From DavidB: Rogers' Rangers (60points)

 what-cha goin' do PL

Alas, I have been busy this new year with lots of family and professional tasks. I did manage to complete another unit for my French and Indian War project. These are Rogers' Rangers and probably the most (in)famous unit of the war. Maj Robert Rogers was a commoner and raised by colonist parents who had a farm in what is now New Hampshire.  He was raised in the forests and at the time he was raised near first nations. He was very astute in diplomacy with first nations and issues on the ground with the colonies. He was well versed in fighting and traveling the forests and streams. When he initially joined the British effort he was disappointed by British use of locals. In the French and Indian War, provincial militias were used as fodder and disregarded as inept. The British Regiments relied on first nation scouts, and the grenadier and light infantry components for skirmishes and scouting. Rogers codified light infantry with the principles of patrolling and and the 28 Rules of Ranging. He recruited frontier men and trained them. He paid for their uniforms and wages when the crown would not. He attacked from places the French wouldn't expect such as miles long marches through swamps in late autumn and early winter. Moving through places deemed impassable. He would win fame and fortune and lose it all once being imprisoned as a debtor before escaping. If he wasn't defending himself against enemies in court he probably would have fought for the Americans in the Revolution. General Gage didn't trust him and had him removed as Governor of what is now Michigan.  Instead he had settled in Nova Scotia and raised more Ranger companies on his land replete with a ranger training area and target ranges, his brother assumed control and reportedly the site and training area exists today. Although he remained loyal and many of his exploits have been named lies by detractors, the price of the bounty placed on him by the French seem that those exploits are more than likely true. The exploits of the Rangers were certainly extraordinary. Also the fact that the 28 Rules of Ranging and principles of patrolling are Bible for the US Army Rangers. The modern ranger will out march, out fight, and outlast any force on the planet and for the American  Military,  Rangers are the QRF for tier one special operations. 

Like the French Marines, the Rangers are not uniformly equipped.

The caps they wore did have a bill that could be bent down to shield the eyes for precision shooting. Rangers could form up in line formation, but excelled in small  two to eight man teams. In buddy pairs one would not fire his firelock unless his partner was reloaded. Buddy pairs were the smallest of the fire-teams and emphasized covering each other with movements practiced for hunting and evading enemy forces.

12 models and Warlord gave me one repeat out of a range that has dozens of individual sculpts. .

Some flash as these are easily a decade old, but the sculpting and mix of gear is very good.

The fellow 2nd from the left above does have his bill lowered on his cap shading his eyes.

And Rogers himself with his wolf hound companion. Unless the breed changed that is. Warlord used colored woodcuts and early artwork for the uniforms and rarely did early artists show dogs and horses properly. I painted his dog wolf like as the sculpt and painting guide dictated. I did not paint the gaiters as blue felt ones. The Rangers would have used waterproof leather ones for the protection from the briers and brambles as well as the soaking the legs would get from swamps and rivers. I would not want to imagine how soggy your pretty blue felt gaiters would be after a three day March through Michigan Cedar swamps...sounds way too uncomfortable and a quick way to frostbite.

There was actual bead and tassel work on his satchel and medicine bags and the Rangers themselves are equipped with all sorts of blades, tomahawks, pistols, and proper Ranging gear.

These are the grandfather's of American Rangers and besides the French Marines they excelled at the skirmish nature of warfare in North America.  Many of the FIW veterans formed Ranger companies in the Revolution and even fought against Rogers Rangers that were now Canadian. I would argue that many of Rogers deeds were because of his tenacity and the friendships and allies he made with the rangers. I would not be surprised to learn that rangers from British and American sides aided in his escape from prison. Although Rogers did achieve the rank of Colonel, he was reduced to Major during many of his legal issues.

12 Rangers  for 60 points!

Good looking Rangers here David and a great history lesson too! I was unfamiliar with the "28 Rules of Ranging" so I appreciated learning about Maj Rogers' contribution to military learning. Nice sculpts from Warlord Games here and I really like that you painted the Major and his feline companion in this group of models, they all look great.

Sixty points added!

Dallas