These original orders were promulgated by Major Robert Rogers for the use of his nine companies of Rangers fighting in the French & Indian Wars from 1754-1763. They have been repeated frequently in military history, and occur once again in Will Fowler's The Commandos at Dieppe. Though considered the original model for American 'Ranger' units, Rogers' Rangers were preceded by Captain Ben Church's Company of Rangers formed in 1670 for service against the Indians in King Philip's War (1670­-1675). Incidentally, the book mentions one 'Ranger' unit of which I've never heard, it was active in the American Civil War, and named Mean's Rangers, which apparently attacked the ammunition train of Longstreet. The Rangers Orders are worth any Wargamer knowing, and remembering! Don't forget anything. Have your musket clean as a whistle, hatchet scoured, 60 rounds powder and ball, and be ready to march at a minute's warning. Tell the truth about what you see and do. There is an army depending upon us for correct information. Never take a chance when you don't have to. March single file so one shot can't go through two men. In swamp or soft ground spread out abreast so it' hard to track us. Keep moving until dark, to give the enemy the least possible chance. In camp, half the men stay awake, while the other half sleep. Keep prisoners separate, so they can't cook up stories between them. Never march home the same way. Take a different route so you won't be ambushed. In a big group, or small, keep a scout 20 yards ahead, 20 yards on each flank, and 20 yards to the rear, so the main body can't be surprised and wiped out. Every night you'll be told where to meet if surrounded by a superior force. Don't sit down to eat without posting sentries. Don't sleep beyond dawn. Dawn is when the French and the Indians like to attack. Don't cross a river by a regular ford. If someone's trailing you, make a circle, come back onto your own tracks and ambush the folks who plan to ambush you. Don't stand up when the enemies coming against you. Kneel down, hide behind a tree. Let the enemy come until he's almost close enough to touch. Then let him have it, and jump out and finish him off with the hatchet Back to Table of Contents -- Lone Warrior # 150 Back to Lone Warrior List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2005 by Solo Wargamers Association. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com