[111]

Siege of Boston
Main article: Siege of Boston
Washington taking command of the Continental Army just before the Siege of Boston on April 19, 1775
Early in 1775, in response to the growing rebellious movement, London sent British troops, commanded by General Thomas Gage, to occupy Boston. They set up fortifications about the city, making it impervious to attack. Various local militias surrounded the city and effectively trapped the British, resulting in a standoff.[112]
As Washington headed for Boston, word of his march preceded him, and he was greeted everywhere; gradually, he became a symbol of the Patriot cause.[113][j] Upon arrival on July 2, 1775, two weeks after the Patriot defeat at nearby Bunker Hill, he set up his Cambridge, Massachusetts headquarters and inspected the new army there, only to find an undisciplined and badly outfitted militia.[114] After consultation, he initiated Benjamin Franklin's suggested reforms—drilling the soldiers and imposing strict discipline, floggings, and incarceration.[115] Washington ordered his officers to identify the skills of recruits to ensure military effectiveness, while removing incompetent officers.[116] He petitioned Gage, his former superior, to release captured Patriot officers from prison and treat them humanely.