 But in 1792, he was appointed a general by the Governor of Connecticut, Samuel Huntington, to be the Adjutant General after Congress passed an act in 1792 authorizing the states to maintain a militia.He held the position for the next 30 years under seven different governors.On July 19, 1798 he was commissioned a brigadier general in the United States Army when it was expanded during the Quasi War with France.