George Washington achieved the rank of colonel during the French and Indian War. He served as a commander of the Virginia Regiment, which was one of the provincial militia units raised by the British colonial government.
No, the Marine Corps is not considered a militia. It is a branch of the United States military and operates under the Department of the Navy. The Marine Corps has a distinct structure, purpose, and chain of command separate from the concept of a militia.
The armed group that was defeated by the colony's militia at the 1771 Battle of Alamance was known as the Regulators. The Regulators were motivated by grievances against corruption and economic hardships caused by unfair taxation and the arbitrary practices of North Carolina county officials. Despite their frustration, they were ultimately unable to overcome the well-equipped and organized colonial militia.
The militia participation in the war helped the colonists to become a unified, fighting force quickly, shortening the duration of the conflict
Militia existed in the colonies long before the American Revolution. With the exception of Pennsylvania, colonies required most able-bodied men to own weapons, to be willing to be called for periodic training, and to defend their communities from attack, primarily by Indians. This was the colonial militia.
Minutemen came into being in the wake of the crisis in Boston, in 1774. Essentially, they were a reorganized militia, rid of any vestiges of loyalty to the crown, and trained, far more extensively than they had been previously, so that they could "turn out" at a minute's notice.
The address of the Illinois National Guard And Militia Historical Society is: Po Box 1311, Springfield, IL 62705-1311
The address of the National Guard Militia Museum Of New Jersey is: 387, Mount Holly, NJ 08060