Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/596

 y^^l CHAPTER XXX BARRINGTON MILITIA AND THE DORR WAR Colonial Militia — Equipments — Services — Train Bands — Officers — United States Laws — Barrington Infantry — Officers — Field Officers from Barrington — The Dorr War — Freemen Under the Charter — Thomas Wilson Dorr — His Principles — Acts Relating to a State Constitution — The Dorr Legislature — Rebellion — Barrington In- fantry — Acote's Hill — A Short and Decisive Contest. THE militia of New England has been its chief protection in domestic and foreign sources of trouble. The citizen has been found to become a worthy soldier, after a period of training and practise under experienced officers. In the early colonial life, the dangers which threatened the people from hostile savages and those whom they might excite to hostility, made it necessary to enlist the whole male popula- tion, capable of bearing arms, in the militia service. The gun was always in hand or ready at a moment's warning for protection. The farmer took it to the field with his plough. His Bible and musket were his companions to the meet- ing-house on the Sabbath day. When unused, the old flint- lock hung over the fireplace or the door, loaded and primed for instant calls. Plymouth required " that the inhabitants of every Towne within the Government, fitt and able to beare arms be trayned (at least) six times in the year." under officers appointed by the court. The guns and pieces allowed for the militia were " muskett, fire-locks, and match- cock (so that they have foure fathome of match at all times for every match-cock) and calivers, carbines and fouleing peeces, so that that they bee not above foure feet and a half long and not under bastard-muskett or Caliver bore." Every person, for himself and his man servant, must be pro-