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1774 – Minutemen were selected in the American colonies.
The terms militia and minutemen are sometimes used interchangeably, but there was a difference between them. Militia were military units formed to protect their towns from foreign invasion. Minutemen, on the other hand, were a small elite force, hand-picked by militia commanders, which were required to be able to assemble quickly. Usually 25 years of age or younger, they were chosen for their enthusiasm, reliability, and physical strength. Usually about a fourth of the militia served as Minutemen.
Although today Minutemen are thought of as originating in the War for Independence, they actually began in Massachusetts as early as 1645. Equipped with matchlocks or pikes, they were to report within half an hour of being warned. One thing the Minutemen lacked was central leadership, a flaw that would lead to their dissolution.
At Concord, Minutemen companies from Concord, Acton, Littleton, and other towns combined their units. They were sent to the North Bridge in Concord with a number of light infantry. After a few volleys were fired, the British light infantry retreated back to the Concord Common area. Lacking central command, each company of Minutemen chose their own action and they did not pursue the redcoats. In the running battle that ensued fifteen miles back to Boston the Massachusetts militia would see their last action as Minutemen in history.
The militia would go on to form an army, surrounding Boston and inflicting heavy casualties on the British army at Bunker and Breed’s Hill.
The terms militia and minutemen are sometimes used interchangeably, but there was a difference between them. Militia were military units formed to protect their towns from foreign invasion. Minutemen, on the other hand, were a small elite force, hand-picked by militia commanders, which were required to be able to assemble quickly. Usually 25 years of age or younger, they were chosen for their enthusiasm, reliability, and physical strength. Usually about a fourth of the militia served as Minutemen.
Although today Minutemen are thought of as originating in the War for Independence, they actually began in Massachusetts as early as 1645. Equipped with matchlocks or pikes, they were to report within half an hour of being warned. One thing the Minutemen lacked was central leadership, a flaw that would lead to their dissolution.
At Concord, Minutemen companies from Concord, Acton, Littleton, and other towns combined their units. They were sent to the North Bridge in Concord with a number of light infantry. After a few volleys were fired, the British light infantry retreated back to the Concord Common area. Lacking central command, each company of Minutemen chose their own action and they did not pursue the redcoats. In the running battle that ensued fifteen miles back to Boston the Massachusetts militia would see their last action as Minutemen in history.
The militia would go on to form an army, surrounding Boston and inflicting heavy casualties on the British army at Bunker and Breed’s Hill.
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The minutemen were a form of "select militia." The founders were leery of the idea the select militia as something that could be easily converted to a standing army.
The proposal for a select militia then, that was expressly rejected, came form Barron von Steuben; 21,000 men provided federal arms (the original militia was self supplied) and additional training.
Today, the National Guard is considered the modern form of the militia. But as the guard is (essentially) federally supplied, and, contrary to the provisions of the Constitution, lead by officers that were not chosen by the states, and a fig leaf over state authority for training, today's National Guard is a select militia.
The proposal for a select militia then, that was expressly rejected, came form Barron von Steuben; 21,000 men provided federal arms (the original militia was self supplied) and additional training.
Today, the National Guard is considered the modern form of the militia. But as the guard is (essentially) federally supplied, and, contrary to the provisions of the Constitution, lead by officers that were not chosen by the states, and a fig leaf over state authority for training, today's National Guard is a select militia.
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