What type of men made up the colonial militia?

Many of them were native-born colonists, British immigrants, as well as free blacks. However, a majority of the men were Scotch-Irish, as seen in the Pennsylvania regiments (Stephenson-205). The average soldier of the militia served alongside Rangers, Highlanders, Iroquois Indians, and British regulars (Dillard-50).

Did Georgia have a militia?

The Georgia Militia was again called upon to defend Georgia during the American Revolution. Georgia militiamen fought long and hard against British Regulars and Loyalist forces in a deeply divided Georgia back country and throughout the South for American Independence.

Who were the colonial militia?

During colonial America, all able-bodied men of a certain age range were members of the militia, depending on the respective state’s rule. Individual towns formed local independent militias for their own defense.

What were Georgia militia districts?

Georgia Militia Districts (GMD) were formed in each of the counties. There was an elected captain for each district who enrolled those able-bodied armed males between the ages of 16 and 50 within his district.

What was the size of the Georgia militia?

Georgia Militia. The basic building blocks at the bottom of the Georgia Militia pyramid were the general militia districts. Formally established pursuant to the Militia Act of 1784, these theoretically contained one company of at least sixty-three men … the governor as commander-in-chief. “The General Militia Acts of 1803, 1807,…

What was the role of the military in Georgia?

Colonial Military. Georgia, initially founded as a defensive proprietorship to protect the more-settled colony of South Carolina, periodically saw small detachments of the regular British soldiers assigned to it, but the militia and provincial units remained the primary security force in the region throughout the colonial era.

What was the role of the colonial militia?

Most colonial militias required all men between sixteen and fifty to serve for different periods of time. [3] They were required “to provide their own weapons and equipment, and to be mustered and trained periodically by their duly commissioned officers.” [4] Hence, the militia member was an ideal candidate for regular army service.

Who was the commander of the Georgia militia?

Three brigades of Georgia militia under the command of Brigadier General Pleasant J. Philips engaged Union forces on November 22, 1864, near Macon, Georgia, in the Battle of Griswoldville, the first battle of Sherman’s March to the Sea.