Colonial-Militia Units

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. 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. 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.

Many of the states continued to maintain their militia after the American Revolution until after the U.S. Civil War. Many of today's state National Guards trace their roots to the militia from the American Revolution.

	Berks County Militia (PA USA) We are the 1st Company 3rd Battalion~ Berks County Militia. The Berks County Militia is a generic Revolutionary War Militia unit. This unit is intended to give an authentic portrayal of the men who fought with the Berks County Militia during the American Revolution.  This is a brand new unit which focuses on authenticity, camaraderie and our revolutionary heritage.  We are looking for good recruits, so if you are interested please visit our website!
	85ème Régiment de Saintonge and 4th Middlesex Militia Regiment (MA USA) We are a living history group composed of men, women and children who are dedicated to educating ourselves and the public about life during the Revolutionary War era (1770s and 1780s). We try to recreate life in the 18th Century as faithfully as possible by using our diversified talents to retrace the steps of American colonists and their French allies. In our activities, we portray two distinct historical groups: the 85ème Régiment de Saintonge of the French Line and the 4th Middlesex Militia of Massachusetts. As a group, our priorities are safety, providing appropriate and enjoyable roles for the whole family, and maintaining the authenticity of our portrayal. If you have an interest in the early history of the United States or 18th century military history, we offer you an outlet for your creative historical energies.
North West Territory Alliance (NWTA) (Midwest USA) The Northwest Territory Alliance (NWTA) is an American Revolutionary War reenactment organization located in the Midwestern United States. We have over five hundred members from states as far west as Iowa, east to Ohio, north to the Canadian border and south to Tennessee.
	Bowmans Company UK (UK) We are a group of UK re-enactors who have chosen to portray Joseph Bowman's Company,part of the Illinois Regiment which was part of the Virginia State Forces,as authentically as possible,all have a interest in the American Revolutionary War/Colonial period and also years of experience of different periods of history. We are proud to have been made honorary members of the USA company who are the official Revolutionary War Unit for the State of Illinois, Per Illinois House Resolution 348.
	Illinois Regiment (Midwest USA) We are a group of units that originated in the BAR and the NWTA composed of members from all around the midwest. We re-enact throughout the summer, depicting a number of units from the Regiment that served throughout the war.  The Illinois Regiment served in the old Northwest putting down Indian raids and battling the local Crown Forces.
	Lexington MinuteMen (MA USA) The Lexington MinuteMen are dedicated to honoring those brave Patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our Nation's freedom. From those who first fell on Lexington Green, to the heroes of today, we hope to continue telling the story of American Independence. Besides numerous benefit activities, school and educational demonstrations, and our re-enactment, the Lexington Minute Men have marched in the inaugural parades of Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton. The members of the Lexington Minute Men are required to research and portray one of the original members of the brave unit which faced the King's soldiers. Each has pored over documents, letters, books, and manuscripts, searching for more on the identity of those magnificent heroes. As Lexington Minute Men it is our sacred duty to honor their memory, so future generations will understand that it was more than a mere battle. It was more than just a military confrontation. It was also more than just "the shot heard round the world."
Moses Wheelock Westborough Company of Militia We are a group of enthusiasts who are interested in the history of the American Revolution. Our group represents the type of small town militia that would have been around at the beginning of the revolution in 1775. We are not a crack military group, but are a conglomerate of townspeople and farmers of the area. Generally, we attend events with other groups to re-enact various battle scenes or march in parades. Some of the scenes are representative of actual historical events, such as the battle of Lexington and Concord, while others are more along the line of small demonstrations for the education and entertainment of the public. We pride ourselves on using proper equipment and weapons for the period portrayed and attempt to be as authentic as possible, (short of having colonial dental work installed in our mouths). This means we do research into the flintlock guns used, the clothing and personal accouterments of the people, and the style of drilling and firing. The members of the group also delve into the political and military events of the revolutionary era. In this way, we keep alive a history of New England, and can pass on an appreciation of the American Revolution to present and future generations. Life was different back then, but in many ways it was also the same.
