The "Maryland Line" was a formation within the Continental Army, formed and authorized by the Second Continental Congress, meeting in the "Old Pennsylvania State House" (later known as "Independence Hall") in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in June 1775, and authority given to Col. George Washington, delegate and formerly of the "Virginia Regiment" of the colonial militia to serve as commander-in-chief of the colonial forces and he assumed command at Cambridge, Massachusetts outside of Boston, of the various units from several of the American colonies surrounding Boston, laying siege to the British Army within, in June 1775. His previous military experience had been during the late French and Indian War (1754–1763), [also known as the Seven Years War in Europe. The term "Maryland Line" referred