Among the citizen soldiers in the Revolution was a ministerial student, Samuel Houston of Rockbridge County, Va., a private in the Virginia militia. He was 23 years of age when the call came for the militia to go to the assistance of Gen. Nathaniel Green, then campaigning in North Carolina. Laying aside his books, Houston marched away with the Rockbridge Company, which, like most militia units at that time and throughout history, when called to fight, was poorly trained and lacking in discipline.

The militia unit made the strenuous march over the mountains and reported to General Green just before the Battle of Guilford Court House in North Carolina. In that important encounter, Private Houston distinguished himself by his bravery while some of the militiamen were running away.

The Americans suffered a defeat at the hands of Cornwallis’ British regulars. Though some of the American militia units were scattered, General Green was able to withdraw his seasoned Continental troops in good order. This battle, March 15, 1781, marked the turning point in the unsuccessful effort of the British to crush the Southern provinces. Samuel Houston kept a diary of his experiences in this campaign which gives an insight into the problems of training and discipline of the Colonial militia.

Private Samuel Houston, in his carefully kept diary, re.lates how the Rockbridge County militia company marched from Lexington, Va., on February 26, 1781, on its mission to reinforce General Green. After three days, on March 1, he wrote, "Drew liquor in the morning. I paid fifteen dollars for beer to Mrs. Breckinridge." (The item of $15.00 for beer was an indication of the near-worthlessness of the Continental currency, rather than of heavy drinking by the soldier.)

On March 4, he wrote, "We pressed [confiscated] a hog which was served without scraping." That night was spent at