The Rhode Island Independent Military Organizations (also known as the Chartered Commands of the Rhode Island Militia) are a group of independently operated chartered militias in the state of Rhode Island, most of whose histories date back to the state's colonial and revolutionary history. Under Rhode Island law, they are considered part of state's organized militia forces but are explicitly distinct from Rhode Island's National Guard, State Guard, and Naval Militia. Today, these organizations are largely ceremonial and educational in purpose but are sometime called up for active civil service in minor capacities.
Historical Background
After the founding of Rhode Island in 1639, defense of the colony relied on "train bands" (better known as militia companies) which were units made of local citizens of military age who were capable of bearing arms. Each town had its own train band, typically commanded by an officer with the rank of captain.
In 1675, with King Philips War raging, it was decided to have the militia of the colony commanded by an officer with the rank of major. The first person to hold this position was John Cranston who was currently deputy governor of the colony and would soon become governor. In 1683 the militia was divided into two regiments - one comprising the companies of the towns on the islands (i.e. Newport, Portsmouth, Jamestown and New Shoreham) and the other regiment comprised of all the companies on the mainland of the colony. Initially, each regiment was commanded by a major, but this was changed to the rank of colonel in 1719. In 1731 the militia was reorganized on a county basis with there being one regiment for Providence and Kent Counties and one each for Newport and Kings (later Washington) County. As time went by, each county would have a number of regiments relative to its population and each county's militia force would be organized into a brigade commanded by a brigadier general with the commander of the entire state militia holding the rank of major general.
In 1741 the Artillery Company of the Town of Newport was chartered by an act of the Rhode Island General Assembly. The Company was patterned on the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts and was envisioned as a "nursery" for officers in its charter. A significant privilege given to the Company was the right to elect its own officers whereas other militia officers were appointed by the governor.
As the American Revolultion approached, citizens of several other towns in the state petitioned the General Assembly to grant charters to form independent militia companies. During the Revolution, and for some time thereafter, a number of charters were granted by the General Assembly. By the mid-1800s most of the chartered companies were inactive but a few (particularly the Newport Artillery, Kentish Guards and Bristol Train of Artillery) managed to remain active and retain their distinctive and independent status as chartered military commands in the Rhode Island Militia.
During the early 1970s, in anticipation of the Bicentennial in 1976, several other historic commands were re-chartered to participate in Revolutionary War themed events. This also parallelled the rise of the re-enacting hobby in that decade. Notably, the Newport Artillery Company served as an honor guard for Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Newport in June 1976. During this era, the Rhode Island Historic Commands became fixtures at notable events such as gubernatorial inaugurations, the Bristol 4th of July Parade and the Gaspee Days Parade in Pawtuxet.
Rhode Island Historic Military Commands differ from reenacting units in that they are chartered by the State of Rhode Island and their officers are commissioned in the Rhode Island Militia by the governor.
List of Chartered Military Commands Active Artillery Company of Newport (1741) Kentish Guards (1774) Gloucester Light Infantry (1774) United Train of Artillery (1774) Pawtuxet Rangers (1774) Kingston Reds (1775, rechartered 2019) Bristol Train of Artillery (1776) Providence Marine Corps of Artillery (1801) Warren Federal Blues Varnum Continentals (1909) Providence naval battalion Battery B, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery (1861) Battery C, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery (1861)
Defunct Artillery Company in Providence (1774) Artillery Company of Westerly and Charlestown (1754) Bristol Ready Volunteers (1795) Captain General's Cavaliers (1783) Coventry Rangers Cranston Blues Cumberland Light Infantry First Light Infantry of Providence Foster Artillery Gloucester Grenadiers Governor's Independent Company of Light Infantry Governor's Independent Company of Volunteers Johnston Guards Johnston Rangers Kentish Artillery Kentish Troop Manville Light Infantry Narragansett Guards National Cadets of Providence Newport Guards Newport Light Infantry (1774) North Kingstown Rangers North Providence Rangers (1774) Providence Fusiliers (1774) Providence Grenadier Company (1774) Providence Horse Guards (1842) Providence Independent Company of Cadets (1775) Providence Independent Light Dragoons Providence Light Infantry (1818) Providence Troop of Light Dragoons Rhode Island Guard of Warwick Rhode Island Guards No. 3 of Coventry Rhode Island Horse Guards Rifle Rangers of South Kingstown Scituate Guards (1821-1828) Scituate Hunters (1774) Sea Fencibles of Providence Smithfield Grenadiers Tiverton and Little Compton Light Dragoons Warren Artillery Company (1842) Warren Light Infantry (1811-1833) Washington Cavalry Washington Grenadiers Washington Independent Company Washington Troop of Horse Wickford Pioneers Woonsocket Guards
Sources: Civil and Military List of Rhode Island, 1647-1800. Joseph Jenks Smith. 1900.
See also Rhode Island National Guard Rhode Island State Guard List of United States militia units in the American Revolutionary War
References