You might take a look at Robert E. & Katherine Brown, *Virginia 1705-1786*.
It has a discusses the purpose of the militia and even better is Richard L.
Morton, *Colonial Virginia.*
HBG
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick Paddock" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, September 29, 2008 3:27 PM
Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] Colonial Musters
> "Can anyone explain a colonial muster? I'm guessing it was like National
> Guard training. There were regiments and companies. Sometimes they went to
> London. Each muster lasted several months.
>
> Was it compulsory? How large an area did it cover? Was it imposed by the
> British against Indians or against budding patriots? Can one guess the
> musterees sympathies from their membership?
>
> I don't understand the purpose or the particulars."
>
> Sally,
>
> I can't recall if you got many responses to your query but here are some
> notes I've kept on militias/musters:
>
> Musters were originally assemblies of men at arms organized into militia
> districts for for either drill in the use of weapons and the elements of
> military discipline or combat. In the case of England, only a portion of
> the
> militia was customarily called out for such training between 1573 and
> 1663 ("Hence the use of the term ‘trained bands"). England used militias
> on
> an organized basis from the 1500s until 1908, including the French
> and Indian War and later campaigns in the colonies prior to the
> revolution.
>
> The term muster also was used to describe censuses/early surveys of
> residents in certain areas such as the early "Hundreds" in Virginia. There
> was a muster held
> after the Jamestown massacre of 1622 to determine who was dead or alive,
> as
> I recall.
>
> Colonial Virginia did not maintain a standing army. Nearly everyone was
> engaged in agriculture, and needed to plant in the spring and harvest in
> the
>
> fall. The Virginians were not wealthy enough to afford full-time soldiers.
> When they were threatened, colonists formed militia companies ("trained
> bands") for temporary service. Riders on horses would spread the word to
> various farms and the men would assemble as needed. The armed folks who
> attended muster became known as militia or minute men. Usually one-third
> of
> the able-bodied men of the community remained for its protection if the
> militia embarked on a mission. A mission could last from a few days to a
> month or more.
>
> Each colony enacted its own laws regulating the militia, usually requiring
> military service for all free males who were physically fit and between
> the
> ages of sixteen and sixty. Attendance was compulsory but not always well
> enforced. Strict discipline of essentially volunteer soldiers was rare.
> More
>
> often, the drinking during the militia musters was more intense than the
> target practice.
>
> There were exemptions for conscientious objectors and members of the
> government, and those who did not wish to serve could hire a substitute.
> The
>
> colonial governor was the commander of the militia. The militia was
> organized by county. In theory, there were regular training sessions of
> the
> militia at local muster grounds, often county courthouses. In times of
> peace, however, these became largely social events. Inspections at Musters
> were held by the muster-master, inspector-general, or County Lieutenant,
> who
> was often a candidate for the House of Burgesses. Written reports of
> musters and pay rolls were filled out in several copies and sent to each
> level of command within the government.
>
> During the Revolution, those with crops to plant and harvest were
> reluctant
> to serve for more than a few weeks. When a militia unit received orders to
> muster for a march to another colony, their reluctance was based in part
> on
> a desire to return home soon rather than a misguided allegiance to
> Virginia.
>
> Bounties were often offered to attract the "idle poor" who had less to
> lose
> and were more willing to volunteer. These were rarely the most-disciplined
> or hardest-working members in the county. In addition, they often arrived
> in
> camp without the required clothing, guns, powder, and ammunition.
> Whatever was issued to such soldiers had a tendency to be lost or damaged.
> Some items were obviously sold or kept for personal profit. The militia
> motivations were basic, with patriotism towards the colony sometimes far
> down the list.
>
> A portion of each "trained band" was required to march on short notice
> when
> an emergency arose. Later, this portion of a company came to be known as
> minute
> men. The military organization which evolved from minute men possessed
> features of both the militia and the regular army. These units evolved
> into
> state
> regiments and became part of the regular military establishment (National
> Guard).
>
> Regards, Rick
>
>
>
>
>
>
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