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History of Militias

Introduction

In 2003, the Wilton Historical Society formed a study group, led by Frederik Engel, to examine the idea of creating a new "Wilton Militia" to acknowledge the significant heritage of the early Wilton militia. The positive recommendation by this group led to the formation of the current Wilton Militia as part of the Wilton Historical Society.

The following text is taken from the paper, written by Frederik Engel in 2003, which described the history of militias and recommended the formation of the new Wilton Militia. To view the complete version of Frederik Engel's interesting and thorough document, click here.

Concept

The concept of a militia can be defined as: “A military organization composed of citizens enrolled and trained for service in times of a national emergency.” This is in contrast to a standing army.

One might have thought that the idea of a citizen defense force was something developed by the “freedom loving” immigrants into this country. They were certainly familiar with it, because they brought the concept with them from Europe, but they did not invent it.

Roots

With the distinction that earlier “citizen” armies were mostly made up of “unfree” citizens, the concept as such goes way back into history. Philip of Macedon, in the 4th century BC, the father of famous Alexander the Great, already employed the method of basically coercing his peasants to take up arms and help him fight his wars. So did Charlemagne in the 8th century.

As a practical matter, the political leaders of the day promised to protect their people against danger from the outside provided that, in return, the people, primarily agrarian, would satisfy their leader’s demand for food and sustenance and hold themselves available for military service, when required. This allowed the leaders, in times of peace, to create a core group of armed professionals under whose command the peasants would muster to fight. The so-called ”militia man”, in times of crisis, left his civilian duties and responsibilities behind and became a soldier until the emergency was over. Although it was involuntary, the alternative might have been worse. So people cooperated, albeit reluctantly, but in the hope that they would survive and come home with perhaps some of the spoils of war.

Muster Law

In 1572, under the potential threat of invasion by Spain, Queen Elisabeth I used the same concept when she passed the so-called Muster Law, to establish a method of organizing such a force on short notice. Her liege lords were responsible for arming their peasants and teaching them a minimum of discipline.

Militias in the American Colonies

Not surprisingly, as emigration from Great Britain to the New World got under way early in the 17th century, local militias were established fairly soon after settlements were functioning in the Northeast of this country. As John Keegan says in his book ”Fields of Battle”, the Muster Law provided the model. He goes on to say that “as a matter of fact, when the United Colonies of New England were formed in 1643 for mutual defense, the colonists were actually arming and training themselves to take the field on short notice.”

In 1645, the Massachusetts Council passed a regulation ordering militia commanders, “To appoint out and to make choice of 30 soldiers of their companies in ye hundred, who shall be ready at half an hour’s warning upon any service they shall be put upon by their chief military officers”. The Military Company of Massachusetts was the first military organization in America and was followed by similar groups in the other colonies. Local control and voluntary service prevailed. Yet fines were levied on those who did not show up for drill practice, musket training, basic infantry tactics and the like.

Most importantly, the members were free men, who were disciplined and responsible in their service for the common defense. At first this was mostly against the natives. The Pequot War, in 1636-37 and later King Philip’s War in 1675-76 were fought with militias. There were very few British troops in the territory and not near enough to be of any use to the locals. They had to fend for themselves

From the beginning, the threat of Indian uprisings and raids were a constant concern to the colonists for quite some years. However, as time passed the militias became increasingly involved in the titanic struggle between France and Britain for control of the eastern part of America and Canada.

During the 17th and 18th centuries there are numerous instances of militia involvement against the French. Examples are: William Phipps in 1689-90, during King William’s War, when he led an expedition that captured Port Royal; (the French retook Port Royal the following year); Francis Nicholson in 1711, during Queen Anne’s War when he re-took Port Royal, (now known as Annapolis Royal in Nova Scotia); William Pepperell in 1745, during King George’s War when he captured the fortress of Louisbourg on Cape Breton, Nova Scotia; George Washington in 1754, at Fort Necessity, and John Johnson and William Shirley in 1755 against Canada.

The American Revolution

The most serious challenge of the militia concept came 20 years later at the outbreak of hostilities between England and the American Colonies. Vivid descriptions by the Marquis de Lafayette of the shocking, rag-tag appearance of Washington’s “soldiers”, really militia men, made clear that the odds were long against a successful fight with England. But the militia’s patriotic spirit and willingness to endure unreasonable personal discomfort made up for their early lack of military performance.

By 1776, the State of Connecticut already had 28 regiments, 14 of those were located west of the CT River and 9 to the east. It is likely that most of the “soldiers” were Militia since the Continental Army had only been created by the Philadelphia Congress on April 29 the year before, during the siege of Boston. In 1776, George Washington sent 2 requisitions to CT State for troops, CT responded with alacrity and agreed to make a number of regiments available for his plan to attack New York. These regiments were formed with “volunteers”, namely militia men.

Although the militia was valuable throughout the period before and during the American Revolution it proved less so during the war of 1812. As a result, no militia was used in the Mexican war of 1846-48. During the Civil war on the other hand, when manpower needs were enormous, both sides again resorted to the use of militias, notwithstanding 50 plus years of neglect in the interim.

Our Heritage

There is no question that militias have been a basic part of the history and development of the early USA, for which we must have the greatest respect. Their members would suddenly leave home and family behind on risky ventures from which not everyone returned. Much heartache and grief was quietly absorbed by many families when the father or son failed to come home. They paid a high price for our national freedom which we do well to remember as Americans living here today.