This historical study chronicles the rise and fall of the Naval Militia in the United States. It traces the successes and failures of the Naval Militia throughout its evolution from the Revolutionary War until today. Beginning with the development of State Navies during the Revolutionary War, the study examines the important role that naval militias played, and why they declined over the years due to their high costs, the antipathy that professional naval officers expressed toward them, and the changing nature of naval warfare. The study looks at the role of the Volunteer Navy during the Civil War, and the events afterwards that lead to the movement to develop an organized Naval Militia in various states. The study examines and analyzes the legislative developments that lead to the formation of a federal Naval Reserve, and how the formation of such a reserve eclipsed the Naval Militia in importance. The study ends with comments and prospects for the use of naval militias in the future concluding, that the Naval Militia may still have some utilitarian value.

ADA 299020 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)