| Rogers' Rangers | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1755–1763 |
| Country | Great Britain |
| Allegiance | British Crown |
| Branch | Provincial Irregulars |
| Type | Special Operations Light Infantry |
| Role | Conducting unconventional or special light infantry operations |
| Size | Nine companies |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort William Henry (1755–1757) Rogers Island (1757–1763) |
| Engagements | French and Indian War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Major Robert Rogers Lieutenant John Stark Moses Hazen |
Rogers' Rangers was an independent company of colonial militia, attached to the British Army during the Seven Years War (called the French and Indian War in the United States). The unit was informally trained by Major Robert Rogers as a rapidly deployable light infantry force tasked with reconnaissance and conducting special operations against distant targets. Their military tactics were so bold and effective that the unit became the chief scouting unit of British Crown forces in the late 1750s. The British valued them highly for gathering intelligence about the enemy. Later, several members of Rogers' Rangers became influential leaders in the American Revolutionary War. Numerous ex-rangers participated as patriot militiamen at the Battle of Concord Bridge.
Three military formations now claim descent from Rogers' Rangers:
Contents |
Rogers' Rangers were a North American colonial militia that fought for the Kingdom of Great Britain during what was called the French and Indian War in the later United States and the Seven Years War in Canada, Britain and Europe. Commanded by Major Robert Rogers, they operated primarily in the Lake George and Lake Champlain regions of New York. The unit was formed during the severe winter of 1755 by provincial forces entrenched at Fort William Henry. The Rangers frequently undertook winter raids against French towns and military emplacements, traveling on crude snowshoes and across frozen rivers.
Although never fully respected by the British regulars, Rogers' Rangers were one of the few non-Indian forces able to operate in the region. Harsh winter conditions and mountainous terrain created rigorous conditions.
On January 21, 1757, at the First Battle on Snowshoes, Rogers' force of 74 rangers ambushed and captured seven Frenchmen near Fort Carillon at the south end of Lake Champlain. They ran into about 100 French and Canadien (French Canadian) militia and Ottawa from the Ohio Country. After taking casualties, Rogers' force retreated. In reports, the French noted the tactical disadvantage which they suffered, as they were without snowshoes and "floundering in snow up to their knees."[1] Rogers' Rangers had maintained positions on the high ground and behind large trees.[1] According to Francis Parkman, Ranger casualties were 14 killed and 6 captured, with 48 returning unharmed and 6 returning wounded. The French—consisting of 89 Regulars and 90 Canadians and Indians—had 37 killed and wounded.[2]
After British forces surrendered Fort William Henry in August 1757, the Rangers were stationed on Rogers Island near Fort Edward. This allowed the Rangers to train and operate with more freedom than the regular forces.
On March 13, 1758, at the Second Battle on Snowshoes, Rogers' Rangers ambushed a French-Indian column and, in turn, were ambushed by enemy forces. The Rangers lost 125 men in this encounter, as well as eight men wounded, with 52 surviving. One reference reports casualties of the Regulars, who had volunteered to accompany the Rangers, at 2 captured and 5 killed. Of Rogers' Rangers, 78 were captured and 47 killed and missing (of whom 19 were captured).[3] Rogers estimated 100 killed and nearly 100 wounded of the French-Indian forces. But, the French listed casualties as total of ten Indians killed, seventeen wounded and three Canadians wounded.[4]
The French originally reported killing Rogers in the second battle. This report was based on their finding some of his belongings, including his regimental coat containing his military commission, but he escaped. This episode also gave rise to the legend about Rogers’ sliding 400 feet down the side of a mountain to the frozen surface of Lake George. While there is no proof of this event, the rockface became known as "Rogers' Slide" or "Rogers Rock".[5]
On July 7–8, 1758 Rogers' Rangers took part in Battle of Carillon. On July 27, 1758 between Fort Edwards and Half-Way Brook, 300 Indians and 200 French/Canadians under Captain St. Luc ambushed a convoy. The British lost 116 killed (including 16 Rangers) and 60 captured.[6]
On August 8, 1758 near Crown Point, New York, a British force of Rangers, light infantry and provincials was ambushed by a French-Canadian-Indian force of 450 under Captain Marin. In this action, Major Israel Putnam was captured. Francis Parkman reports that the English fatalities were 49 and that the enemy killed were "..more than a hundred..". Likewise Rogers claimed English losses were 33 and that the enemy had losses of 199. However another source[7] reports that the French casualties were 4 Indians and 6 Canadians killed, and 4 Indians and 6 Canadians {including an officer and a cadet} wounded.
During 1759, the Rangers were involved in one of their most famous operations: they were ordered to destroy the Abenaki settlement of Saint-Francis in Quebec. It has been the base for raids and attacks of British settlements. Rogers led a force of 200 rangers from Crown Point deep into French territory. Following the October 3, 1759 attack and successful destruction of Saint-Francis, Rogers' force ran out of food during their retreat through the wilderness of northern New England. Once the Rangers reached a safe location along the Connecticut River at the abandoned Fort Wentworth, Rogers left them encamped. He returned a few days later with food, and relief forces from Fort at Number 4 (now Charlestown, New Hampshire), the nearest British outpost.
In the raid on Saint-Francis, Rogers claimed 200 enemies were killed, leaving 20 women and children to be taken prisoner, of whom he took five children prisoner and let the rest go.[8] The French recorded that only 30 were killed, including 20 women and children.[9] According to Francis Parkman Ranger casualties in the attack were 1 killed and 6 wounded; however in the retreat, 5 were captured from one band of Rangers and nearly all in another party of about 20 Rangers were killed or captured.[10] One source alleges that of about 204 Rangers, allies and observers, only about 100 returned.[11]
At the end of the war, the Rangers were given the task of taking command of Fort Detroit from the French forces. After the war, most of the Rangers returned to civilian life. In 1763 a unit of the Rogers' Rangers, the 80th Regiment of Light-Armed Foot (1758–1764), were ambushed at the Devil's Hole Massacre during Pontiac's Rebellion.
At the outbreak of the American Revolution at Lexington and Concord, former Rangers were among the Minutemen firing at the British. After these events, Rogers offered his help to the commander of the Colonial Army, George Washington. Washington refused, fearing that Rogers was a spy because Rogers had just returned from a long stay in England. Infuriated by the rejection, Rogers joined the British, where he formed the Queen's Rangers (1776) and later the King's Rangers. Several former Rangers served under General Benedict Arnold in revolutionary forces around Lake Champlain.[12]
The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) of the Canadian Army claim to be descended from Rogers' Rangers. Also claiming descent from Rogers' Rangers are the 1st Battalion 119th Field Artillery of Michigan and the U.S. Army Rangers.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||