] in [[plenary session]], although specific matters were prepared by a number of [[Special committee|ad hoc committees]]. In June 1776 a five-member [[standing committee]], the [[Board of War|Board of War and Ordnance]], was established in order to replace the ad hoc committees. The five members who formed the Board fully participated in the plenary activities of Congress as well as in other committees and were unable to fully engage in the administrative leadership of the Continental Army. A new Board of War was therefore formed in October 1777, of three commissioners not member of Congress. Two more commissioners, not members of Congress, were shortly thereafter added, but in October 1778, the membership was set to three commissioners not members of Congress and two commissioners members of Congress. In early 1780, the [[Quartermaster General]], the Commissary General of Purchase, and the Commissary General of Issue were put under the direction of the Board. The [[United States Secretary of War#Secretary at War (1781–1789)|Office of the Secretary at War]] was created in February 1781, although the Office did not start its work until [[Benjamin Lincoln]] assumed the office in October 1781.<ref>Wehmann 1989, pp. 189–190.</ref>