Brattlecast #118 - The Militia of Massachusetts Bay

Brattlecast: A Firsthand Look at Secondhand Books - A podcast by Brattle Book Shop

Today we’re taking a look at a Massachusetts Militia pamphlet from 1758. ‘The Exercise for the Militia of the Province of Massachusetts Bay’ is a guide to forming and equipping a local militia, consisting mostly of rural farmers who would train part time and fight only when necessary. We’ll also talk about the history of militia groups in America, from colonial days to their sometimes controversial present-day iterations.