The Militia was a branch of military forces employed in British America as the first line of defence in times of war. Prior to the American Revolutionary War, the Militia would have protected towns while awaiting the protection of the British Army and Provincial Regiments financed by their respective provincial governments.
Background[]
As each province in British America had its own legislatures, the exact function of the militia varied. In sparsely-populated provinces such as the Province of North Carolina, one Regiment was formed for each county, with several nearby counties forming a Brigade headquarters. The Province of New York meanwhile was large but more populous, and consisted of several regiments within a county, and several counties into a Brigade; consequently a Brigade may have as many as eighteen regiments. Connecticut Colony, meanwhile, was densely populated but small; by 1780 the Connecticut Militia was formed of 28 regiments each instead formed over several towns.
Purposes[]
Due to the serious possibilities of Indian and French raids, rioting and, in southern colonies, a slave revolt, a well-regulated Militia was a requirement in British America. Depending on the province, men as young as 15 and as old as 60, reserved occupation discounted, would be required to serve in the Militia. These men were expected to pay for their own weapons and equipment, take part in several company and regimental musters a year, and be expected to assemble when an alert bell was rung. Negligence in the line of duty was punished with a fine, which would be used to pay for new supplies. Only officers were paid for their service, unless in a time of emergency where all soldiers in a regiment would be paid to go on expedition.
In the event of a war, the Militia would serve as a body for Provincial Regiments to be recruited from; all soldiers in the regiment would be paid for their service as mandated by a Volunteer service contract, often one year.
Minute-Men[]
The Minute-Men were a specialised Militia unit employed during the American Revolutionary War. Whereas the standard Militia held only basic firearms trainings to tackle small raiding parties and capturing criminals, the Minute-Men performed light infantry duties and were trained in irregular warfare that would allow them to ambush professional soldiers.
Alarm List[]
The Alarm List or "Associated Exempts" were reserve units utilised in several provinces such as Connecticut and New York, and were a means of keeping elderly and infirm militiamen in service.
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