New Hampshire Militia

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The New Hampshire Militia was first organized in March 1680, by New Hampshire Colonial "President" John Cutt. The King of England authorized the Provincial President to give commissions to persons who shall be best qualified for regulating and discipline of the militia. President Cutt placed Major Richard Waldron of Dover in command of the Militia. In 1879, the Militia was designated by the state as the New Hampshire National Guard.

1 History
- 1.1 Colonial era
- 1.2 Civil War era (1860-1880)
2 Units
3 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Colonial era

The New Hampshire Militia served in all of the Colonial Wars, and part of an expedition that captured the Fortress Louisbourg in 1745 and Port Royal, Nova Scotia in 1710. During the last four wars of the French and Indian Wars, the New Hampshire Militia furnished about 5,000 men for six different campaigns, including men who served with Major Robert Rogers and his Rangers. Regiments of the New Hampshire provincial soldiers were at the Battle of Lake George, Battle of Fort William Henry, Battle of Louisburg, Battle of Carillon in 1758 and when Fort Ticonderoga fell in 1759, Quebec City, Battle of Sainte-Foy and were present at the final capitulation of New France at Montreal. They also saw action in countless small battles from the Hudson River to Nova Scotia.

The Militia was also heavily involved in the American Revolution when it furnished men for the New Hampshire regiments in Washington's Continental Army. John Stark, an officer in Roger's Rangers, raised the 1st New Hampshire Regiment and took it to the Siege of Boston in 1775 along with James Reed's 3rd New Hampshire Regiment. These two regiments along with Enoch Poor's 2nd New Hampshire Regiment would enter service with the Continental Army and see action all through the war. In 1777 John Stark would lead a force of 1,500 New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont militia at the Battle of Bennington against over 1,400 Hessian, British, Tory and Indians and win a stunning victory that help the Continental Army win the Saratoga Campaign. Two New Hampshire militia regiments were at the Battle of Saratoga serving in Ebenezer Learned's Brigade helping to defeat General John Burgoyne. New Hampshire militia would help in Gen. John Sullivan's unsuccessful Battle of Rhode Island in 1778.

[edit] Civil War era (1860-1880)

At the beginning of the American Civil War the Militia was virtually nonexistent. The state had to raise volunteer regiments, such as the 3rd New Hampshire Volunteer Regiment, to aid in the war. In 1879, New Hampshire designated the Militia as the New Hampshire National Guard prior to the mandatory name change required by the National Defense Act of 1916.