The Queen's American Rangers
Founded by the Legendary Robert Rogers and Later Led by John Graves Simcoe, a Loyalist Unit that Fought Alongside the British Army Against the American Patriots
Prior to the British attack on Long Island in August 1776, French and Indian War hero Robert Rogers organized a regiment to join the fight—but not on the side of his native New Hampshire. Named in honor of Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III, Rogers’s regiment recruited the bulk of its soldiers from the large number of Loyalist refugees on Staten Island who had fled from New York. Rogers’s command of the unit was short-lived, however, after a humiliating defeat in late October by a surprise attack on his headquarters. Under new leadership, the unit played a decisive role and suffered heavy casualties at the battle of Brandywine that brought them their first favorable attention from the British high command. With this performance, and under the able leadership of John Graves Simcoe, the Queen’s American Rangers—sometimes known as “Simcoe’s Rangers”—were frequently assigned to serve alongside British regular troops in many battles, including Monmouth, Springfield, Charleston, and Yorktown. Receiving frequent high praise from Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton, the Commander in Chief of the British Army in America, the unit was placed on the American Establishment of the British Army in May 1779, a status conferred on provincial units that had performed valuable services during the war, and was renamed the 1st American Regiment. Before the end of the war, the rangers were fully incorporated into the British regular army, one of only four Loyalist units to be so honored.
The Queen’s American Rangers by historian Donald J. Gara is the first book-length account of this storied unit. Based on extensive primary source research, the book traces the complete movements, command changes, and battle performances of the rangers, from their first muster to their formal incorporation into the British Army and ultimate emigration to Canada on land grants conferred by a grateful British crown.
1120941642
The Queen's American Rangers
Founded by the Legendary Robert Rogers and Later Led by John Graves Simcoe, a Loyalist Unit that Fought Alongside the British Army Against the American Patriots
Prior to the British attack on Long Island in August 1776, French and Indian War hero Robert Rogers organized a regiment to join the fight—but not on the side of his native New Hampshire. Named in honor of Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III, Rogers’s regiment recruited the bulk of its soldiers from the large number of Loyalist refugees on Staten Island who had fled from New York. Rogers’s command of the unit was short-lived, however, after a humiliating defeat in late October by a surprise attack on his headquarters. Under new leadership, the unit played a decisive role and suffered heavy casualties at the battle of Brandywine that brought them their first favorable attention from the British high command. With this performance, and under the able leadership of John Graves Simcoe, the Queen’s American Rangers—sometimes known as “Simcoe’s Rangers”—were frequently assigned to serve alongside British regular troops in many battles, including Monmouth, Springfield, Charleston, and Yorktown. Receiving frequent high praise from Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton, the Commander in Chief of the British Army in America, the unit was placed on the American Establishment of the British Army in May 1779, a status conferred on provincial units that had performed valuable services during the war, and was renamed the 1st American Regiment. Before the end of the war, the rangers were fully incorporated into the British regular army, one of only four Loyalist units to be so honored.
The Queen’s American Rangers by historian Donald J. Gara is the first book-length account of this storied unit. Based on extensive primary source research, the book traces the complete movements, command changes, and battle performances of the rangers, from their first muster to their formal incorporation into the British Army and ultimate emigration to Canada on land grants conferred by a grateful British crown.
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The Queen's American Rangers

The Queen's American Rangers

by Donald J. Gara
The Queen's American Rangers

The Queen's American Rangers

by Donald J. Gara

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Overview

Founded by the Legendary Robert Rogers and Later Led by John Graves Simcoe, a Loyalist Unit that Fought Alongside the British Army Against the American Patriots
Prior to the British attack on Long Island in August 1776, French and Indian War hero Robert Rogers organized a regiment to join the fight—but not on the side of his native New Hampshire. Named in honor of Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III, Rogers’s regiment recruited the bulk of its soldiers from the large number of Loyalist refugees on Staten Island who had fled from New York. Rogers’s command of the unit was short-lived, however, after a humiliating defeat in late October by a surprise attack on his headquarters. Under new leadership, the unit played a decisive role and suffered heavy casualties at the battle of Brandywine that brought them their first favorable attention from the British high command. With this performance, and under the able leadership of John Graves Simcoe, the Queen’s American Rangers—sometimes known as “Simcoe’s Rangers”—were frequently assigned to serve alongside British regular troops in many battles, including Monmouth, Springfield, Charleston, and Yorktown. Receiving frequent high praise from Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton, the Commander in Chief of the British Army in America, the unit was placed on the American Establishment of the British Army in May 1779, a status conferred on provincial units that had performed valuable services during the war, and was renamed the 1st American Regiment. Before the end of the war, the rangers were fully incorporated into the British regular army, one of only four Loyalist units to be so honored.
The Queen’s American Rangers by historian Donald J. Gara is the first book-length account of this storied unit. Based on extensive primary source research, the book traces the complete movements, command changes, and battle performances of the rangers, from their first muster to their formal incorporation into the British Army and ultimate emigration to Canada on land grants conferred by a grateful British crown.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781594166013
Publisher: Westholme Publishing
Publication date: 08/14/2015
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 415
File size: 7 MB

About the Author

DONALD J. GARA is a historian of the American Revolution with special emphasis on the military contributions of the Loyalists. His articles have appeared in the Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research and he is a contributor to Cavalry of the American Revolution, also available from Westholme Publishing.

Table of Contents

List of Maps vii

Foreword ix

1 The Major Returns to America 1

2 The Eighteenth-Century British Army 8

3 Raising the Rangers, 1776 16

4 The Capture of Fort Washington and Fort Lee 31

5 The Siege of Fort Independence, 1777 36

6 Reorganization of the Rangers 46

7 Maneuvers in New Jersey 53

8 Bloody Day at Brandywine 63

9 Outpost Duty at Germantown 78

10 Skirmishes with the Rebels 87

11 Foraging in New Jersey, 1778 100

12 Quinton's Bridge and Hancock's Bridge 109

13 Crooked Billet and White Marsh, Pennsylvania 121

14 The Road to Monmouth Court House 131

15 Forward Post, Kingsbridge, New York 154

16 Winter Quarters, Oyster Bay, Long Island 176

17 Return to Kingsbridge 183

18 The Middlesex and Somerset Counties Raid 193

19 The Elizabethtown and Hoppertown Raids, 1780 205

20 The Siege of Charleston 215

21 Connecticut Farms and Springfield, New Jersey 223

22 March and Countermarch 233

23 Arnold's Raid Up the James River 240

24 Portsmouth Interlude 255

25 Phillips's Raid Up the James River 266

26 Charlottesville and Point of Fork 279

27 Spencer's Ordinary 292

28 Williamsburg to Yorktown 302

29 Taking Station at Yorktown and Gloucester 311

30 The Siege of Yorktown and Gloucester 318

31 Ranger Cavalry Operations in South Carolina, 1781 329

32 Aftermath 339

Notes 354

Bibliography 387

Index 395

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