St. Kitts Militia

St. Kitts Militia.

The island of St. Kitts was occupied by both the British and the French in the 17th Century and as sugar became the main arable crop of the island, African slaves were brought in to tend the fields. As a result it became necessary to raise a Militia to defend it from invasion and possible slave revolt. The Militia consisted of two regiments which were known as the Leeward Regiment and the Windward Regiment. There was also a small detachment of Cavalry, but this was disbanded in 1797.

The Militia were expected to train once a month. They were not only used for protection against raids by other European countries, but as an armed constabulary which was often called upon for guard duties, patrols and expeditions against runaway slaves.

One of the main problems maintaining the Militia was getting  enough volunteers to make it a viable fighting force. 

The St. Kitts Militia with detachments of the 11th and 70th Regiments of Foot and Royal Artillery successfully repulsed an invasion by French forces in 1806. 

St. Kitts Corp of Embodied Slaves.

Between 1795 and 1798, 1,168 African slaves were recruited and used as a Militia. They were officered by Europeans who were the plantation owners and included a small artillery contingent. The African slaves were divided into two corps of approximately 500 men each. In 1795, 40 of the recruits served with the regular British army detachment in the fortress at Brimestone Hill. 

As the local planters feared possible revolt by the slaves they were only armed will pikes and cutlasses and they were trained weekly.

Major General Moore made the following entry in his diary dated 8th June 1797:

"In St. Kitts besides the militia there are two corps of 500 each of Negroes embodied - composed of the trustiest and best slaves.... These corps are only called upon occasionally - at other times they work upon the habitations. The officers are the different proprietors."