What We Do
Today’s Varnum’s Regiment is one of 12 active units that comprise the Rhode Island Historic Militia. We are an integral part of the Varnum Continentals, Inc., which also maintains two historic museums: the Varnum Armory Museum and the James Mitchell Varnum House Museum.
The short answer to what we do is: We help keep history alive.
Our activities
We participate in numerous activities throughout the year: parades, ceremonies, demonstrations, historic events, and events that support the community and education. Most of our activities and public appearances are local (within Rhode Island); some occasionally take us out of state.
Examples of recent activities include the East Greenwich Memorial Day and Veterans Day Parades, Gaspee Days Celebration, and Parade, Color Guard detail for DAR, CAR, SAR and other historical groups, June Day (Boston), First Flag (Somerville, MA), local and state inaugural ceremonies, and numerous activities and educational events at the James Mitchell Varnum House Museum.
Varnum’s Regiment also participates in the Annual RIM Governor’s Cup Musket Competition, firing flintlock muskets.
Affiliations
Varnum’s Regiment is an active member unit of the Rhode Island Historic Militia. We are also members of the Centennial Legion of Historic Chartered Military Commands, which was formed at America’s Bicentennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876 to perpetuate the military organizations that served and protected our country in the early days of its history prior to, during, and subsequent to the Revolutionary War.
5 Quick Facts
- The official headquarters of Varnum’s Regiment is the Varnum Memorial Armory, home to the Varnum Armory Museum.
- Our uniform is that of the Continental Army, which is why you will see reenactors and other Continental Line units with similar uniforms; its design was specified by General George Washington.
- Varnum’s Regiment honors patriot James Mitchell Varnum. He was a prominent lawyer, and in 1774 he was chosen the first Commandant of the Kentish Guard militia of the town of East Greenwich in the Colony Of Rhode Island. He rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the Continental Army.
- Varnum’s Regiment, chartered in 1775, was disbanded at the War’s end; the charter was re-activated in 1975 by RI Governor Donald Carcieriat the request of the Varnum Continentals.
- Varnum’s Regiment, like the other 12 historic militia units in Rhode Island, reports to the Adjutant General of the State of Rhode Island. James Mitchell Varnum was the first Adjutant General.
