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List of United States militia units in the American Revolutionary War

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.

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[edit]

Revolutionary War units:

Delaware[edit]

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:

• 1st Battalion, New Castle County, 1777
• 2nd Regiment, New Castle County, 1778–81
• 2nd Battalion of Militia, 1776
• 2nd Regiment of Militia, 1780
• 7th Regiment of Militia, 1782
• Flying Camp Battalion, 1776
• Kent County Militia
• Latimer's Independent Company, 1776

Georgia[edit]

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. stateofGeorgia. 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:

• Emanuel's Regiment of Militia, 1781–82^[8]
• Georgia Hussars, 1736
• Liberty Independent Troop, 1776
• 1st Brigade Georgia Militia^[9][10]
• 1st Regiment Georgia Militia, Light Horse Troop

Maryland[edit]

• Gale's Independent Company of Artillery, 1779–80^[8][11]
• Smith's Artillery, 2nd and 3rd Companies, 1783^[8]
• 34th Battalion of Militia, 1776^[8]
• 37th Battalion of Militia, 1777^[8]
• Extraordinary Regiment, 1780^[8]
• Flying Camp Regiment (Ewing's), 1776^[12][8]
• Flying Camp Regiment (Griffith's), 1776^[12][8]
• Flying Camp Regiment (Richardson's), 1776^[12][8]
• Lansdale's Detachment, 1783^[8]
• Marbury's Detachment, 1784^[8]
• Washington County Militia Company, 1777^[8]

Massachusetts[edit]

Revolutionary War units:

New Hampshire[edit]

Revolutionary War units:

New Jersey[edit]

Revolutionary War units:

New York[edit]

North Carolina[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Revolutionary War units:^[31]

South Carolina[edit]

• Beaufort District Regiment, 1778–^[32]
• Berkeley County Regiment, 1775–^[32]
• Camden District Regiment, 1775–^[32]
• Casey's Regiment, 1782
• Catawba Indian Company of Rovers, 1775–1776^[32]
• Cheraws District Regiment, 1775–^[32]
• Charles Town Artillery Company, 1775^[32]
• Charles Town District Regiment, 1775–^[32]
• Colleton County Regiment, 1775–^[32]
• Craven County Regiment, 1775–1775^[32]
• Lower Craven County Regiment, 1775–^[32]
• Upper Craven County Regiment, 1775–^[32]
• Fairfield Regiment, 1775–^[32]
• Forks of Saluda District Regiment, 1775–^[32]
• Georgetown District Regiment, 1775–^[32]
• Graville County Regiment, 1775–1780^[32]
• Lower Granville County Regiment, 1775–^[32]
• Upper Graville County Regiment, 1775–^[32]
• Lower District Regiment (aka Dutch Fork Regiment), 1776^[32]
• German Fusiliers of Charleston, 1775
• Horse Guards, 1753

Vermont[edit]

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:

• 6th Regiment of militia, 1780–1781^[8]
• 7th Regiment of militia, 1782^[8]
• Abbott's Regiment of militia, 1781^[8]
• Clark's Company of militia, 1778–1780^[8]
• Durkee's Company of militia, 1780–1781^[8]
• Green Mountain Boys, 1777
• Herrick's Regiment, 1775–83
• Hoar's Company of militia, 1780^[8]
• Marsh's Regiment, 1777
• Mattison's Company of militia, 1782^[8]
• Mead's Regiment of militia, 1777^[8]
• Robbinson's Regiment of militia, 1776–1777^[8]
• Weld's Company of militia, 1780^[8]
• White's Company of militia, 1781^[8]

Virginia[edit]

• Culpeper Minutemen of 1775–1776^[34]
• Dabney's State Legion
• Ford's Company of militia, 1777^[8]
• Frederick County Militia, 1777^[8]
• Fluvanna County militia, 1781^[35]
• Gaskin's Virginia Battalion, 1781
• Illinois Regiment of Virginia Volunteers, 1783–84^[8]
• Captain Johnson's Company of Mounted Militia of Augusta County 1780
• Monongalia County Militia, 1777^[8]
• Captain John Preston's Montgomery County Militia, 1777
• Pendleton's Regiment of Militia, 1777^[8]
• Taylor's Regiment of Militia (Albemarle County), 1779^[8]
• Virginia Legion
• Virginia State Regiment, 1775–83
• Western Battalion, 1781–82^[8]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

• Ayres, Edward. "Militia in the Revolutionary War". historyisfun.org. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
• "Militia and Continentals". Journal of the American Revolution. December 30, 2013.
• Verenna, Thomas (June 17, 2014). "Explaining Pennsylvania's Militia". Journal of the American Revolution.
• Robertson, John K. (July 27, 2016). "Decoding Connecticut Militia". Journal of the American Revolution.
• Robertson, John K. (January 13, 2016). "The Organization of the Rhode Island Militia, 1774–1783". Journal of the American Revolution.
• John K. Robertson and Bob McDonald. "Unit Roles index". National Archives., bi-monthly muster rolls and payrolls, weekly strength returns, descriptive rosters, periodic inspection reports, clothing returns, as well as a potentially broad array of “miscellaneous” unit-related archival records