A recent event by the Arlington Historical Society marked the 250th anniversary of the founding of local and statewide militias in the Revolutionary War era.
The program held at the Ball-Sellers House on Saturday honored the establishment of the Fairfax militia in January 1775, followed by the creation of a statewide militia in August of that year.
“We can justifiably say the [American] Revolution started here. We were actually the hotbed, the heart, of the American Revolution,” said Kevin Vincent, an attorney and amateur historian focused on that period.
On the eve of the revolution, what are now Arlington and Alexandria were both part of Fairfax County. The 26 square miles of modern-day Arlington were home to less than 1,000 residents — men, women and children, enslaved and free.
With colonial rule disintegrating across the Old Dominion, those advocating for independence gained the upper hand, especially in the local area.
“It wasn’t just a small group of rich guys” promoting the idea, Vincent said.
“There were a few loyalists and some who shirked their duty, but this area was very dedicated to independence,” he said. “They were organized and they were ready to fight, waiting for when the time was right.”
Under the militia rules, nearly all able-bodied white males between the ages of 16 and 50 in Fairfax County were required to obtain a musket and present themselves for service. Some would remain to protect the local area while others would serve in the Continental Army during a war that lasted from 1775 to 1783.
Those who went into battle often found themselves facing off against British troops with better training and superior equipment.
The professional British troops had been drilled to behave “like robots,” said Michael Schaffner, a historical re-enactor and historian.
In addition to explaining the intricacies of musketry to those at the event, Schaffner also served as muster clerk. Those who “signed up” with him received their company orders and a certificate good for five shillings (about $1.25 in 1775 dollars) in gold or silver.
Also on hand were “JC” and Sara Kline and their son Lawrence, re-enactors from Falls Church portraying a Revolution-era family.
Lawrence Kline, a rising 12th-grader, told ARLnow he had an interest in history, and used re-enacting as a way to spread that knowledge. In addition to Revolution-era re-enactments, he takes part in those from Asian history, as well.
“I like the people and the challenge,” he said. “It’s a good way to do something productive with my interests. And I’ve always preferred to be outside.”
Peter Vaselopulos, the current Arlington Historical Society president, also is a re-enactor. He said that while Civil War re-enactments long had been more popular, those focused on the American Revolution are now catching up.
“A lot of people are moving from the Civil War to the Revolution,” he said.
While many wish to portray revolutionaries, there’s no shortage of people happy to serve as British redcoats — in part for the visually appealing uniforms, Vaselopulos said.
In the summer of 1775, the Assembly of Virginia met against the directives of the loyalist governor. Its first law passed was “An Ordinance for Raising and Embodying a Sufficient Force for the Defense and Protection of the Colony.” It authorized the formation of Continental regiments, minutemen battalions and the county militia.
The law made militia duty mandatory for all free men, hired servants and apprentices between the ages of 16 and 50, exempting only government officials, professors and members of the clergy. The legislation set up the command structure in each county, led by a colonel.
In Fairfax, the commander — until he was called upon for bigger things — was George Washington.
Though amended and revised many times, that 1775 edict establishing a militia is “still the law in Virginia,” said Vincent, who maintains a website marking daily events in Revolutionary War history. To this day, the Code of Virginia stipulates the following.
The militia of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall consist of all able-bodied residents of the Commonwealth who are citizens of the United States and all other able-bodied persons resident in the Commonwealth who have declared their intention to become citizens of the United States, who are at least 16 years of age and, except as hereinafter provided, not more than 55 years of age. The militia shall be divided into three classes: the National Guard, which includes the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard; the Virginia Defense Force; and the unorganized militia..
The state code gives the governor authority to call out the unorganized militia “to execute the law, suppress riots or insurrections, or repel invasion or aid in any form of disaster wherein the lives or property of citizens are imperiled or may be imperiled.”
The program at the Ball-Sellers House was another event leading into next year’s commemoration marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The County Board has designated the Arlington Historical Society as the lead organization in developing programming for the anniversary.
