Militia

This page is missing a Gallery and the Throughout the Series contents

Militia
Biographical Information
Home	Salem, Massachusetts Boston, Massachusetts
Character Information
Portrayed By	Michael P Gardner Justin Lebrun Jim Henry Michael Sieve David Kallaway Frank Duffy Frank Lynch Neal Gage Luke Sexton Garrett Kruithof W.M. Bacon
Season(s)	1 • 2 • 3

“	There are things to be said for war. Gives a certain kind of man someplace to end up other than the end of a brand... Or a rope.	”
	— George Sibley in The Vow

The Militia is a group of non-professional fighters, usually in the pay of the town selectmen who perform various tasks such as keeping order in the streets, catch criminals and that in times of war are sent into battle.

Description

The term militia (from Latin militia, "military service") generally means an armed force and/or an army of amateur fighters as opposed to a professional force of regular, full-time military personnel such as knights or soldiers. Unable to hold their own against properly-trained and -equipped professional forces, it is common for militias to engage in guerrilla warfare or defence instead of being used in open attacks and offensive actions. For example, John Alden joined the militia to fight the French and reject the indigenous tribes.

Throughout the Salem Series

To Be Added

Gallery

• Episode Stills

Trivia

• John Alden was part of the militia before siding with the American Indians.
• In the first two seasons of the show no militiamen have played a key role; all unnamed were limited to be recurring minor characters in scenes of battles, scuffles or arrests.
• Garrett Kruithof has been accredited in the end credits as "Militia leader".
• The militia will have a more prominent role in the third season.

Historical Facts

• The history of militia in the United States dates from the colonial era, such as in the American Revolutionary War. Based on the British system, colonial militias were drawn from the body of adult male citizens of a community, town, or local region. Because there were usually few British regulars garrisoned in North America, colonial militia served a vital role in local conflicts, particularly in the French and Indian Wars. Before shooting began in the American War of Independence, American revolutionaries took control of the militia system, reinvigorating training and excluding men with Loyalist inclinations.

Illustration of a fight involving militiamen

• In colonial era Anglo-American usage, militia service was distinguished from military service in that the latter was normally a commitment for a fixed period of time of at least a year, for a salary, whereas militia was only to meet a threat, or prepare to meet a threat, for periods of time expected to be short. Militia persons were normally expected to provide their own weapons, equipment, or supplies, although they may later be compensated for losses or expenditures.

• During the nineteenth century, American militia saw action in the various Indian Wars, the War of 1812, the American Civil War, and the Spanish–American War. Sometimes militia units were found to be unprepared, ill-supplied, and unwilling.