DRAFT
Pleasedonotquoteorcitewithoutmypermission
1.Rogers’Rangers
WelloverahundredyearsbeforeConfederation,Rangerswerealreadyleadingthe
way.TheRegiment’sstorybeginsin1756,atthestartoftheSevenYearsWar.
Sometimescalled“WorldWarZero,”thistitanicstruggleforglobalprimacybetween
GreatBritainandFrancerangedovermanylandsinCentralEurope,SouthAsiaand
theCaribbean.ButthemostconsequentialtheatrewasinNorthAmerica,where
GeneralWolfe’svictoryonthePlainsofAbrahamin1759establishedAnglo-Saxon
dominanceoverthecontinent.
MuchofthefightingintheNewWorldwasintheruggedno-man’slandthat
separatedNewFrancefromNewEngland.Herethethicklywoodedmountainsat
theAppalachianrange’snorthernendconstitutedaformidablebarrierbetweenthe
twohostilecolonies.TheonlypathNatureopenedtotheEuropeancolonistsinthis
forbiddingwildernesswastheseriesofriversandlakesthatlinkNewYorkatthe
Hudson’sRiver’smouthtoMontréalontheStLawrence.Controloverthisstrategic
arterywaskeytovictoryinwhatAmericanswouldcometoknowastheFrenchand
IndianWar.
Withwelloveramillioninhabitants,Britain’sthirteencoloniesalongthe
AtlanticseaboardvastlyoutnumberedKingLouis’sixtythousandCanadiansubjects.
Demographicsuperioritydidnotnecessarilyconferamilitaryadvantage,sincethe
Frenchwerefarmoreadeptatfightingonrough,uncultivatedforestedterrain.Over
theyearsitssettlershadlearnedhowbesttowagewarintheNewWorld.Small
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
2
groupsofmencladindarkclothesratherthangaudyuniforms,attackingsuddenly
andoftenatnightinbriefskirmishes,easilyvanquishedlargernumbersofsoldiers
trainedinthemechanicaldrillbestsuitedforEurope’sopenfields.Bycontrast,their
BritishfoespreferredthemilitarystyleoftheOldWorld.
GeneralBraddock’sdebacleontheMonongahelaRiveron9July1755wasa
perfectexampleofhownottofightinAmerica.Althoughtherivalpowerswerestill
technicallyatpeace,theBritishhadbegunaggressivelytochallengeFrance’s
presenceintheOhioRiverValleytothewest.Oneoftheirmainobjectiveswasthe
FrenchstrongholdofFortDuquesne,today’sPittsburgh.WithBraddockattheir
head,tworegimentsrecentlytransferredfromIrelandhadpainstakinglycleareda
paththroughthevastbushforweeksintheheatofearlysummerastheycrossed
theMonongahela,alittleover15kilometresfromtheirgoal.
Theredcoatsweretiredastheirarduoustrekneareditsend,buttheirgeneral
wasconfidentthatsuperiornumberswouldeasilycarrytheday–iftheFrenchand
theirNativeAmericanallieshadnotalreadyevacuatedthefort.Anyway,he
reasoned,“itisimpossiblethat[savages]shouldmakeanyimpression”onhis
disciplinedtroops.Braddockwouldpayforthishubriswithhislifewhenasudden
ambushshatteredthegloomyforest’ssilence.Standinginshoulder-to-shoulder
formationandbrilliantintheirscarlettunics,thelargeBritishforcewas
overwhelmedbyfoesfiringinvisiblyfromconcealedpositionsinthesurrounding
woods.Itwouldtakesometimeforthelessonstosinkin,butthedisastermade
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
3
cleartheneedforanewapproachtowarbytheBritishinNorthAmerica(One
officerwhosurvivedtheill-fatedexpeditiondidpayheed,theVirginianColonel
GeorgeWashington).
SomecolonialsneedednoconvincingthattheNewWorldrequireditsown
styleoffighting.ThemostprominentwasaNewHampshirefarmer’sson,Robert
Rogers.“NorthAmerica’sfirstcelebrity,”asabiographerdescribeshim,Rogers
remainsalegendaryherointhepopularimaginationsouthoftheborder,aniconof
theruggedpioneerspiritthatforgedtheUnitedStates.DuringtheSevenYearsWar,
hisexploitsasleaderofhishardyRangerscoutsthrillednewspaperreadersin
Boston,NewYork,Philadelphia–andevenoverseasinLondon.
OneofRobertRogers’championswasthedistinguished19thcenturyHarvard
historianFrancisParkman,whosehistoriesoftheFrenchandIndianWarsdidmuch
topopularisehimamonghiscontemporaries.In1937,Rogersinspiredabest-selling
novelbyKennethRoberts,NorthwestPassage.Threeyearslater,thebookwasmade
intoafeaturefilmstarringSpencerTracyasthedaringRangerleader,followedin
the1950sbyatelevisionserieswiththesametitle.AndwhentheAmericanmilitary
setupitsowncommandounitduringtheSecondWorldWar,itinvokedRogers’
legacyastheUSArmyRangers.The“28StandingRules”hewrotein1759tocodify
histhoughtsonirregularwarfarearestilltaughttoeverysoldierattheRanger
School.
