Osprey Warrior 085 - American Colonial Ranger, The Northern Colonies 1724-65

This title examines the development of the Colonial Rangers in this period, and shows how they were taught to survive in the woods, to fight hand-to-hand, to scalp a fallen foe, and to fight across all types of terrain and in all weather conditions. Based on previously unpublished source material, it paints a vivid picture of the life, appearance and experiences of an American colonial ranger in the northern colonies. Covering the battle at Lovewell's Pond in 1725, a watershed event in New England’s frontier history, through to King George's War (1740-1748), the rangers were prepared for the final imperial contest for control of North America, the French-Indian War (1754-1763). CONTENTS......Page 5 INTRODUCTION......Page 6 CHRONOLOGY......Page 7 RECRUITMENT AND ENLISTMENT......Page 9 TRAINING AND TACTICS......Page 15 CAMP LIFE......Page 24 ON CAMPAIGN......Page 30 ESPRIT DE CORPS......Page 46 RANGERS IN BATTLE......Page 49 THEIR LEGACY......Page 52 COLLECTIONS, MUSEUMS, AND RE-ENACTMENTS......Page 53 GLOSSARY......Page 54 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 55 COLOR PLATE COMMENTARY......Page 57 INDEX......Page 66 Along the frontiers of the northern American colonies, where most of the battles of the French and Indian War took place, rangers were a vital addition to the main regular and provincial armies. Many of the British generals realized that the forest war could not be won without rangers Along the frontiers of the northern American colonies, where most of the battles of the French and Indian War took place, rangers proved indispensable adjuncts to the main regular and provincial armies, both as partisan warriors and as scouts.