When the second continental congress created an official army, how did the british respond> ?

The creation of the Continental Army was seen as, once again, an act of war. Colonials required something more organized than the militias that had started and been part of much of the early fighting at Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill. The British had already declared the colonies in a state of Rebellion in August of 1775 shortly after the first few battles of the Revolution had occurred. They wanted to suppress the rebellion quickly and moved to do so. They saw no need to fear the colonial army nor the militia as they were all "untrained and or inexperienced." George Washington is often referenced as little more than an upstart by the British. 

The growth of the empire continued to increase their confidence.