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
4
ThesonofScots-Irishimmigrants,RobertRogersgrewuponthecolony’s
frontier,whereitsEuropeansettlersweresubjecttoraidsbyNativeAmericanallies
oftheFrench.Hehadseentheirdepredationsfirsthandasateenager,whenaparty
ofAbenakiwarriorshadtorchedhisfamily’sfarmduringthepreviouswar.To
protectthemselves,thecolonistsformedmilitiasthatpatrolled,orrangedthe
surroundingareatoguardagainstpotentialNativeattacks.YoungRoberthad
alreadyjoinedalocalmilitia,althoughhesawlittleactionintheconflict.
AswarcloudsagaindarkenedNewEngland’sskiesin1755,somecolonies
begantoraisevolunteerregimentstosupportregulartroopsinthecoming
campaignagainstNewFrance.Eachoftheseunitsincludedoneortwocompanies
ofrangerstoconducttheirreconnaissance.Nowastrappingyoungmaninhismidtwenties,Rogersquicklyconvinced50fellowprovincialstosignup,whowere
incorporatedintoNewHampshire’smilitiaasarangercompanyledbyhimas
captain.Duringsummerofthatyear,thenewunitcarriedoutpatrolsdeepinto
enemyterritoryfromitsbaseatFt.WilliamHenryatLakeGeorge’ssoutherntip.
TwoparticularlyhazardousmissionstoreconnoitreFrenchpositionsonLake
Champlaintothenorthbroughtbackvaluableintelligencetohiscommander,
GeneralWilliamJohnson.
Whenthetraditionalseasonforfightingneareditsendinautumn,theNew
HampshireRegimentwasdisbanded.Rogers,however,volunteeredtostayonfor
thewinter.Continuinghisscoutsoftheperilousfrontier,nowbysnowshoeand
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
5
skate,hekepthisgeneralbriefedabouttheenemy.Patrolsonwintersnowandice
arearduousevenatthebestoftimes,buttheseasonwasparticularlytryingduring
themiddleofthe18thcentury,whentemperaturesintheChamplainValleycould
dropto-40°Cwithwindchill.Tomakemattersworse,Rogersforbadehismento
lightfiresatnightduringtheirmissionstoavoidalertingtheenemy.
Becauseofitsstrategicimportance,inspring1756theBritishcommanderin
NorthAmerica,Major-GeneralWilliamShirley,decidedtoorganiseanewunit
specificallytopatroltheareaaroundLakeGeorgeandsouthernLakeChamplain.
Ratherthananothertemporarymilitia,thegeneralwantedan“Independent
CompanyofRangers.”Directlyunderhiscommand,permanent,andpaidbythe
Crown,itsdutieswouldbe
tomakediscoveriesoftheproperroutesforourownTroops,procure
IntelligenceoftheEnemy’sstrengthandMotions,destroytheirout
MagazinesandSettlements,pickupsmallPartiesoftheirBattoes
[whaleboats]upontheLakes,andkeepthemundercontinualAlarm.
Thenewforcewastoberecruitedfrom,“nonebutsuchaswereusedtotravelling
andhunting,andinwhosecourageandfidelity[theircaptain]couldconfide.”Their
hazardousworkwouldbewellrewarded.Privatesdrewtwicethepayoftheir
counterpartsintheregulararmyandeverynewrangeralsoreceived10Spanish
dollars“towardsprovidingcloaths,armsandblankets.”
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
6
Tocommandthem,Shirley’schoicenaturallyfellonthefamousNew
HampshireRangerleader.SummoningRogerstohisheadquartersatProvince
HouseinBoston,onMarch24thegeneralhandedhimhiscommissionasthe
company’scommandingofficer.Sincethedocumenthadbeensignedadayearlier,
March23,1756marksthebirthdateofwhatwouldeventuallybecometheQueen’s
YorkRangers.
RangersdidnotoriginatewithRobertRogers.ThetermenteredtheEnglish
languagenolaterthanthe13thcenturyandreferredtoaforesterorborderer.Thus,
inthe17thcentury“BorderRangers”patrolledthekingdom’sviolentfrontierwith
itsScottishneighbourtothenorth.Andfromtheverystart,Englishcolonistsin
NorthAmericaformedgroupsofrangerstoguardagainsthostilenatives.Alreadyin
1622,CaptainJohnSmithoftheJamestowncolonywroteabout“yearlyrangingthe
shoreofWeanock[Virginia].”Meanwhile,atthestartofKingGeorge’sWarin1744,
WilliamShirleyhadorganizedanIndependentCompanyofRangersunderCaptain
JohnGorhamtopatrolthebordersofNovaScotia.ButifRogersdidnotinvent
rangers,heperfectedtheirorganisationandmethods.
ShirleyauthorisedthestrengthofRobertRoger’snewcompanyat60
privates,3sergeants,and2juniorofficers.Rogersdrewallofthemfromthescouts
whohadalreadyservedwithhimatFt.Frederick,andheappointedhisbrother
Richardandagoodfriend,JohnStark,ashislieutenantandensign,respectively.All
ofthemhadtobeexceptionallyhardy,abletooperateinallseasons.Liketheir
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
7
leader,theytendedtobeScotsIrishsettlersfromthecolonialfrontierwell
acquaintedwiththewilderness.Therefore,theyneededlittleschoolingin
orienteering,stalkingandlivingofftheland,nottomentionbeingsuperb
marksmen.
