Thanks for the Thomas Jefferson quote....From the lack of teaching and understanding of American History, I really wonder how many students will even know who Thomas Jefferson was, and why he and the other Founding Fathers were important.
I know you know these things below, as do most of the members of this board, but in case we know others may not, here are some links...
Role of the Militia and who were they during the Rev War?
phmc.state.pa.us
The Pennsylvania Militia, 1777-1783:
The Pennsylvania Militia was organized under an act of March 7, 1777, which provided for compulsory enrollment by the constables of all able-bodied male whites between the ages of eighteen and fifty-three. Exemptions were extremely limited, and an estimated 60,000 men were enrolled. For purposes of administration and drill, Companies and Battalions of militia were set up on a geographical basis similar to the arrangement already familiar with the Associators. In many instances, members of the militia gave no military service beyond occasional routine drill, and some escaped even that. Only in extreme cases was any individual militia man required to drill with his neighbors as many as twelve times each year, and at most he was called upon to perform during the entire course of the war, two or possibly three, short tours of active duty. Many men listed on company rosters never drilled, and tens of thousands enrolled in the militia never experienced a single day of active duty. Avoiding militia calls was not difficult. A man who failed to report for drill merely paid an Exercise Fine. A militiaman called for active duty who found such duty inconvenient was permitted to hire a Substitute to march and fight in his stead. Frequently no substitute was furnished, but instead a Substitute Fine was paid. Militia fines became an important source of revenue. Membership in the Associators differed greatly from membership the militia, for, technically, enrollment in the Associators was voluntary, while membership in the militia was strictly compulsory with the obligation legally defined.
Concord and Lexington
wpi.edu
Militia Units
The American Militia units served as a power base of irregular musket infantry valuable more for quantity than quality. The men of the Continental militias were the least trained members of the American army and their numbers swelled and diminished at unpredictable rates due to the short-term enlistments established by the Continental Congress.
Revolutionary War Timeline
wpi.edu
Minutemen and Militia
en.wikipedia.org |
