[robertpaulsen]

"For lack of a better word this is the "pool" to be chosen from."

Able-bodied, white, male citizens, 18-45 years of age were not the "pool". They were the Militia. And they comprised about 20% of the population.

"If one didn't already have said weapons there were to be acquired by that individual. Not given to him by the state of federal govt."

That was the plan. But when the War of 1812 broke out, very few Militia members showed up with arms. Arms were provided to them by the federal government.

[Dead Corpse]

But when the War of 1812 broke out, very few Militia members showed up with arms.

Which completely ignores the several HUNDRED privateers the fledgling government signed on to harass the Brits at sea. Those ships were granted Marque BECAUSE they were armed beforehand by their PRIVATE owners.

But that doesn't fit your template does it...