RogersneverthelessconstantlytrainedhisRangersinhiswaysofwar,many
ofwhichhehadabsorbedfromtheNativeAmericansandCanadiensheoften
encounteredinhisyouth.Thus,theymasteredhowtoattackandretreat,howto
giveandtakefire,howtogivemutualsupport,howtomakecampandpostguards
whileasleeporatrest,andhowtoreactifsurrounded.Equallyimportantwerethe
skillsofmovingnoiselesslythroughthebush,communicatingsolelybyanimaland
birdnoises.
Rogersalsotaughthismentotravellongdistancesbothonlandandwater.
Insmallparties,theRangersmovedalongthetrailinsinglefile,wellspacedto
minimisetheeffectofenemyfire.Whentheyformedlargergroups,themajorsplit
themupintosmallerunitsabout20metresapart,eachoneofthemmarchingin
singlefilewithleadingscoutsandadvanceguards.Sometimeshewouldalsoassign
flankguardsagainstambush,buthealwaysalsoorderedarearguard.Onlakesand
rivers,theyusedeithercanoesor,inthecaseofmajoroperations,sturdierbateaux
(whaleboats),sometimesequippedwithasmallcannon,thatcouldferryupto22
menandtheirequipment.
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
8
Charismatic,extremelyfitandtoughasleather,RogersledhisRangersby
personalexample.Therearenoaccurateportraits,butheclearlycutanimposing
figure.AccordingtoJohnStark’sgrandson,“hewassixfeettallinstature,well
proportioned,andoneofthemostathleticmenofhistime.”Themajoralways
plannedhismissionswithpainstakingcare,keepinghismenfullybriefedofits
objectivesandthemethodstobeused.Hecommandedtheattackanddefence
personallyandtookgoodcareofhistroopsiftheywerewoundedorintrouble.
Rogersexpectedtoshowthesamecourage,enduranceandresourcefulness
ashimself.YetdespiteoftensevereconditionsandthemanyhazardsRangersfaced
deepinenemyterritory,herarelywantedforwillingrecruits.Indeed,therateof
desertionamonghismenwasmuchlowerthanamongprovincialorregular
soldiers.
Unliketheregulars,Rangersdidnotadoptaconsistentuniform.Instead,they
worethepracticaldressofhuntersaccustomedtolongforaysinthewoods.These
usuallyincludedabelted,woollenjacket,buckskinbreeches,andmoccasins.Dullish
greensandbrownspredominated,allthebettertoblendinwiththeforest’sfoliage.
AsbefittedtheirScots-Irishroots,manysportedBalmoralbonnets,whileothers
coveredtheirheadswithleatherjockeycaps.Theoveralleffectstruckmanylike
thatofNativeAmericans.TotheRev.JohnEntick,whosawthematLouisbourgin
1758,theRangershada“cut-throat,savageappearance,whichcarriesinit
somethingofnaturalsavages.”
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
9
Rangerswerealsoexpectedtobuytheirownkit,includingablanket(twoin
winter),knife,powderhorn,andhatchetortomahawk.Whentheysetoutonlongrangepatrols,theirhaversackscarriedenoughfoodtolastafortnightandtendedto
consistofdriedbeef,saltedpork,peas,rice,sugar,chocolateandginger,whichwas
thoughttowardoffscurvy.Indianshadtaughtthemalsototakealongparchedcorn
flour.Aspoonfulandadraughtofwaterexpandedinthestomachtosuppressthe
apatite.Meanwhile,theirwoodenwaterbottleswerefilledwithdilutedrum.
TheRangers’preferredfirearmwasarifledcarbine,whichwasmore
accuratethanthesmoothboreBrownBessissuedtotheredcoats.Aswithspecial
forcestoday,Rogersstronglyemphasizedmarksmanship.SincemanyRangershad
beenhunters,theyalreadytendedtobegoodshots.However,themajorceaselessly
orderedthemtoperfecttheiraim.Oneofhissuperiorsevencomplainedthatthe
frequenttargetpracticeofhismenwastedvaluablepowderandlead.
TheRangerswereanelitethatreliedoninitiativeandflexibility.Asaresult,
theirhierarchywasmuchlessrigidthanthatofregularunits.Atthesametime,
Rogersdidnotsubjecthismentoexcessiveparadegrounddrillorpolishingbrass
buttonstogleamingperfection.SomeBritishcommanderswerenotimpressedwith
theirseeminglyundisciplinedways.Nordidtheyapproveoftheirdiverse
backgrounds.EnglishgentlemenofficersalreadylookeddownonScotsIrish
immigrants,andweredismayedtoseethemajorgoontofillhisrankswithIrish
Catholics,Spaniards,NativeandAfricanAmericans,andevenaHarvardgraduate.
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
10
ManyofthemwouldhaveagreedwithGeneralJamesWolfe’sassessmentofcolonial
troopsmoregenerally,as“thedirtiest,mostcontemptible,cowardlydogsyoucan
conceive…Suchrascalsasthoseareratheranencumbrancethananyrealstrengthto
anarmy.”
OperatingfromtheBritishpositionsatFortsEdwardandWilliamHenryat
LakeGeorge’ssoutherntip,Rogersimmediatelyputhisnewcompanytowork.A
typicalexpeditionthatyearwasinJuly,whensummer’sswelteringheatjoinswith
theravenouscloudsofmosquitoesandblackfliestotesteventhehardiest
outdoorsman’slimits.FiftyRangerssetouttoreconnoitretheFrenchatFortSt.
