16200 - Rogers’ Rangers Private, 1758

Robert Rogers captained a ranger company of New Hampshire soldiers stationed at British Fort William Henry during the French and Indian War. During the winter of 1755 Rogers and a small group of 32 men remained at the fort, scouting and raiding enemy forts. Their tactics were so effective that in the spring of 1756 the small group was expanded to a full company with supplies and pay coming from the Crown. The usefulness of Rogers’ company during 1756 and 1757 prompted the British to form a second ranger company, which was soon followed by more. By early 1758, the rangers had been expanded to a corps of 14 companies. Among the 14 companies eventually formed, three were composed primarily of Native Americans. Although the unit was disbanded in 1761, Rogers and a small number of volunteers participated in the reinforcement of Fort Detroit during Pontiac’s Rebellion in 1763.