Huntington History

Two hundred and forty-six years ago, the Huntington Liberty flag was proudly carried into battle by members of the Huntington Militia.  The Liberty flag, which is now the official flag of the Town of Huntington, was created just a month earlier when Huntingtonians first received news that the Continental Congress had adopted the Declaration of Independence.  The Huntington Militia as part of the First Regiment of the Suffolk County Militia marched to Brooklyn to fight to make the words of declaration real.  Although the Battle of Long Island was a defeat for the Americans, many militia members continued the fight.

Today members of the Huntington Militia commemorated the battle with a wreath laying ceremony at the Sons of the American Revolution memorial in front of the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Building.

The Ancient and Honorable Huntington Militia was formed in 1653 by the Town of Huntington to provide an effective defense against the hostile Dutch settlements of New Netherlands.  The militia held regular, public training exercises on the Town Common. Huntington was made part of the Colony of New York in 1664 and the Huntington Militia became part of the New York Provincial forces in 1666.  Over the years, trained volunteers from Huntington served honorably in the French and Indian Wars. At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the Huntington Militia formed the nucleus of the first Suffolk County Regiment of Militia and raised several companies, which later fought in the Battles of Long Island, Harlem Heights and White Plains.

After the Battle of White Plains, the Militia as a unit did not follow the Continental Army into New Jersey, however some militiamen as individuals enlisted in various mainland regiments. The unit then dispersed. The militiamen not returning to Huntington formed a shadow organization of guerrilla fighters in Connecticut to raid occupied Long Island.
 

The militiamen who returned to their homes in Huntington during the British Occupation (1776-1783) were pressed into a forced labor company. When the Revolutionary War ended, Huntington reestablished the Militia. The Huntington Militia continued to be active under the New Republic and was called out for active service during the War of 1812 and the Civil War. In modern times, however, it was eclipsed as a military force by the National Guard System. Thereafter, it continued only as a social group whose members marched in annual parades until the 1920s.

The Huntington Militia was reactivated by The Town of Huntington in 1974, to serve in a ceremonial capacity as its official Colonial Guard and to continue as a permanent, living link with our proud heritage. The militia became a Revolutionary War reenacting unit in 1976 and continues to this day to preserve its heritage and recreate life as it was on Long Island in Colonial America. 

As we look forward to the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, it is important that we commemorate and honor the sacrifices made by our forebearers.