Frédéric,orCrownPoint.Infivebateauxtheyrowedfifteenkilometresnorthwards
onLakeGeorge.Landingonitseasternshore,theythencarriedtheboatsanother
tenkilometresthroughthebushtoLakeChamplain’swaters,afeatthattookthem
nolessthanthreedays.Astheymovedonlybynightwithmuffledoars,hidingin
theforestduringtheday,theysilentlypassedFortTiconderogaandmadeland15
kilometresnorthofCrownPointwithoutoncebeingspotted.
Wellconcealed,theRangerswatchedtheconstantflowofshipsferrying
suppliesfromQuebecandMontrealtotheFrenchstrongholds.Afternightfall,they
silentlyrowedoutagainandattackedtwosloopsloadedwithwine,brandyand
flour,killedsomeofthecrew,tookothersprisoner,andsankthevesselsbefore
hidingtheirboatsandreturningtoFortHenry.Onlyafewweekslater,Rogersled
anotherdetachmentofhisRangersbacktotheboats,stillwellconcealedinthe
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
11
woods,androwedevenfurthernorth.Theretheypouncedonanenemypatroland
tookmoreprisonersbeforeagainmakingtheirwaybackoverwaterandlandtothe
Britishfort.
RogersalsofoundotherwaystocarryoutShirley’sorderstoharassthe
Frenchfoe.Thenextyear,onanothermissionintoFortTiconderoga,onDecember
24hecapturedtwomenandthenfiredonitswallstoprovokethecommanderto
orderhismenoutintotheopen.Notonlywastheforaywithouteffect,butthe
officerhadtocanceltheChristmasEveMasstokeephistroopsonalert.Meanwhile,
inthedarkofnightRogerssetseveralhutsandpilesofcordwoodoutsideaflame.
Surveyingthesmokingremnantsthenextmorning,theFrenchmenfound17dead
cattle.Betweenthehornsofoneofthemwasanote,
Iamobligedtoyou,sir,forthereposeyouhaveallowedmetotake;Ithank
youforthefreshmeatyouhavesentme;Ishalltakecareofmyprisoners;I
requestyoutopresentmycomplimentstotheMarquisdeMontcalm.
(Signed)ROGER,CommandantoftheIndependentCompanies.
Themarquiswasnotamusedby“thispartisan’scustomarygasconade.”
Overthenextfewyears,theRangers’manypatrolsprovidedmuchvaluable
intelligenceabouttheadversary’sdefencesandoperations.Theyalsostruckfear.
IndiansalliedtotheFrenchcalledRogersWobomagonda,“theWhiteDevil.”Bythe
sametoken,NewEngland’spresssanghispraisesatatimewhenmuchoftherestof
thenewsgivelittlecheer.TheEnglishtroopsatFortsWilliamHenryandEdward
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
12
wereevenmoredelighted.Itbecameatestofcourageamongofficersoftheregular
forcestovolunteerasecondmenttooneofRogers’expeditions,fromwhichthey
invariablyreturnedmarvellingatthecompetenceanddaringofthesetough
guerrilleros.
ItwasnoteasytobeaRanger.Rogerssethighstandardsofcourageand
staminawhichonlythebestcouldmeet.AccordingtoCalebStark,thosewhowere
acceptedjoined
Abandofruggedforesters,everymanofwhom,asahunter,couldhitthe
sizeofadollaratahundredyards’distance;couldfollowthetrailofamanor
beast;endurethefatiguesoflongmarches,thepangsofhunger,andthecold
ofwinternights,oftenpassedwithoutfire,shelter,orcoveringotherthan
theircommonclothing,ablanket,andtheboughsofthepineorhemlock.
BeingaRangerwasalsodangerous,astheFirstBattleoftheSnowshoes(also
knownastheBattleofLaBarbueCreek)inwinter1757illustrates.OnJanuary17,
RogersleftFtWilliamHenrywith85mentoreconnoitreTiconderogaandCrown
Points,sincethefortshadapparentlybeenreinforced.Thesnowwasdeepandthe
airglacialasRogers’partymarchedinsinglefileontoLakeGeorge’sthickice.They
madegoodspeedandatsundownmadecamponthedenselywoodedshoresome
18kilometresnorth.Toescapedetection,themendugfirepits,whichthey
surroundedbybrushlean-tos.Themajorlikewiseimposedstrictsilenceand
orderedthegrouptocommunicateonlybyhandsignalsorthebarestwhisper.
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
13
Rogersrousedhismenatdawn,sincetheenemywaswonttoattackin
daybreak’sfaintlight.Afterabreakfastofhotgruelandatotofrum,thepartywas
onceagainonthemarch.Theykeptclosetotheshoreline,whileflankingparties
andanadvanceguardsecuredthesurroundings.Afteralittlewhile,Rogershalted
andorderedeleventostepforward.Hehadnoticedthattheyhaddifficulty
marchinganddidnotwantthemtoslowtherest.Despiteferventprotests,the
groupwasorderedbacktotheBritishfort.
