User:Chetsford/provisional

The Provisional Army of the United States was a military force maintained by the United States of America between May 1798 and June 1800. It was created as a second, standing army to exist simultaneously with the United States Army, due to political concerns about increasing the size of the latter force. Raised following the outbreak of war between the United States and France, unlike the United States Army the term of enlistment of personnel to the Provisional Army was only for the duration of the "existing differences between the United States and the French Republic".

The 5th United States Congress authorized President of the United States John Adams to raise the Provisional Army between its 1798 summer recess and its reassembly the following winter. However, Adams only commissioned seven officers before his authority to recruit personnel to the Provisional Army expired. Its commanding officer was George Washington who was commissioned at the rank of Lt General and to the post of "Commander in Chief of all the Armies of the United States", giving him titular authority over both the Provisional Army of the United States and the United States Army. Washington accepted the appointment conditioned on his ability to remain in secluded retirement at Mount Vernon until actually needed. The Provisional Army's other officers were Alexander Hamilton (Inspector General), William North (Adjutant General), and James Craik (Physician General).

On paper, the Provisional Army was organized into one cavalry regiment and twelve infantry regiments.

The Provisional Army of the United States was formally dissolved on June 15, 1800.