Roger's Rangers
Roger's Rangers were a group of colonial militia that fought for the British during the French and Indian War. Commanded by Robert Rogers they operated primarily in the Lake George and Lake Champlain regions of New York. The rangers were formed during the winter of 1755 by forces entrenched at Fort William Henry. The Rangers developed some of the earliest forms of guerilla warfare used by European armies, used frequently during winter raids against French towns and emplacements, travelling on snowshoes and on frozen rivers.
Never fully respected by the regular British forces, they were often the only non-Indian force able to operate in the region due to the harsh winter conditions, and the difficulties of moving regular forces though the region's mountainous terrain.
After the British forces surrendered Fort William Henry, the Rangers were stationed on Roger's Island near Fort Edward. This allowed the Rangers to train and operate with more freedom than the regular forces.
During 1759 the Rangers were involved in one of their most famous operations. The Rangers were ordered to destroy an Indian settlement from which attacks on British villages were frequently being launched. Using a force of 200 rangers, Rogers lead his forces deep into French territory. Following the successful destruction of the village, the force ran out of food during their retreat back to British forces. Once the Rangers reached a safe location, Rogers left them encamped, and returned a few days later with food, and relief forces.
At the end of the war the Rangers were given the task of taking command of Detroit from the French forces on behalf of the British crown.
During the Second World War, the U.S. Army was interested in the tactics of the British commando units, which had a couple of years of experience, and wanted similar special operations forces of their own. Recalling this unit, they took the name "Rangers" as the official title; these units consider Rogers their founding father.
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Categories: U.S. colonial history