Nownumbering74,theRangersproceededonanorthwesterlycourseinthe
bittercold.Onthethirdevening,theysetuptheircampsomefivekilometreswest
ofLakeChamplain.Thenextmorning,January21,theyawoketoslightlywarmer
weather,butasteadyrainhardlyeasedtheirprogress.Bylatemorning,Rogers
reachedFiveMilePoint,aspotmidwaybetweenCrownPointandTiconderoga.
Althoughdrizzleandmisthamperedvisibility,hisscoutsreportedseeingtwo
enemysleighsescortedbyfiveFrenchtroopsferryingprovisionssouthtoCrown
Point.RogershadcapturedtwosleighsatFivePointonhispreviouspatrol,andthis
seemedtheperfectopportunitytostrikeagain.
RogersorderedLtJohnStarkandapartyof20mentowardsCrownPoint,
whileheledalargergrouptoTiconderogatocutoffanyattempttoescape.
Meanwhile,therestofthepartystayedinthemiddle,atthemouthofLaBarbue
CreekintotheLake.AsStarkmanoeuvredhisgroupintoposition,themistrevealed
anothereightsleighs.RogersfranticallysenttwoofhisfastestmentoStarktotell
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
14
himtowaituntiltheentirepartyhadpassedbeforecarryingouthisambush.Itwas
toolate.
StarkadvancedtowardstheleadsleighswhileRogers,havingnoalternative,
hurriedtojointheadvanceparty.Together,theyseizedsevenFrenchmen,while
anotherthreemadegoodtheirescape.AlthoughRogersgavechasetothelarger
groupofsleighs,theyweretoofastandmadeitbacktoTiconderoga.Ashe
interrogatedhisprisonershelearnedthatsome200Canadiansand45Nativeallies
hadjustreinforcedthe350regularsatFortTiconderoga.Meanwhile,CrownPoint
wasgarrisonedbysome600troops.Therewasnotimetotarry.
Rogersorderedawarcouncil.MostsuggestedthathefollowtheRanger
standardoperatingprocedureofretreatingbyanotherroute.Buttherewasa
problem.Therainhadmoistenedthemen’spowder,renderingtheirmuskets
useless.Despitesomemisgivings,Rogersdecidedneverthelesstoretracehissteps
tothepreviousnight’scampeightkilometresaway,wherehisgroupcouldrekindle
thecampfirestodryouttheirweaponsandhastilydownamealbeforethe
hazardousjourneybacktoFortWilliamHenry.
At1400hourstheRangersresumedtheirretreat.Makinghiswayover
roughground,Rogersledhismendowntheslopeofthe25metrewideravine
formedbyLaBarbueCreek.Thealternative,remainingonhigherground,would
haveincreasedthelikelihoodofbeingspotted,hereasoned.Itprovedtobeafateful
decision.
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
15
Asthegroupbegantoascendtheotherslope,amidsttherain’ssteadypatter
aRangerheardaweaponbeingcocked.Inthelead,Rogerswasabouttoreachhigh
ground.BehindhimCaptainSpeakmanandthemainbodywerecrossingthecreek
andtherear,ledbyCaptainStark,hadjustbegunitsdescent.Suddenlyaroarof
musketfiresoundedthroughthewoods.LedbyCaptainBrasserode,some114
FrenchmenandIndianshadbeenlyinginambush.
Becauseoftherain,atleasthalfoftheirweaponsmisfired.TwoRangersfell
dead,whileanothertenwerewounded.Rogersnoworderedaquickretreattothe
oppositeridgeastheenemygavechase.Theirbayonetsandtomahawksclaimed
moreofhismenwhilethegroupdesperatelyrushedbacktothefirstslope.
AlthoughStark’sgroupprovidedcoveringfire,clamberinguptheforestedinclineon
snowshoeswasdifficultbusiness.Nevertheless,mostmadetheirwaybacktohigh
groundandreachedtherelativesafetyofStark’sposition.
RogersnowlearnedthatBrasserodehadorderedaflankingmovementon
hisright,whichhismarksmenhaltedwithdevastatingvolleysoflead.Nevertheless,
themainenemyforcewasrapidlyclosinginontheRangers.Fortunately,theynow
hadtheadvantageofthedefence.Rogershaddrilledhismennottoshootinasingle
volley.Instead,halfwoulddischargetheirweaponswhiletheotherhalfreloaded
theirmuskets,therebyprovidingarelativelysteadyrateoffire–atechniqueonly
theRangersemployedatthetime.
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
16
Firingatroughlythirtysecondintervals,theRangerssucceededinparrying
theFrenchassault.Theenemynowbrokeandfledbackdowntothecreek.Asdusk
fell,theadversariestooktosnipingeachotheracrosstheravine.Onebullet
burrowedthroughRogers’lefthand,effectivelystoppinghisabilitytoreload.With
thewoodsnowdark,thefiringhadvirtuallyhalted.ThinkingmostoftheRangers
hadbeenkilled,agroupofIndiansadvancedtoclaimtheirscalps.Muchtotheir
surprise,avigorousrejoinderofmusketfiremetthem,andtheyscurriedbackto
theirownlines.
Brasserodehadorderedreinforcements,butonlyalittlemorethantwo
dozenFrenchmenfromTiconderogareplenishedhisranks.Theofficertherefore
decidedtostanddownuntilmorning.AsforRogers,heorderedhismensilentlyto
skirttheenemypositioninthedark.Ittookthem13hoursinthebittercoldto
reachLakeGeorge’snorthwesternshorethenextmorning.
