During the first summer of the Continental Army, many of its soldiers had not yet gained the discipline and training to inhibit them from firing their weapons only during pre-arranged drills or only when a British enemy was visible and within range.
"It is with Indignation and Shame, the General observes, that notwithstanding the repeated Orders which have been given to prevent the firing of Guns, in and about Camp; that it is daily and hourly practised; that contrary to all Orders, straggling Soldiers do still pass the Guards, and fire at a Distance, where there is not the least probability of hurting the enemy, and where no other end is answer’d, but to waste Ammunition, expose themselves to the ridicule of the enemy, and keep their own Camps harassed by frequent and continual alarms, to the hurt of every good Soldier, who is thereby disturbed of his natural rest, and will at lenght never be able to distinguish between a real, and a false alarm."
George Washington, General Orders, 4 August 1775founders.archives.gov
https://history.army.mil/Publications/Publications-Catalog/The-Canadian-Campaign/