Our Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia. George Washington was chosen to be the Commanding General of the Continental Army. Although the Continental Army had initial victories at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts on April 19, 1776, it had been in retreat since its major defeat at the Battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776. This led to a string of defeats which decimated Washington’s army through the desertion of over 10,000 soldiers, leaving him with just 3,500 soldiers. It appeared that the United States’ bid for Independence was doomed to failure.