| The whole their lives peasants were working for their masters - cultivating the land, extracting resources, and multiplying
prosperity of their lords. At wartime, peasants were recruited to militia squads. Indeed it was the least battle-worthy part of an army.
The morale of these fighters was rather low too. Although people are capable of self-sacrificing feats when they protect their families, it is very
difficult to control such and army. Moreover, insufficient smell of powder resulted in unwarrantably heavy casualties.
However, militia was of great numbers and low value. These soldiers did well for performing ancillary functions, waging guerilla wars, and building
fortifications. Commanders often resorted to militia when the main army resources have been already exhausted.
It is hard to describe their weapons or equipment, because it was too diverse or was lacking at all. Militiamen mainly fought with their own tools
(axes, smoothbore hunting guns, etc). Also militiamen got some pikes and guns from military storage. Peasants mainly used their own clothes as their
outfit. Militia was summoned for the combat operations; after a battle people returned to their usual work. |
