The Minutemen were lead by Captain John Parker in the battle of Lexington. Minutemen were civilian colonists who independently Fought for the common cause of their independence. They organized to form well-prepared militia companies self-trained in weaponry, tactics, and military strategies from the American colonial partisan militia during the American Revolutionary War.
They were so called ofr their ability of being ready at a minute's notice, hence the name. They provided a highly mobile, rapidly deployed force that allowed the colonies to respond immediately to war threats. Minute Men were different from the militia in the following ways: Firstly, while service in the militia was required by law, minute men were volunteers. Secondly, the minute men trained far more frequently than the militia. Two or three times per week was common. Because of this serious commitment of time, they were paid. Thirdly, minute Men were expected to keep their arms and equipment with them at all times, and in the event of an alarm, be ready to march at a minute's warning.
They were among the first to fight in the American Revolution. Their teams constituted about a quarter of the entire militia. They were generally younger and more mobile, and served as part of a network for early response.
Although today Minutemen are thought of as connected to the Revolutionary War in America, their existence was conceived in Massachusetts during the mid-seventeenth century. As early as 1645, men were selected from the militia ranks to be dressed with matchlocks or pikes and accoutrements within half an hour of being warned. In 1689 another type of Minuteman company came into existence. Called Snowshoemen, each was to "provide himself with a good pair of snowshoes, one pair of moggisons, and one hatchet" and to be ready to march on a moment's warning.