Editing Continental Army (section)

===Tactical organization===
{{Further information|List of Continental Army units}}

All troops under the department commander were designated as an [[Field army|army]]; hence troops in the Northern Department were called the ''Northern Army'', in the Southern Department the ''Southern Army'', etc. The department commander could be field commander or he could appoint another officer to command the troops in the field. Depending on the size of the army, it could be divided into ''wings'' or [[Division (military)|division]]s (of typically three [[brigade]]s) that were temporary organizations, and brigades (of two to five [[regiment]]s) that in effect were permanent organizations and the [[Military tactics|basic tactical unit]] of the Continental Army.<ref>Clay 2018, pp. 5–6.</ref>

An [[infantry]] regiment in the Continental Army typically consisted of 8 to 10 companies, each commanded by a captain. Field officers usually included a colonel, a lieutenant colonel, and a major. A regimental staff was made up of an [[adjutant]], [[quartermaster]], surgeon, [[surgeon's mate]], [[paymaster]], and [[chaplain]]. Infantry regiments were often called simply regiments or battalions.<ref name=Wehm191>Wehmann 1989, pp. 191–192.</ref> The regiment's fighting strength consisted of a single [[battalion]] of 728 officers and enlisted men at full strength.<ref>Clay 2018, p. 6.</ref> [[Cavalry]] and [[artillery]] regiments were organized in a similar manner. A company of cavalry was frequently called a troop. An artillery company contained specialized soldiers, such as [[Bombardier (rank)|bombardier]]s, [[Gunner (artillery)|gunner]]s, and [[matross]]es.<ref name=Wehm191/> A continental cavalry regiment had a nominal strength of 280 officers and men, but the actual strength was usually less than 150 men and even fewer horses.<ref>Clay 2018, p. 8.</ref> [[Armed-forces artificer|Artificers]] were civilian or military [[mechanic]]s and [[artisan]]s employed by the army  to provide services. They included [[blacksmith]]s, [[Cooper (profession)|coopers]], [[carpenter]]s, [[Horse harness|harnessmakers]], and [[wheelwright]]s.<ref name=Wehm191/>