ThejourneyhadbeenparticularlyhardonthewoundedRangers.Rogers
understoodthattheywereinnoconditiontocarryonmuchfurther.Hetherefore
orderedStarkandtwoofhismostablementorushbacktoFortWilliamHenryand
requestsleighstofetchtheremainder.WiththeFrenchlinesnownearlyten
kilometrestohisrear,itseemedaprudentmove.Movingrapidlydownthelake’s
frozensurface,Starkmadethe60kilometretrekinaremarkabletwelvehours.The
nextmorning,asledmetRogersandthemainpartyandferriedthewoundedtothe
Britishfort.
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
17
AboutwithsmallpoxhamperedRogers’recoveryfromhistwowounds,but
heeventuallyregainedhisstrength.Themissionhadnotbeensuccessful,having
comeatthecostof13killed,ninewoundedandseventakenprisoneramongthe74
whohadfought.Nevertheless,theirfeatoffendingoffaforcethatoutnumbered
themmorethantwo-to-onedeepinenemyterritoryonlyfurtherenhancedthe
major’sgrowingreputation.ThedayhereturnedtoFortWilliamHenry,its
commander,MajorEyre,immediatelywroteGeneralJamesAmbercomby,the
secondincommandoftheBritishinNorthAmerica,“Byallaccountstheybehaved
gallantlyandIapprehenddidagooddealofexecution.”
IfsomeBritishofficerslookeddownontheRangersasuncouthprovincials,
manyothersvaluedtheirskillshighly.By1757therewerefourRangercompanies
with100meneach,andfivemorewereauthorisedthenextyear,includingoneof
MoheganIndiansfromConnecticut.LordLoudon,nowtheBritishcommander-inchief,alsoorderedRogerstoformacadetcompanytotrainsomeofhismore
promisingofficersintherarefiedartsofthesmallwar.
Todisseminatethemajor’swisdommorewidely,Loudonaskedhimto
summarisetheselessonsonpaper.BasedontriedandtrueNativeAmerican
practices,these“28RulesofDiscipline”areoneofthemostconciseandeffective
statementsofsmallunitunconventionaltactics.Theyremainastruetodayaswhen
firstwrittendownovertwoandahalfcenturiesago.JohnRossexplains,
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
18
ItwouldbeRogers’signaturegeniustoseehowahighersynthesisofOldand
NewWorldpracticescouldcreateanewandformidablemodeofwarfare;
theinvisibilityandsweepingrangeoftheforestpeopleswouldbecleverly
unitedtothenewcomers’technologies,strategicvisionandculturalappetite
forinnovation.
RobertRogers’mostfamousexploitisalsohismostnotorious.Forovera
centurytheAbenaki,anAlgonquiannationsouthoftheStLawrenceRiver,had
frequentlyraidedvillagesonNewEngland’sborder.Theirquarrelhadbeen
longstanding.NotonlyweretheyalliedwiththeFrench,butEnglishcolonistshad
driventheAbenakifromtheirtraditionallandsintoNewFrance,whereonegroup
establishedavillageontheStFrancisRiver.
InSeptember1759,theBritishcommander-in-chief,LordJeffreyAmherst,
orderedRogersonamission“todisgracetheenemy”atStFrancis.“Takeyour
revenge,”hetoldthemajor,adding“tho’thosevillainshavedastardlyand
promiscuouslymurderedthewomenandchildrenofallages,”hewasnottoharm
anyNativewomenorchildren.”SettingoffonSeptember13,themajorfirstledhis
forceofsome200RangersbybateauupthewatersofLakeChamplain.The
presenceofarmedFrenchshipsmadethislegofthejourneyahazardous
undertaking,andthesmallflotillaproceededfortendayswithmethodicalslowness
toavoiddetection.
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
19
Rogersmadelandfallatthelake’snorthernshore.Hidinghisboats,henow
ledagruellingnine-daymarchthroughswampsandtracklesswoods.Thetrekwas
madeallthemoremiserablebythatautumn’sunusuallychillydamp.Therewasno
timetotarry,sincethemajorhadlearnedthattheFrenchhaddiscoveredand
destroyedhisbateauxandwerenowonhistail.Untilnowonlynaturehadclaimed
anycasualties,buthertollwasnotlight.Alreadywithinthefirstsixdaysone-fifthof
theRangershadbeenforcedtoabandonthemarch.
Theraiditself,carriedoutjustbeforedawnonOctober6,caughttheAbenaki
entirelybysurprise.Withthevillagedestroyedanditsinhabitants–includingmany
womenandchildren-decimated,themission’saimhadbeenaccomplished.Butthe
Rangers’travailshadonlyjustbegun.Prisonersconfirmedthattwolargeforcesof
enemytroopswerenearby,andbothwouldsoonhastenwithfurytoavengethe
major’saudacity.Asthegroup’smeagrerationsbegantorunout,faminenow
joinedtheFrenchandtheincreasinglyharshOctoberweatherasadeadly
adversarialtriplice.Accordingtooneaccount,“Some…losttheirsenses;whilst
others,whocouldnolongerbearthekeenpangsofanemptystomach,attemptedto
eattheirownexcrements.Whatleathertheyhadontheircartouchboxes,theyhad
already…greedilydevoured.”