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead (MA USA) The Rebecca Nurse Homestead is a private non-profit museum owned by the Danvers Alarm List Coy. The Rebecca Nurse Homestead sits on 25+ acres of an original 300 acres occupied by Rebecca Nurse and her family from 1678-1798. The property holds the traditional Salt-box home lived in by the Nurse Family. This is the only home of a person executed during the trials open to the public. Another unique feature is a reproduction of the 1672 Salem Village Meeting House where many of the early hearings surrounding the Salem Witchcraft Hysteria took place.
Danvers Alarm List Company (MA USA) The Alarm List Coy. presents its impression to the public through demonstrations, exhibitions, parades, living history encampments and battle reenactments. We clothe and accouter ourselves with reproductions of the period, according to research done by the members and use the drill manual created in 1775 by Col. Timothy Pickering of Salem, “An Easy Plan of Discipline for a Militia.”
24th Connecticut Militia Regiment, 1st Independent Company ((BAR) (CTL)) The 24th Connecticut Militia Regiment, Inc. is a recreated organized militia, as well as a non-profit organization composed of men and women who are deeply interested in preserving and recreating the life and times of the common people of the Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary War era. Emphasis has been placed on the soldiers and women that served in the Army from the Wyoming Valley area of Connecticut. The dress or uniform of our unit is primarily militarized civilian clothing with a mixture of issued military items, as most of the soldiers were of the settlements in the Valley.
	Rehoboth Minute Coy/Walker's Regt (MA and RI USA) Reorganized and commissioned in 1992 by the town of Rehoboth for our 350th anniversary celebrations, in 1993, the unit provided military support for the "reclamation" or "takeover" ceremonies of the original Rehoboth township which encompassed the following communities: Attleboro, North Attleboro, Seekonk,and Swansea, Mass., Cumberland, Pawtucket, East Providence, Barrington, Warren and Bristol, R.I.. The members of the Company were all town committee members for Rehoboth's Revolutionary War Encampment and Battle held October, 1993. Since our founding, we have taken part in numerous parades, ceremonies, encampments, and battle re-enactments for various communities. The present recreated group portrays the original 1774 unit in civilian dress, accouterments and firearms. Individuals and families are encouraged to participate with the unit as musket-men, drummers and fifers. In 1995, the unit was incorporated as a non-profit, educational organization by it's present members, and has joined such organized groups such as the Continental Line. The unit is always looking for new members.
Culpepper Minute Battalion ((NWTA)) We are a group of reenactors who strive to authentically present the heroic actions of the Culpeper County, Virginia Minutemen in the early years of the American War of Independence. In addition to the Minute Battalion, our group also will adapt our impression to field at other quality events as well as fielding our alternate impression of Capt. William Preston's Company of Virginia Rangers for French and Indian War events. Please feel free to examine our history and explore our photo gallery.
	Kellar's Co'y, Illinois Regt., Virginia State Forces ((BAR, NWTA)) We are a non-profit Living History unit dedicated to the preservation and study of American History and sharing this knowledge with others. We belong to the Northwest Territory Alliance. The NWTA is a non-profit living history organization formed to promote interest in the American Revolution of 1775-1783 by honoring the courage and devotion of those who served. The NWTA's basic objective is to strive for an accurate representation of the causes, conduct, and results of the war; to reproduce the arms, equipment, and clothing of the period; and to create an educational environment by participation in reenactments and other historical activities.     OUR GOALS :               To have fun! Sounds silly, but we want everyone to have a good time and enjoy themselves.        To give as accurate a presentation as possible of the Illinois Regiment of Virginia. This is accomplished through utilization of the clothing, accouterments and camp gear of the period and gaining knowledge of the lifestyles and campaigns of the Revolutionary War.