re: #79 kirkspencer

That ship sailed back in the late 1860s.

Yep, although it really sailed in 1812 when the militia was unable to deal with the Redcoats for the second time. Only the creation of a regular army by Scott, et al out of the tiny cadre we had pre-war kept it at the level of draw rather than disastrous loss.

By 1860, the militia and other volunteer companies were simply good ways to get meat for the grinder.