Rangering Across the Ages

This is to be my general Ranger blog; I 'range' across so much of time and space that having separate blogs is ridiculous when one can do. As a result, this one will cover my Dunedain Ranger work, my Colonial Ranger/Longhunter work, Paleo-'Ranger' work, and even a bit of my more modern 'Recon' Ranger work from time to time.

It seems I have Rangering in my blood. I discovered another of my grandsires served as a Ranger in one of the two Massachusetts Ranger Companies under the command of Robert Rogers...yes, that Rogers..during the Seven Years War (French & Indian). I knew he had served during that war, but not in what capacity.  Imagine my delighted surprise to find that he was, indeed, a Ranger. :) Massachusetts actually provided the bulk of the early Ranger Companies during the 17th and early 18th centuries. That would surprise a lot of folk, especially some of those in the South who tend to think of us as anything but. LOL We provided companies of Sharpshooters for the Civil War and of course, Light Infantry for the American War of Independence.

But I digress.

I have my sights set on a lovely replica 'Ranger' Bess sold by a trader out of New Hampshire. Even more so now that I know my ancestor very probably used one like this; the 'cut down' Brown Bess was proven by excavations on Rogers' island camp where the barrel ends were found. A single extant musket with the bayonet lug relocated on the cut down barrel exists in a museum collection. The weapon is still four feet long and some, so 'cut down' is relative. They were modified from the Long Land Brown Bess, the standard British infantry musket at the time. Most Colonial militia would have had this kind of musket.

To go with that, green breeches, 'Indian' stockings (leggings), moccasins (Winter & Summer), shirt, hunting shirt, green hunting frock, and of course, hat (tricorn or round). Leather shooting bag, powder horn, musket (.75 caliber; essentially a 12 gauge in rifle form), tomahawk, and knife. With the haversack and blanket roll I should be good to go for pretty much any time of year or place. That is being a Ranger.

For the shooting bag I will like as not use a replica of a WWII German 'bread bag', which can be used with shoulder strap or hung from the belt. Done right it won't look any different from a historic pouch from the outside and in any case, I would use it more for general ranging about than for reenactment anyway. I reckon some antler or horn buttons in place of the stamped aluminum ones the original has, iron or brass rings in place of the enameled steel, and there we go. Oh, and leather rather than canvas.

Yes, I know, pictures. I do take them, I am just horrible about posting them. They will get here eventually.

Eledhwen