List of United States militia units in the American Revolutionary War

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Each of the Thirteen Colonies that became the United States when they declared their independence in 1776 had militia units that served on the Patriot side during the American Revolutionary War. The history of militia in the United States dates from the colonial era. [1] Based on the English system, colonial militias were drawn from the body of adult male citizens of a community, town, or local region. Because there was no standing English Army before the English Civil War, and subsequently the English Army and later the British Army had few regulars garrisoning North America, colonial militia served a vital role in local conflicts, particularly in the French and Indian Wars. Before shooting began in the American War of Independence, American revolutionaries took control of the militia system, reinvigorating training and excluding men with Loyalist inclinations. [2] Regulation of the militia was codified by the Second Continental Congress with the Articles of Confederation. The revolutionaries also created a full-time regular army—the Continental Army—but because of manpower shortages the militia provided short-term support to the regulars in the field throughout the war.

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In colonial era Anglo-American usage, militia service was distinguished from military service in that the latter was normally a commitment for a fixed period of time of at least a year, for a salary, whereas militia was only to meet a threat, or prepare to meet a threat, for periods of time expected to be short. Militia persons were normally expected to provide their own weapons, equipment, or supplies, although they may later be compensated for losses or expenditures. [3]

Many of the states continued to maintain their militia after the American Revolution until after the U.S. Civil War. Many of the state National Guards trace their roots to the militia from the American Revolution.

The lists below show the known militia units by state for the original colonies plus Vermont. [note 1]

Connecticut

Revolutionary War units:

Delaware

The first militia in Delaware was formed when Swedish settlers took up arms to defend Fort Christina (which was at the time a Swedish settlement) against Dutch invaders. [4] During the American Revolutionary War, Delaware raised several units of militia in support of the Patriot side of the war. In the War of 1812, all of the Delaware volunteer units saw combat at Lewes, where they comprised the majority of an American force that drove off a Royal Navy squadron seeking control of the Delaware River. [5] Despite the federal government initially prohibiting volunteer units the Mexican–American War, a volunteer unit raised in Delaware would serve in the battles of Contreras, Cherubusco, Molino del Rey, and Chapultepec, losing so many men that the unit was nicknamed "The Bloody 11th." [5] During the American Civil War, Delaware would raise multiple units in support of the Union cause. [5] During the Spanish–American War, the 1st Delaware Volunteer Infantry was mustered into federal service but not deployed abroad. [6] With the passage of the Militia Act of 1903, all state militia units were folded into the National Guard of the United States, largely turning the state militias from a state-funded and controlled force to a reserve component of the federal military.

Revolutionary War Units:

Georgia

The Georgia Militia existed from 1733 to 1879. It was originally planned by General James Oglethorpe prior to the founding of the Province of Georgia, the British colony that would become the U.S. state of Georgia. One reason for the founding of the colony was to act as a buffer between the Spanish settlements in Florida and the British colonies to the north. [7]

Revolutionary War units:

Maryland

Massachusetts

Revolutionary War units:

New Hampshire

Revolutionary War units:

New Jersey

Revolutionary War units:

New York

North Carolina

The North Carolina militia units were first established in 1775 by the Third North Carolina Provincial Congress on the eve of the American Revolution. Initially, the militia units were centered on the 35 counties that then existed in the Province of North Carolina. The units fought against the British, Loyalists, and Cherokee Native Americans that aligned themselves with British forces. The units included military district brigades established in 1776, county regiments, four battalions, and one independent corps of light horse. Four regiments were located in counties that became part of the Southwest Territory in 1790 and later Tennessee in 1796. The size of brigades could be up to a few thousand volunteers. Brigades were commanded by a brigadier general. Regiments were commanded by a colonel and made up of a number of companies commanded by captains with about 50 men in each company. During engagements, one or more companies of regiments may have been involved in actions and commanded by the regimental or brigade commander. In 1778, Major General John Ashe was selected to command all North Carolina militia and State Troops. Brigade commanders reported to him. Separate from the North Carolina militia, the state provided 10 numbered regiments to the Continental Army that were referred to as the North Carolina Line. [26] [27]

The following are the North Carolina militia Brigades and Regiments, along with the dates established and disestablished.: [28]

Pennsylvania

On November 25, 1755, the Pennsylvania Assembly passed the Militia Act of 1755. [29] This measure 'legalized a military force from those who were willing and desirous of being united for military purposes within the province.' This was as a result of citizens' pleas for protection from the French and Indians on the western borders. Two years later, a compulsory militia law was also enacted. All males between 17 and 45 years of age, having a freehold worth 150 pounds a year, were to be organized into companies. Every enrolled militiaman was required to appear for training, arming himself, on the first Mondays of March, June, August, and November.

