Final answer:
The correct answer is option a) Local militia, primarily from New England, using muskets.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Minutemen were part of the local militia systems that originated in the New England colonies. They were civilian colonists who independently organized to form well-prepared militia companies self-trained in weaponry, tactics, and military strategies from the colonial period.
The Minutemen were known to be ready at a minute's notice, hence their name, and played a crucial role during the early stages of the American Revolutionary War. They primarily hailed from within the American colonies and were equipped with muskets and other firearms of the era, which they were individually responsible for maintaining.
Gage's actions against colonial stockpiles of munitions catalyzed the mobilization of these minutemen, who were also veterans of previous conflicts such as the French and Indian War. Their readiness and quick response were significant in the early battles such as those at Lexington and Concord, where they faced British troops.