New Hampshire Militia facts for kids

The New Hampshire Militia was a group of citizen soldiers in New Hampshire. It was first formed way back in 1631. This group helped protect the area until 1641, when New Hampshire became part of Massachusetts.

Later, in 1679, New Hampshire became its own colony again. The governor at the time, John Cutt, brought the militia back on March 16, 1680. He created different groups: one foot company for each of the four main towns (Portsmouth, Dover, Exeter, and Hampton), plus a special artillery (cannon) and cavalry (horseback) company in Portsmouth. The King of England gave the governor the power to choose the best people to lead and train these soldiers. Major Richard Waldron was put in charge of the militia. Much later, in 1879, the state officially named this group the New Hampshire National Guard.

What Was the New Hampshire Militia?

The New Hampshire Militia was a group of ordinary citizens who were trained to be soldiers. They were ready to defend their homes and colony when needed. They weren't full-time soldiers but would gather for training and during times of war.

How Did the Militia Start?

The idea of a militia began very early in New Hampshire's history, in 1631. These early groups were important for protecting the small settlements from threats. When New Hampshire became a separate colony again in 1679, Governor John Cutt made sure the militia was well-organized. He created specific companies for different towns and even special units for cannons and horseback riders.

The Militia in Early Wars

The New Hampshire Militia played a big part in many early conflicts. They were involved in all the Colonial Wars, which were fights between European powers and Native American groups in North America.

Fighting in the French and Indian Wars

The militia helped capture important forts like Fortress of Louisbourg in 1745 and Port Royal, Nova Scotia in 1710. During the last four French and Indian Wars, about 5,000 New Hampshire militia members joined six different campaigns. Some even served with famous soldiers like Major Robert Rogers and his special group, the Rogers' Rangers.

New Hampshire soldiers fought in many key battles. They were at the Battle of Lake George and the Siege of Fort William Henry. They also helped in the Siege of Louisbourg (1758) and the Battle of Carillon in 1758. They were there when Fort Ticonderoga was captured in 1759. Militia members also fought near Quebec City in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham and the Battle of Sainte-Foy. They were present when New France finally surrendered in Montreal. They also saw action in countless smaller fights from the Hudson River to Nova Scotia.

The Militia in the American Revolution

The New Hampshire Militia was very important during the American Revolution. Many of its members joined the New Hampshire regiments in George Washington's Continental Army.

John Stark, who had been an officer in Rogers' Rangers, formed the 1st New Hampshire Regiment. This group went to the Siege of Boston in 1775 and fought bravely at the Battle of Bunker Hill. James Reed's 3rd New Hampshire Regiment was also there. These two regiments, along with Enoch Poor's 2nd New Hampshire Regiment, joined the Continental Army and fought throughout the entire war.

In 1777, John Stark led about 1,500 militia members from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont. They launched a surprise attack at the Battle of Bennington against over 1,400 Hessian, British, Loyalist, and Native American soldiers. They won a huge victory! This win helped the Continental Army succeed in the Saratoga campaign. Two New Hampshire militia regiments also fought at the Battle of Saratoga, helping to defeat General John Burgoyne. New Hampshire militia also helped in General John Sullivan's attempt to win the Battle of Rhode Island in 1778, though that battle was not successful.

Changes After the Civil War

By the start of the American Civil War (1860-1865), the New Hampshire Militia was almost gone. The state had to create new volunteer regiments, like the 6th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, to help fight in the war.

In 1879, New Hampshire officially named its militia the New Hampshire National Guard. This change happened before it became a requirement for all states by the National Defense Act of 1916.

Important Units of the Militia

Here are some of the different groups that were part of the New Hampshire Militia throughout history:

French and Indian War Provincial Units

• New Hampshire Provincial Regiment

New Hampshire Continental Army Regiments

• 1st New Hampshire Regiment
• 2nd New Hampshire Regiment
• 3rd New Hampshire Regiment
• Bedel's Regiment
• Long's Regiment
• Whitcomb's Rangers

New Hampshire Revolutionary War Era Militia Units

• Langdon's Company of Light Horse Volunteers
• Peabody's New Hampshire State Regiment
• Bellow's Regiment of Militia
• Chase's Regiment of Militia
• Drake's Regiment of Militia
• Evans' Regiment of Militia
• Hale's Regiment of Militia
• Hobart's Regiment of Militia
• Moore's Regiment of Militia
• Moulton's Regiment of Militia
• Nichols' Regiment of Militia
• Stickney's Regiment of Militia
• Welch's Regiment of Militia