Thedarkestmomentcametwoweeksintothetrekback.Beforesettingout
onhispatrol,Rogershadorderedalieutenanttomeethimwithprovisionsata
designatedpointonthereturnroute.Asthemajorandhisstarvingbandstraggled
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
20
totherendezvous,therewasnosignofthesubalternorhisstores.Yetthe
smoulderingembersofacampfiresuggestedthathehadjustbeenthereafewhours
earlier.“Itishardlypossibletodescribe[our]griefandconsternation,”Rogerslater
recalled.Nevertheless,hesummoneduphislastreservesofstrengthandaweek
latermanagedtomakeitbacktoaBritishpost.Itisatestamenttothemajor’sskills
that,ofthe140officersandmenwhoactuallyparticipatedintheraidonSt.Francis,
nearly90survivedthegruellinghomewardjourney.
Alittleovertwocenturieslater,inOctober1987,thecommandingofficerof
theQueen’sYorkRangers,Lt.ColonelRossMcKee,RSMPeterWellsand10other
soldiersofallranksjoinedagroupofreenactorswhoretracedthefinalstepsof
Rogers’raidonSt.Francis(nowOdanak,nearDrummondville,Quebec).Motivated
bythespiritofcommemoratingthepastbutcelebratingpeace,onbehalfofthe
RegimentMcKeepresentedtheChiefoftheAbenakiwithhistoricalpeaceofferings
oftobaccoandmaize.“Weforgivebutdonotforget,”theChiefgravelyreplied.
RobertRogersmadehisnamethroughirregularoperations.However,
Rangersalsojoinedmoreconventionalcampaigns.In1757andagainthenextyear,
RangercompaniesweresenttoHalifaxtojointheassaultsonthegreatFrenchnaval
bastionatLouisbourg,inCapeBreton.Duringthesecondeffort,whichwas
successful,theRangersplayedacrucialrolebyhelpingtosecureabeachhead.
Enemyfirefromshorewassoheavythattheircommander,Brigadier-GeneralJames
Wolfe,hadorderedthemtoturnback.
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
21
WhethertheRangersdidn’thearthecommandormerelypretendednotto
dosoremainsopentoquestion.However,inthe“stormofgrapeandmusketry,”the
landingpartyhadspottedarelativelyquietsectionofthecoast.Therewasagood
reasonthisspotsawlittlefighting,sinceitwasanearlyperpendicularwallofrock.
Nevertheless,theRangersmanagedtoscaletheheight.Overwhelmingthe
surpriseddefenderswithbayonets,hatchetsandknives,theybeatthembackand
coveredthelandingfortherestofWolfe’sbrigade.Thefortresscapitulatedseven
weekslater,nowleavingNewFrancevulnerabletoinvasionfromsea.
Thefollowingyear,1759,sawtheturningofthetideasGeneralWolfeseized
QuébecattheBattleofthePlainsofAbraham.UnderdirectordersoftheKing,four
companiesofRogers’RangersjoinedWolfe’smarchontheFrenchcolonialcapital,
andtheyhadbeenthefirsttoengageMontcalm’sforces.Beforetheencounteron
thePlainsofAbraham,theBritishgeneraltriedtotempttheFrenchfromtheir
impregnablefortressbyorderingtheRangerstodestroyFrenchvillagesalongthe
oppositeshoreoftheStLawrence.Asaresult,theydidnotparticipateinthefateful
battleitself.Meanwhile,theotherRangercompanies,whichhadremainedinthe
ChamplainValleywithRobertRogers,actedastheadvanceguardinGeneralJames
Abercrombie’scaptureofTiconderogaandCrownPoint.
TheBritishlaunchedathree-prongedassaultonMontrealthenextyear.Led
byBrigadier-GeneralJamesMurray,Wolfe’ssuccessor,onepartyof4,000troops,
includingtheRangercompanies,sailedupriverfromQuebec.Amherstmoved
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
22
downriverfromLakeOntario,whileBrigadier-GeneralWilliamHavillandferried
over3,500mennorthwardsfromLakeChamplain.SixRangercompaniesunder
MajorRogersactedasthelatter’sadvanceguard.
OneofHavilland’smajorobstacleswasGeneralBougainville’s1,700-man
forceatIsle-au-Noixatthelake’snortherntip.Whilehetrainedartilleryon
Bougainville’sposition,RogersandhisRangersdraggedthreecannonthroughthe
woodstoapointbehindthegeneral.Onceinposition,theyfiredatasmallflotilla
anchoredofftheisland.Themainshipsurrenderedwhileothersbecamestranded
onasandbank.Rogersquicklyorderedhisbestswimmerstostripandswimtothe
haplessvesselsundercoveringfirebytherest.Thoroughlyrattledbythesightof
thenakedRangersclimbingaboardwithtomahawksfirmlygrippedintheirteeth,
theterrifiedFrenchcrewofoneofthemcapitulated.Withtheothershipssoonin
Britishhandsaswell,Bougainvillesawnoalternativebutretreat.
MontrealitselffellonSeptember8asthethreeBritishforcesconvergedon
thetown.“Thusatlength…thewholecountryofCanadawasgivenup,andbecame
subjecttotheKingofGreatBritain,”Rogerswrote,addingthatthiswas“aconquest
perhapsofthegreatestimportancethatistobemetwithintheBritishannals.
