American Monthly Magazine

VOL. XXVI. WASHINGTON, D. C., FEBRUARY, 1905. No. 2.

MINUTE-MEN.

Late in November, 1774, the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts authorized the enrollment of 12,000 men to take the field at a minute's warning. There had already been local organizations all over the province. Out of these an army was formed. The army was called, from the conditions of its enlistment, "minute-men." There were similar organizations in other colonies especially in Virginia.

The first item found in definition of militia was when Washington called the attention of congress to the subject of militia, 1789.-Harper's Encyclopedia of the United States.

Militia is a body of men enrolled and drilled according to military law as an armed force but not as regular soldiers, and called out in emergency for actual service.

Minute-man. A man ready at a minute's notice; during the Revolutionary period one of those enrolled militiamen, who held themselves in readiness for instantaneous service in arms, whenever summoned.-Century Dictionary.

An account has come of the Bostonians having voted an army of sixteen thousand men who are to be called minutemen as they are to be ready at a minute's warning.-Extract from Horace Walpole's Letters, 1775.

Scott's Military Dictionary had nothing.

James' Military Dictionary had nothing.

Gardner's Dictionary of the Army and Navy of the U. S. commences with 1789.

Continental soldiers were men who had enlisted for long terms and served outside the state in the field under Washington's command.

The militia was the standing militia of the state.-Book on Connecticut.

In arrangement of the rolls, after the Lexington Alarm, the state raised eight regiments which were adopted as Continental, to serve to the close of 1775. The name of the same man will be found on Continental rolls, state rolls and militia.

The state troops in the beginning were neither Continental nor militia, but were raised to act as reënforcements for the army in the field, for limited terms. These were organized by the state and commissions signed by the governor. They were designated as state troops and at different periods did considerable service. By act of assembly, May, 1775, it was provided that one fourth of the colony militia should be accoutred, led and conducted for the special defence and safety of the colony, as the assembly should order. In July, 1775, other troops were ordered by the assembly to go beyond the limits. of the colony.

The Continental Congress seeing that war was inevitable and Washington having arrived at Cambridge, July 3d, the colony troops accepted his leadership. The commander-inchief on July 4, 1775, gave out this order:

"The Continental Congress having now taken all the troops of the several colonies which have been raised, or which may be hereafter raised, for the support and defence of the Liberties of America, into their pay and service; they are now the Troops of the United Provinces of North America, and it is to be hoped that all Distinction of Colonies will be laid aside, so that one and the same spirit may animate the whole, and the only contest be, who shall render on this great and trying occasion, the most essential Service to the great and common cause in which we are all engaged."

The regiments called out in Connecticut, 1775, were adopted as Continental, but their terms expired Jan., 1776, and inducements were offered by the state for reënlistment. Jan. 1, 1776, when the reorganized army began its new term, Washington issued the following order:

"This day, giving commencement to the new army, which, in every point of view, is entirely Continental, the General flatters himself that a laudable spirit of emulation will now take place and prevade the whole of it. His Excellency hopes that the importance of the great cause we

are engaged in, will be deeply impressed on every man's mind; and wishes it to be considered that an army without order, regularity and discipline is no better than a commissioned mob. Let us, therefore, when everything dear and valuable to free man is at stake, when our unnatural parent is threatening us with destruction from every quarter, endeavor, by all the skill and discipline in our power, to acquire that knowledge and conduct which is necessary in war. Our men are brave and good men who, with pleasure it is observed, are addicted to fewer vices than are commonly found in armies. But, it is subordination and discipline (the life and soul of an army) which, next under Providence, is to make us formidable to our enemies, honorable in ourselves and respected of the world."

Following the organization of 1775-6, came the formation of the army, 1777. The campaign of New York, 1776, had shown that troops enlisted for short terms could not cope with British regulars, and the terms of the soldiers expired Dec. 31, 1776. Congress provided for a Continental Line in Oct., 1776. It was proportioned according to population of states. Massachusetts and Virginia were to furnish 15 regiments, Pennsylvania 12, New York 4, Maryland 8, Connecticut 8 and the other colonies in like ratio. As a body they were to form a grand Continental Line. Each state officered its regiments from its own state and was cared for by its own state as well as by congress.

