Burning of the Valleys Military Association


Declaration . . .
Burning of the Valleys Military Association

A Declaration of Principles on the Portrayal of Continental Line and Militia
In the American War for Independence
April 19, 2003

Militia were established by Provincial and State Laws, and existed before, during and after the American Revolution. Although Militia laws varied, essentially every free male between the ages of 16 and 60 were required to serve in the militia … they were the citizen soldiers of this conflict. In their appearance, arms, accoutrements, and training, these militias represented the diversity of the 13 separate and independent colonies from which they were raised.

At the outset of the Revolution, all American troops were militia. As the war progressed, the importance of the Continental Army grew, but the militias were never disbanded. They continued to play an important role throughout the conflict, supporting the cause of freedom. And, at the end of the war when the Army was disbanded, the Militias remained.

We the undersigned are members of recreated Militia and Continental Line units that served during the Revolution. We are from New England, New York, and the mid-Atlantic region. Our units belong to the Brigade of the American Revolution, the Continental Line, the Burning of the Valleys Military Association, the Living History Association, the Connecticut Colony Military Association, and the North West Territories Alliance.

In our portrayal of Militia and Continental troops, we:

  • Strive to meet the highest standards in appearance, arms, and accoutrements for the recreated units we represent. We expect all who would serve with us to meet the same high standards.
  • Strive to develop competency in the manual of arms and field evolutions necessary to safely deploy in Revolutionary War battle scenarios.

As we recognize and acknowledge the contributions and integrity of those units recreating the Continental Army, we also recognize the contributions and integrity of the Militia units with which we serve. We:

  • Expect militia to be brigaded with militia, at a unit structure commensurate with their numbers, be it platoon, company, or battalion;
  • Expect that the militia will serve under competent militia officers drawn from their number; and
  • Expect militia to be used as militia, and not assigned as file fillers to complete the ranks of Continental units. When militia serves in support functions, it should do so as a unit of militia.

We believe it important that the distinct roles of the Continental Line and Militia in the American War for Independence not be lost, by mis-using these troops in re-enactments.