TheRangers’lastimportantassignmentofthewarcamelaterthatyear.The
fightingwouldnotendformallyuntilthePeaceofParisin1763.However,France
hadalreadysurrendereditsNorthAmericancolony,whichincludedpostsatDetroit
andfurtherwest.ToGeneralAmherst,onlyRobertRogersseemedcapableof
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
23
makingthedangerousjourneythroughterritorylargelyunknowntotheBritishand
takepossessionoftheforts.WithtwocompaniesofRangers,themajorleft
Montrealinmid-SeptemberandmadehiswayuptheGreatLakestowhatisnow
Michigan.Alongtheway,hestoppedattheabandonedFrenchpostofToronto,
whichstruckhimas“amostconvenientplaceforafactory”(tradingstation).
OnNovember29RogerssuccessfullytookoverDetroit,whichheldthelast
remainingFrenchgarrisonofanyconsequence.Unfortunately,icefloesformingon
LakeHuronbarredfurtherprogress.Themajorthereforemadehiswaybacktothe
BritishheadquartersatNewYork,whereGeneralAmherstgreetedhimwithopen
arms.Althoughpeacewouldnotformallybedeclareduntil1763,thewarfor
Americawasnowover.Withhostilitiesconcluded,theRangercompanieswere
disbandedandRogerswentonhalfpay.
Butthereisonemorestorytotell.OnhiswaytoDetroitin1760,Rogersmet
Pontiac,thefamouschiefoftheOttawas.Sincehisnationhadbeenalliedwiththe
Frenchandhedidnotbelievethattheyhadbeendefeated,thechiefbarredhisway.
Musteringallhisconsiderablecharmandskillsofpersuasion,themajorexplained
thathisRangersmeantnoharm.RogersultimatelypersuadedPontiacthatthe
EnglishwantedtoliveinpeacewiththeIndiannationsandhispartycouldproceed.
ThenextfewyearsdidnotreassuretheOttawachief.Convincedthatthe
Englishwereamenacetohispeople,herousedhismenaswellasthePotawatomies
andWyandotstodrivethemoutoftheirlands.In1763Pontiaccapturedseveral
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
24
fortsandbegantobesiegeDetroit,whichheldthemostimportantgarrison.“Itis
importantforus,mybrothers”hedeclaredtohiswarriors,“thatweexterminate
fromourlandsthisnationwhichseeksonlytodestroyus.”Someoftheofficers
holedupinthefortdespairedandconsideredretreatingtoNiagara.Reliefcamein
JulywhenAmherstsenthisaide-de-camp,CaptainJamesDalyell,aswellasRogers
andtwentyofhiserstwhileRangerstoDetroit.
Pontiac’scampwasafewkilometresnortheastofthepostneartheDetroit
River’sbanks.Dalzieldecidedtomakeasortieatnight,findPontiac’sforce,destroy
it,andendtheIndianthreatforgood.Despiteseriousmisgivingsbythefort’s
commanderaswellasRogers,Dalyellmarchedhismenoutofthefort’sprotecting
wallsshortlyafter2:00am.Pontiac’sspieshadlearnedoftheoperationandwere
ready.AsDalyell’svanguardcrossedabridgeoverasmallcreek(laterknownas
BloodyRun),anIndianambushcaughttheredcoatsentirelybysurprise.Firing
aimlesslyintothesurroundingblackness,thetroopssoonrealizedthesituationwas
hopelessandbeatadisorderlyretreat.
Rogers,whohadneverthelessjoinedDalyell,rushedwithhisRangersto
seizeasolidhouseclosetotheriver,whencetheirmusketfirecoveredthemain
body’swithdrawal.ButnowtheRangerswereindangerofbeingisolatedandcut
off.EventuallytwobateauxwithgunsdroveofftheIndianstoallowRogerstomake
goodhisescapetothefort.
1.ROGERS’RANGERS
25
TheBattleofBloodyRunwouldthelastrecordedactionofRogersandhis
Rangersforoveradozenyears.Formidableinwar,themajordidnotflourishin
peace.Theendofthehostilitiesfoundhimdeepindebt,inpartbecausetheCrown
wouldnotreimbursethepayhehadadvancedhismen.Arrestedforinsolvencyin
NewYork,RogerseventuallymovedtoLondon,wherepublishedhisjournalsto
someacclaim.Therewasalsoaplay,Ponteach,ortheSavagesofAmerica.Despitehis
morerecentencounterwiththechief,thedramawasaremarkablysympathetic
portrayaloftheFirstNations.
BynowRogershadgrownobsessedwithfindingtheNorthwestPassage,the
fabledroutetothePacific.In1766,hesecuredanappointmentascommandantof
thefurtradingpostatMichilimackinacalongwithroyalpermissiontolookforthe
passage.Neitherweresuccessful,andRogerssoonfoundhimselfchargedwithhigh
treason.Acquittedduetolackofevidence,themajorreturnedtotheBritishcapital.
Onceagainhiseffortstorecoverthemoneyowingtohimwereentirelyinvain.
Drinkingandgamblingfurthercompoundedhiswoes.Therewereevenseveral
periodsindebtor’sprison.Thelast,fortwoyears,wasthelongest.Ayearafterhis
releasein1774,RogerssailedbacktotheNewWorld.Littledidheknowthat
Britainwasabouttofaceanothermajorcrisisinthecolonies.