Revolutionary War units:

Rhode Island

Revolutionary War units: [31]

South Carolina

Vermont

Vermont did not become a state until 1791, after the American Revolution. New York asserted that Vermont was part of New York. [33]

Revolutionary War units:

Virginia

Notes

  1. ↑ The lists of state militias do not contain Continental Army units, unless they also served as militia units at some time during the Revolutionary War. Some states also had state units that were not militia or Continental Army.
  2. ↑ Polk's regiment of light dragoons was transferred to the South Carolina State troops in 1781

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The 1st Massachusetts Regiment was an infantry unit of the Continental Army that fought during the American Revolutionary War. It was first authorized on 23 April 1775 in the Massachusetts State Troops as Paterson's Regiment under Colonel John Paterson and was organized at Cambridge, Massachusetts. It consisted of eleven companies of volunteers from Berkshire, Hampshire, Suffolk, Middlesex, Worcester, and York counties in Massachusetts and the county of Litchfield in the colony of Connecticut. The regiment was adopted into the main Continental Army on 14 June 1775 and was assigned to William Heath's brigade on 22 July 1775. On 1 January 1776 the regiment was consolidated with Sayer's and Sullivan's companies of Scammon's Regiment; re-organized to eight companies and redesignated as the 15th Continental Regiment of Heath's Brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Rhode Island Regiment</span> Continental Army regiment

The 1st Rhode Island Regiment was a regiment in the Continental Army raised in Rhode Island during the American Revolutionary War (1775–83). It was one of the few units in the Continental Army to serve through the entire war, from the siege of Boston to the disbanding of the Continental Army on November 3, 1783.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Rhode Island Regiment</span> American Revolutionary War regiment

The 2nd Rhode Island Regiment was authorized on 6 May 1775 under Colonel Daniel Hitchcock in the Rhode Island Army of Observation and was organized on 8 May 1775 as eight companies of volunteers from Providence County of the colony of Rhode Island. As part of a brigade organized under Nathanael Greene, the unit participated in the Siege of Boston during the remainder of 1775. Some elements accompanied Benedict Arnold's expedition to Quebec late in the year. The unit was renamed the 11th Continental Regiment on the first day of 1776.

The 5th Maryland Regiment is a designation which has been held by several units over the years, not all of which necessarily share the same lineage and honors. The term "5th Maryland" has most frequently been connected to militia units in Baltimore, even though the first unit to bear the designation was formed in 1776 from volunteers in rural Maryland. The "5th Maryland" designation is the officially recognized traditional designation of the 175th Infantry Regiment, Maryland Army National Guard. This entry refers to the rural 5th Maryland, whose lineage is separate and distinct from the Baltimore 5th Maryland perpetuated by the 175th Infantry Regiment.

The Hillsborough District Brigade of militia was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia established on May 4, 1776. Brigadier General Thomas Person was the first commander. Companies from the eight regiments of the brigade were engaged in 55 known battles and skirmishes in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia during the American Revolutionary War. It was active until the end of the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Colonial Auxiliary Forces</span>

The British Colonial Auxiliary Forces were the various military forces of Britain's colonial empire which were not considered part of the British military proper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Associators</span> Military unit

Associators were members of 17th- and 18th-century volunteer military associations in the British American thirteen colonies and British Colony of Canada. These were more commonly known as Maryland Protestant, Pennsylvania, and American Patriot and British Loyalist colonial militias. But unlike militias, the associator military volunteers were exempt from regular mandatory military service. Other names used to describe associators were "Associations", "Associated", "Refugees", "Volunteers", and "Partisans".

The Salisbury District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). This unit was established by the Fourth North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disbanded at the end of the war.

The Rutherford County Regiment was authorized on October 30, 1779, by the Province of North Carolina Congress. It was created at the same time that Rutherford County, North Carolina was created out of the western part of Tryon County, North Carolina when Tryon County and its regiment of militia were abolished. Officers were appointed and commissioned by the Governor. The regiment was engaged in battles and skirmishes against the British during the American Revolution in North Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina between 1779 and 1782. It was active until the end of the war.

The Mecklenburg County Regiment was authorized on May 31, 1775 by the Province of North Carolina Congress. From November 7, 1779 until the 3rd Quarter of 1780, it was called the 1st Mecklenburg County Regiment when a 2nd Mecklenburg County Regiment existed. The 1st Mecklenburg County regiment was engaged in 39 known battles and skirmishes against the British during the American Revolution in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia between 1776 and 1781. It was active until the end of the war.

The Edenton District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). This unit was established by the North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disbanded at the end of the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halifax District Brigade</span> Military unit

The Halifax District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). This unit was established by the North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disbanded at the end of the war.

The Wilmington District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). This unit was established by the North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disbanded at the end of the war.

The New Bern District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). This unit was established by the North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disbanded at the end of the war.

North Carolina state troops in the American Revolution were the initial military units created in a transition from the Province of North Carolina under British rule to independence from British rule. Most units did not last long as such and were either transferred to the Continental Army or state militia instead.

The Orange County Regiment was authorized on September 9, 1775 by the Province of North Carolina Congress. On April 22, 1776, the unit was split into the Northern Orange County Regiment and the Southern Orange County Regiment, which retained most of the original men. Both regiments were subordinated to the Hillsborough District Brigade of militia on May 4, 1776. When the North Orange County Regiment was renamed the Caswell County Regiment on May 9, 1777, the Southern Orange County Regiment name reverted to the Orange County Regiment. The regiment was engaged in battles and skirmishes against the British during the American Revolution in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia between 1776 and 1782. It was active until the end of the war.