  • John Osinski,   2nd Regt., Albany Cty Militia (1775)   —    BVMA, Continental Line
  • Glenn Valis,   Outwater's Militia   —    BAR, Continental Line
  • Ben Carlos,   1st Regt., Ulster Cty Militia   —    BVMA, Continental Line, BAR
  • Al Soucey,   Rehoboth Minutemen Coy/13th Continental Regt.   —    Continental Line,BVMA
  • Ken Miller,   Heard's Brigade   —    Continental Line, BAR
  • Wayne Milward,   2nd Regt., Albany Cty Militia (1775)   —    BVMA, Continental Line
  • Kevin Richard-Morrow,   2nd Regt., Albany Cty Militia (1775)   —    BVMA, Continental Line
  • Dean Barnes,   1st Regt., Ulster Cty Militia   —    BVMA, Continental Line, BAR
  • Wayne Daniels,   OM (Order of Merit)recipient from BAR,3rd NY Reg.& CCM
  • Jim Hayden,   1st New Hampshire
  • Wayne T. McCarthy,   Captain, Lexington Training Band / Lexington Minute Men
  • Gen'l David Bernier Sr.,   25th Continental Regt.   —    LHA and BVMA
  • Sal Tarantino,   2nd Dragoons   —    CL,LHA,BVMA,CCMA,NWTA, & BAR
  • Jay M. Howlett,   Capt.York County Batt.Virga.
  • David Morgan,   Savages Detachment Second Continental Artillery
  • Capt Brian Colonna,   13th Mass Regt
  • Wendell K. Smith,   Commander, 2nd Connecticut Regiment of Militia
  • Karl L. Crannell,   Colonel, Second New-York Regiment
  • Skip Hayward,   Lexington Training Band / Lexington Minute Men
  • Dann Jacobus,   Captain NJ Militia, Heard's Brigade
  • Ken Schultz Sr.,   Campbell's Co., 4th Tryon
  • Pvt William Armstrong,   2nd Regt., Albany Cty Militia (1775)
  • Cpl. Gene Tozzi,   1st Ulster County Militia
  • David Goodrich,   2nd Regiment - Albany County Militia
  • Craig S. Miller,   2nd Regiment - Albany County Militia
  • Brad Longtin,   2nd Regiment - Albany County Militia
  • Bob Watson,   2nd Regiment - Albany County Militia
  • Stephen J. Crawford,   2nd Reg't, Albany County Militia (1775)
  • Jim Fredell,   2nd Reg't, Albany County Militia (1775)
  • Harvey Alexander,    2nd Reg't, Albany County Militia (1775)
  • Tom DeAmico,   NJ Militia, Heard's Brigade and BAR
  • Bill Schleicher,   NJ Militia,Heard's Brigade and BAR
  • Robert Wnukowski,   HM's 22 Reg of Foot.NJ Militia,Heard's Brigade   —    BAR
  • Andrew Wnukowski,   HM's 22 Reg.Of Foot.NJ Militia Heard's Brigade   —    BAR
  • Donald L. Terpening,   1st Ulster
  • Alex Cain,   1st Sergeant, Lexington Training Band
  • Thomas Quinn,   Sgt., NJ Militia, Heard's Brigade
  • Paul Westgate,   Rehoboth Minutemen Coy
  • Jim Sinnott,   Rehoboth Minutemen Coy
  • LLoyd Perry,   Rehoboth Minutemen Coy
  • Jim Fulton,   Rehoboth Minutemen Coy
  • John Carr,   Rehoboth Minutemen Coy
  • Cathy Potter,   Rehoboth Minutemen Coy
  • Douglas Morrill,   Danvers Alarm List Co.
  • John Toner,   1st Regt., Tryon Cty Militia
  • Bob Shanahan,   Outwater's Militia
  • The 65 Men at Arms and Distaff,   of The First Ulster County Militia   —    BVMA, CL, BAR (Tricia Anderson, Debora Barnes, Patrick Burke, Daniel Branzburg, Linda Carlos, Brian Conklin,Valerie Demarasse, Douglas Dyke, Mark English, Angelica Falcinelli, Sam Falcinelli, Beth Forschler Nathan Forschler, Amy Forstner, Michael Forstner Jr., Michael Forstner Sr., Rebecca Forstner, Jesse Forte, Kirk Fraser , William Garthaffner, Patricia Gerresheim, Peter Gerresheim, Nancy Gill , Robert Grieco, Michael Grieco, Tim Grieco, Sona Hairabedian, Carole Hoey , Kenneth Hulse, Joseph R. Leclerc, Jim Mahoney, James Mahoney, Ryan Mahoney, Joshua Maxson, Brian McCormack, Kai Moessle, Dan Mullaney, Mary Mullaney, Patrick Mullaney, William Nieffer, Robert Patterson, Edwin Pell, Charles Redner, Jim Reynolds, Devin Schatzel, Eric Schatzel, Joseph Schatzel, Chris Sewall, Leyla Sogut , Sara Sogut, Laura Spaey, Dan Swart, Diane Swart, Robert Sweeney, Don Terpening, Nate Terpening , Henry Weisgerber, Dan Wood , Fred Yaple , Hank Yost , Barbara Zimmerman, Seth Zimmerman)
  • Gary DePaolo,   NJ Militia,Heard's Brigade   —    BAR,CL
  • Mike Connelly,   Deputy Commander Outwater's Militia
  • James Perry,   Adjutant Outwater's Militia
  • Jon Parker,   Outwater's Militia
  • Jim Parker,   Outwater's Militia
  • Lt. Al Trevail,   Rehoboth Minutemen Coy
  • Eric Trevail,   Rehoboth Minutemen Coy
  • Paul Fontain,   Rehoboth Minutemen Coy
  • Scott Campbell,   Rehoboth Minutemen Coy
  • Rich Gunther,   Rehoboth Minutemen Coy
  • Sean Kelleher,   
  • Richard Swartwout,   Commander, 6th Connecticut   —    CCMA
  • Jim Stevens,    4th Tryon County Militia, Ten Broeck's Coy. Butler's Rangers   —   BVMA
  • Captain R.S. Grandchamp,    Second Company of Scituate Minutemen    —    Continental Line

If you would like to add your name to this document, please send an email to and include, your name, unit, and umbrella affiliations.


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