The militia was organized by county. In theory, there were regular training sessions of the militia at the county courthouse. In times of peace, however, these became largely social events. The County Lieutenant was often a candidate for the House of Burgesses, and strict discipline of essentially volunteer soldiers was rare. More often, the drinking during the militia assemblies was more intense than the target practice.
In times of war, those with crops to plant and harvest were reluctant to serve for more than a few weeks. When a militia unit received orders to march to another colony, their reluctance was based in part on a desire to return home soon rather than a misguidance 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, however. 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... though some items were obviously sold or kept for personal profit. The militia motivations were basic, with patriotism towards the colony far down the list.
During the French and Indian War, George Washington struggled to obtain and trained enough soldiers for a sustained campaign. Some were recruited through financial incentives, while others were forcibly drafted. One author has described the conditions of serving at the front - Winchester, in Frederick County - in 1757:
George Washington was given command of the first multi-colony army. He had not-so-subtly dressed in his old French and Indian War uniform, while Congress debated who was trustworthy enough to lead the military forces... but not try to become a dictator on the process. He left the Philadelphia, where the Continental Congress was meeting, and did not return to Virginia for six years (when he stopped at Mount Vernon on the march to Yorktown). Martha managed to join him for winter camps, providing some moral support to the troops as well as to her husband.
The Continental Army was organized by state, and the Virginia troops were in the Virginia Line. Almost all Virginians serving in the Continental Army were captured in the disastrous surrender by General Benjamin Lincoln of the army at Charlestown, South Carolina in 1780.
An additional 350 under Colonel Abraham Buford in the 3rd Virginia Cavalry were killed or wounded at Waxhaws, South Carolina. They were reinforcements who arrived too late to help the Charleston garrison, and were caught by Banastre Tarleton's dragoons while retuning to Virginia. In the "Waxhaws Massacre," Tarleton's men killed over 100 while they apparently tried to surrender. However, there's another perspective:
Craig Scott described the impact of the surrender on Virginia's forces in the Continental Army, in a message posted to the VA-HIST listserver on August 15, 2001:
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The loss of the Charleston garrison was a severe blow, probably the heaviest
the American side would suffer during the entire war. More than 5,000
Continental soldiers, militia, and private citizens were officially
surrendered to the British. In his official returns, General Benjamin
Lincoln counted about 2,200 Continentals (about 500 sick and wounded
included) and about 500 reliable militia. Also captured were 391 pieces of
artillery, 6,000 muskets, 33,000 rounds of ammunition, and 3 frigates.
[David B. Mattern, Benjamin Lincoln and the American Revolution. Columbia,
S.C.: University of South Carolina Press, 1995.]
Another source has 5,500 defenders of the city, 2,500 of which were militiamen of questionable quality. 5,466 armed men were captured, 391 artillery pieces, 5,916 muskets, 33,000 rounds of small arms ammunition, over 8,000 round shot and 376 barrels of powder. [Dan L. Morrill, Southern Campaingns of the American Revolution. Mount Pleasant, S.C.: The Nautical & Aviation Publishing Company, 1993.] The movement of Virginia troops to Charleston can be found in M. Lee Minnis, The First Virginia Regiment of Foot. Westminster, Md.: Willow Bend Books, 1998. On 8 March Woodfords force at Petersburg departed with 737 men fit for duty. The force was divided into three detachments: Col. William Russell leading the 1st Regiment and Cols. Gist and John Neville. (This 1st Regiment was a consolidation of the 1st, 5th, 7th, 10th and 11th). Woodford arrived in Charleston on 7 April. A Hessian in his diary wrote that General Woodford arrived in Charleston with 700 men. Col. Parker of the First was kille in a British barrage on 24 April at Half-Moon Battery. Col. Parker's First Virginia Detachemnt of Scott's Brigade and Col. William Heth's Second Detachment of Scott's Brigade were responsible for defending this area. Minnis reports that 5,500 Continentals and milita were captured. Of these 336 were from the First Virginia. Of the 274 Officers at Haddrell's Point awaiting exchange, 115 were Virginians. Based on E. M. Sanchez-Saavedra. A Guide to Virginia Military Organizations in the American Revolution, 1774-1787. 1978, reprinted Westminster, Md.: Willow Bend Books, 2001: 1st Virginia Regiment (a consolidation of the 1st, 5th, 7th, 10th, 11th) assigned to Woodford's brigade - surrendered. 2nd Virginia Regiment (a consolidation of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th) assigned to Woodford's brigade - surrendered, except for a handful of men under Captain Alexander Parker who returned to Virginia. Captains Thomas Catlett and John Stokes were with Buford. 3rd - consolidated with the 2nd and surrendered. 4th - consolidated with the 2nd and surrendered. 5th - consolidated with the 1st and surrendered. Captain Adam Wallace was on detached service with Buford. 6th - had earlier been consolidated with the 3rd what was consolidated with the 2nd - surrendered. 7th - consolidated with the 1st - surrendered. 8th - not at Charleston. Sent to the Carolinas as a part of the temporary 3rd Regiment. 9th - not at Charleston. Served west of the Alleghenies. 10th - consolidated with the 1st - surrendered. 11th - consolidated with the 1st - surrendered, except for Buford's Detachment. 12th - renumbered the 8th in 1778, not in existence in 1780 13th - renumbered the 9th in 1778, not at Charleston. 14th - renumbered the 10th in 1778 15th - renumbered the 11th in 1778. Col. Nathaniel Gist's Additional - surrendered at Charleston Col. Thomas Gaskins Detachment - made up of some of those who escaped capture at Charleston 1st Regiment of Continental Artillery (Harrison's) - a large number captured at Charleston. 1st Regiment of Continental Dragoons - most escaped capture. 3rd Regiment of Continental Dragoons - Captain William Barrett, a native of N.C. was captured. 1st Virginia State Line - not at Charleston. Lt. Col. Charles Porterfied's State Detachment - arrived after the fall of Charleston, escaped capture and joined Gates army. Virginia State Artillery Regiment. - all but one company captured which joined Porterfield. Major John Nelson's Regiment of Virginia State Cavalry - arrived late, joined Porterfield. In a lot fewer words, if you were a Virginian Continental in the service in 1780 you were more than likely captured at Charleston, and if you missed that you probably died at Waxhaws with Buford or at Camden with Porterfield. - Gen Danl Morgan coming out of retirement to lead continental troops at Cowpens. There were not just Continentals at Cowpens. The militia began the day.
Captain Francis Triplett, raised Fauquier C.
Craig R. Scott, CGRS
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