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He was fully imbued with the patriotic principles of his preceptor, and when the Revolutionary War broke out, at his own expense journeyed to Cambridge and volunteered his services at the American Hospital. He was not long however without official position, for on August 10, 1776, he was commissioned Surgeon of the Fifth Pennsylvania Battalion commanded by Colonel Robert Magaw and one of the finest organizations in the army. It was barely two weeks later on August 26, that Congress evidently sensible of the desirability of utilizing McHenry's services to the best advantage, adopted the following resolution which Dr. Rush considered did the young medical officer as much honor as if they had made him director of a hospital:

He was fully imbued with the patriotic principles of his preceptor, and when the Revolutionary War broke out, at his own expense journeyed to Cambridge and volunteered his services at the American Hospital. He was not long however without official position, for on August 10, 1776, he was commissioned Surgeon of the Fifth Pennsylvania Battalion commanded by Colonel Robert Magaw and one of the finest organizations in the army. It was barely two weeks later on August 26, that Congress evidently sensible of the desirability of utilizing McHenry's services to the best advantage, adopted the following resolution which Dr. Rush considered did the young medical officer as much honor as if they had made him director of a hospital:

<Blockquote>Resolved, that Congress have a proper sense of the merit and services of Doctor McHenry, and recommend it to the directors of the different hospitals belonging to the United States, to appoint Doctor McHenry to the first vacancy that shall happen of surgeon's berth in any of the said hospitals.</blockquote>

<Blockquote>Resolved, that Congress have a proper sense of the merit and services of Doctor McHenry, and recommend it to the directors of the different hospitals belonging to the United States, to appoint Doctor McHenry to the first vacancy that shall happen of surgeon's berth in any of the said hospitals.</blockquote>

McHenry was not yet destined, however, to be employed as a hospital surgeon, for his battalion was for the next three months engaged in operations active enough to satisfy his utmost ambitions and on November 16, 1776 he was taken prisoner with his command at the capitulation of Fort Washington After a couple of months' confinement he was paroled and compelled to remain idle until early in May 1778, when he was finally exchanged and went on duty as Senior Surgeon of the Flying Hospital.

McHenry was not yet destined, however, to be employed as a hospital surgeon, for his battalion was for the next three months engaged in operations active enough to satisfy his utmost ambitions and on November 16, 1776 he was taken prisoner with his command when Fort Washington was over taken by Sir William Howe.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=BW-AAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA9 The Life and Correspondence of James McHenry: Secretary of War Under Washington and Adams]</ref> After a couple of months' confinement he was paroled and compelled to remain idle until early in May 1778, when he was finally exchanged and went on duty as Senior Surgeon of the Flying Hospital.

It was but a few days, however, before he was ordered to headquarters and assigned to duty as Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief, an event which marked the permanent termination of his medical practice. The relations which henceforth existed between the stern and reserved Washington and his brilliant and tactful young aid were cordial in the extreme. This happy relationship continued until 1780, when he was relieved from duty with the Commander-in-Chief and assigned nominally as aide-decamp but really as guide, philosopher and friend to the youthful and enthusiastic [[Marquis de Lafayette]], who had been commissioned as a Major General in the American establishment. In May 1781, Dr. McHenry was commissioned as Major to date from the preceding October.

It was but a few days, however, before he was ordered to headquarters and assigned to duty as Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief, an event which marked the permanent termination of his medical practice. The relations which henceforth existed between the stern and reserved Washington and his brilliant and tactful young aid were cordial in the extreme. This happy relationship continued until 1780, when he was relieved from duty with the Commander-in-Chief and assigned nominally as aide-decamp but really as guide, philosopher and friend to the youthful and enthusiastic [[Marquis de Lafayette]], who had been commissioned as a Major General in the American establishment. In May 1781, Dr. McHenry was commissioned as Major to date from the preceding October.