The Fiction of Invincible Militia
Bunker Hill. Frenzied orators, fiery poets and solemn school books have repeatedly assured us that a few dozen stalwart plowboys routed the redcoat army with a loss of about 1,054 men. This temporary success led to a practically unbroken series of disasters. The enthusiasm of Bunker Hill crystallized into a complacent state of public mind, and one and forty years of equally complacent military laws. From that day forward our national existence has depended upon a handful of regulars and a hope—a hope that, at the sound of Freedom’s bugle trump, vast numbers of conquering citizens would rush to arms.
Revolutionary leaders framed their plans upon this rush, and, my son, the recruits didn’t rush. That’s the truth about it. If you don’t believe me, just ask George Washington, who made quite a considerable reputation in his neighborhood for telling the truth. At the opening of the Revolution Washington thought just like the balance of us, that patriots would flock to the banners
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