Inspired by a common cause and under the leadership of Washington, it was these state "Lines," facing the enemy as a single "Continental Line" that bore the burden of the war to its close. In 1778 many disputes arose as to precedence in rank since the formation of the Continental Line, and congress appointed a committee to adjust the claims..

In 1776 three classes of troops were furnished by Connecticut, continental, state and militia. The state troops or levies were raised for some special object and by voluntary enlistment in new organizations. Some were ordered for temporary service in and out of the state, and others served actively in different fields for several months. After 1776 when the militia was more thoroughly organized, the regiments designated as "state" were usually made up of detachments from the militia and are entered under that heading. The levies from all

the states are described, indiscriminately, as milita, in the sense that they were not Continental.

The first call for state militia for active service was when the enemy threatened New York. Connecticut then had eight Continental and nine state regiments in the field. Connecticut responded but these militiamen were generally undisciplined and poorly armed, and effective service could not be expected of them when they were exposed to the fire of the enemy, and it is not strange that they contributed to the panic at Kip's Bay. When called out again, Gov. Trumbull wrote to Washington, Oct. 21, "Considering the services and suffering of our militia the past summer, the present sickness that prevails among them since their return from the army, and the necessity of their attention to country business to secure a sufficient supply of provisions for the ensuing year, it is judged that this is all that we can do consistent with prudence, at present."

Continental Congress, 1780, provided for a consolidation and general reduction in the number of regiments, without decreasing the number of troops in the field, 15 Massachusetts regiments of infantry were reduced to 10; 4 from New York to 2; 15 from Virginia to 8; 8 from Connecticut to 5; this arrangment went into effect Jan. 1, 1781. Resolutions provided that the officers of each state should meet and agree upon the officers of their respective state lines.

The sappers and miners corps was not fully organized until the summer of 1779.

Washington's body guard was organized in 1776.

By act of the Continental Congress, June 23, 1777. a corps of invalids was formed of 8 companies to be employed in garrison, at arsenals and to serve as military instructors.

This same congress authorized a corps of artificers to be commanded by Col. Jeduthan Baldwin, of Massachusetts. It gave valuable service under the direction of the quartermaster general, and acted as a construction corps. The men were largely artisans.

SARAH HALL JOHNSTON, Compiler of the Lineage Book.

COMMODORE OLIVER H. PERRY.

Flora Clarke Huntington.

Written for Commodore Perry Chapter, Memphis, Tennessee.

What shall we say of one who achieved so grand a victory as the battle of Lake Erie, September 10th, 1813, and left an immortal name to American history? Let it suffice that we appreciate and realize his wonderful daring, skill and ingenuity in overcoming six of the British ships more powerful in every way than those of the American.

J. Fennimore Cooper says Presque Isle, or as the place is now called, Erie, was a good and spacious harbor; but it had a bar on which there was less than seven feet of water. This bar, which had hitherto answered the purpose of a fortification, now offered a serious obstruction, to getting the brigs on the lake. It lay about a half a mile outside, and offered great advantages to the enemy, did he choose to profit by them, for attacking the Americans while employed in passing it.

So sensible was Captain Perry of this disadvantage that he adopted the utmost secrecy in order to conceal his intentions, for it was known that the enemy had spies closely watching his movements. Here, it is said that Captain Barclay lost the command of Lake Erie by accepting an invitation to dine on Sunday with a gentleman on the north coast. While his vessels were under the Canadian shore, the lake became smooth, and the bar passable. Captain Perry seized the precious moment, and effected his purpose.

The next day but one was Sunday, and the officers were ashore seeking the customary relaxation. Without any appearances of unusual preparation Captain Perry privately gave the order to repair on board the respective vessels and to drop down to the bar. This command was immediately obeyed; and at about 2 p. m. the Lawrence had been towed to the point where the deepest water was to be found.

Her guns were whipped out, loaded and shotted as they were, and landed on the beach; two large scows, prepared for