The Dobbs County Regiment was a unit of the North Carolina militia that served during the American Revolution. The regiment was one of thirty-five existing county militias that were authorized by the North Carolina Provincial Congress to be organized on September 9, 1775. All officers were appointed with commissions from the Provincial Congress. On May 4, 1776, the regiment was placed under the command of the New Bern District Brigade commanded by Brigadier General Richard Caswell. The regiment was active until the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783 and was engaged in twelve known battles and skirmishes in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

References

  1. ↑ Linder, Doug (2008). "United States vs. Miller (U.S. 1939)". Exploring Constitutional Law. University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School. Archived from the original on 2001-11-23. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
  2. ↑ John Shy, "Mobilizing Armed Force in the American Revolution", in John Parker and Carol Urness, eds., The American Revolution: A Heritage of Change (Minneapolis, 1975), pp. 104–5.
  3. ↑ Stephen P. Halbrook, "The Right of the People or the Power of the State Bearing Arms, Arming Militias, and the Second Amendment," Valparaiso Law Review, vol. 26, number 1, page 131 (1991).
  4. ↑ "Fort Christina". Delaware Military Heritage and Education Foundation. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 "Brief History of the Delaware National Guard" (PDF). Delaware Military Heritage & Education Foundation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  6. ↑ McSherry, Patrick. "A Brief History of the 1st Delaware Volunteer Infantry". The Spanish-American Centennial Website. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  7. ↑ The Historical Society of the Georgia National Guard
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 Robertson and McDonald, Muster Rolls
  9. ↑ "A Brief History of the Georgia National Guard by the Historical Society of the Georgia National Guard". hsgng.org. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  10. ↑ Smith, Gordon Burns (2000). History of the Georgia Militia, 1783–1861, Campaigns and Generals. Vol. 1. Boyd Publishing.
  11. ↑ Balkoski, Joseph (March 3, 1997). The Maryland National Guard: A History of Maryland's Military Forces, 1634–1991. Toomey, PR. ISBN   9997022114.
  12. 1 2 3 Miller, John Allen. "The Flyinig Camp Battalion". Emmitsburg Historical Society. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 United States Army Center of Military History. "Massachusetts Militia Roots: A Bibliographic Study". history.army.mil.
  14. ↑ Kearse, Gregory S. (2012). "The Bucks of America & Prince Hall Freemasonry". Prince Hall Masonic Digest Newspaper, Washington, D.C. p. 8.
  15. ↑ Lanning, Michael Lee (2005). African Americans in the Revolutionary War . Citadel Publishers. ISBN   0-8065-2716-1.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Willey, George Franklyn, ed. (1903). State Builders: An Illustrated Historical and Biographical Record of the State of New Hampshire. State Builders Publishing Manchester, NH.
  17. ↑ New York in the Revolution as colony and state, Vol. 1. Albany, New York: New York State, Comptroller`s Office. 1904.
  18. ↑ Fernow, Berthold (1887). New York in the Revolution. ISBN   978-0-665-53998-5. OL   25266301M.
  19. ↑ "Tryon County Militia - First Regiment".
  20. ↑ "Tryon County Militia - Second Regiment".
  21. ↑ "Tryon County Militia - Third Regiment".
  22. ↑ "Tryon County Militia - Fourth Regiment".
  23. ↑ "Tryon County Militia - Fifth Regiment".
  24. ↑ "Ulster County Militia - 1ST Regiment". American Wars.
  25. ↑ "Ulster County Militia - 2ND Regiment". American Wars.
  26. ↑ Towles, Louis P. (2006). "Colonial Militia". NCPedia. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  27. ↑ Lewis, J.D. "North Carolina Militia". carolana.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 Lewis, J.D. "The American Revolution in North Carolina". carolana.com. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  29. ↑ Holmes, Joseph J. (1974). "The Decline of the Pennsylvania Militia 1815–1870". Western Pennsylvania History. 57 (2): 202. Archived from the original on 2014-01-16.
  30. ↑ Hendler, C.J. (1909). "Official history of the militia and the National guard of the state of Pennsylvania". Library of Congress.
  31. ↑ Smith, Joseph Jencks (1900). Civil and Military List of Rhode Island, 1647–1800. Providence, R.I., Preston and Rounds Co.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Lewis, J.D. "South Carolina Militia". carolana.com. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  33. ↑ First Congress, Third Session (February 18, 1791). "An Act for the admission of the State of Vermont into this Union". The Avalon Project. Yale Law School. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  34. ↑ Scribner, Robert L.; Brent Tarter (1977). Revoluntionary Virginia:The Road to Independence, Vol. 3. Charlottesville: Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission and University of Virginia Press. p. 466.
  35. ↑ McAlister, J.T. (1913). Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary War. Hot Springs, Virginia: McAllister Publishing Co.

Bibliography

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