Queen's Rangers

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Queen's Rangers
Active
  • 1776–1783
  • 1791–1802[1]
  • 1837–1838
Country 
Dragoons
Role
SizeCompany
Garrison/HQ
Nickname(s)Queen's American Rangers, Simcoe's Rangers
EngagementsAmerican Revolutionary War

Rebellions of 1837–1838

Commanders
Notable
commanders
A rifleman of the Queen's Rangers, ca. 1780

The Queen's Rangers, also known as the Queen's American Rangers, and later Simcoe's Rangers, were a

Queen Charlotte, consort of George III. The Queen's Rangers was a light corps in the tradition of British rangers during the Seven Years' War
, operating on the flanks and in advance of Crown forces, manning outposts, conducting patrols, and carrying out reconnaissance and raiding operations.

A low number of Black Loyalists served in the Queen's Rangers, such as the trumpeter Barnard E. Griffiths.[2] After the war, the Rangers were removed to the British colony of Nova Scotia and disbanded. On September 1, 1791, the regiment was re-formed as the Queen's Rangers under Colonel Commandant John Graves Simcoe.[3][4]

French and Indian War

The origins of the Queen's Rangers began in the

Robert Rogers raised companies of New England frontiersmen for the British and trained them in woodcraft, scouting, and irregular warfare, sending them on raids along the frontiers of New France as Rogers' Rangers.[5]

The Rangers soon gained a considerable reputation, particularly in the campaigning in upstate New York around Fort Ticonderoga and Lake Champlain. They also launched a long-range raid to destroy Indian allies in the St. Lawrence valley, gained the first lodgement in the amphibious landings on Cape Breton to capture Louisbourg, and took the surrender of the French outposts in the upper Great Lakes after the war.[6]

American Revolutionary War

A grenadier of the Queen's Rangers, ca. 1780

When the American Revolutionary War broke out in 1775, about fifty Loyalist regiments were raised, including the

George III. It first assembled on Staten Island in August 1776 and grew to 937 officers and men, organized into eleven companies of about thirty men each, and an additional five troops of cavalry.[8]

The unit immediately set about building fortresses and redoubts, including the one that stood at Lookout Place. Rogers did not prove successful in this command and he left the unit on January 29, 1777. The regiment had suffered serious losses in the Battle of Mamaroneck, a surprise attack on their outpost position at Mamaroneck, New York, on October 22, 1776. Eleven months later, on September 11, 1777, they distinguished themselves at the Battle of Brandywine, suffering many casualties while attacking entrenched American positions.[5] They were then commanded by Major James Wemyss. On October 15, 1777, John Graves Simcoe was given command, when the unit became known informally as "Simcoe's Rangers".[3]

Charlestown, South Carolina (1780); in the raid on Richmond, Virginia with Benedict Arnold and in other raids in Virginia (1780–1).[3]

The unit surrendered at Yorktown, its rank and file imprisoned at Winchester, Virginia. Earlier, on May 2, 1779, the regiment was taken into the American establishment as the 1st American Regiment and was later, on December 25, 1782, taken into the British establishment. In 1783, when the war was ended by the

Post-war years

After 1791, when Simcoe was named lieutenant governor of the newly created

During the

Samuel Peters Jarvis raised a new Queen's Rangers out of the York Militia to fight the rebels, which again disbanded soon after being raised.[4][10]

Legacy

Lieutenant Colonel John Graves Simcoe

A

The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC) traces its roots to the original Rogers' Rangers.[11] In 2012 the Rangers were assigned the perpetuation of three War of 1812 units and received battle honours accordingly.[12]

An Ontario historical plaque was erected in Yorktown, Virginia, by the province to commemorate the Queen's Rangers' role in Ontario's heritage.[13]

An elementary school in Copetown, Ontario was named after the Queen's Rangers in 1958. This school was closed in 2019.[14]

Notable officers

  • Lieutenant Colonel Robert Rogers: Commanded August 26, 1776, to January 29, 1777. Former commander of Rogers' Rangers during the French and Indian War.
  • Major Christopher French: Temporary Commander January 30 to May 4, 1777. Came from and returned to the 22nd Regiment of Foot.
  • Major James Wemyss: Commanded May 5 to October 14, 1777. Came from the 40th Regiment of Foot. Later was field commander of the 63rd Regiment during the Southern Campaign.
  • Lieutenant Colonel John Graves Simcoe: Commanded October 15, 1777, to October 13, 1783. Came from the 40th Regiment of Foot.
  • Captain Æneas Shaw: Purchased his commission towards the start of the American Revolution, later becoming Captain. Rejoined the reformed Queen's Rangers in 1792 when the unit relocated to Kingston, and then went with Lieutenant Colonel Simcoe to York, present-day Toronto, in 1793.[15]

Footnotes

  1. ^ War Office, A List of the Officers of the Army and marines with an Index; A Succession of Colonels; and a List of the Officers of the Army and Marines on Half-Pay. Also with an Index. Army List, 1794.
  2. ^ "REVISITING B. E. GRIFFITHS: FORMER SLAVE, QUEEN'S RANGER, AND "SON OF AFRICA"; Journal of the American Revolution". 23 April 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "John Graves Simcoe; The Dictionary of Canadian Biography". Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "The Queen's Rangers [Loyalist American]". 2007-10-16. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  5. ^ a b "Robert Rogers; The Dictionary of Canadian Biography". Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  6. ^ "Francis Parkman".pp.266-267
  7. ^ Katcher, p.98
  8. ^ See mentions as in various contemporary reports e.g.By W. T. Sherwin, W.T. & Carlile, Richard, The Republican, Volume 9, London, 1824, pp.98-100
  9. ^ "Christopher Robinson; The Dictionary of Canadian Biography". Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  10. ^ "Samuel Peters Jarvis; The Dictionary of Canadian Biography". Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  11. ^ The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment): History Archived April 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 11/02/12.
  12. ^ The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC) Retrieved 11/02/12.
  13. ^ "Ontario Plaque". Archived from the original on 2009-03-30. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  14. ^ "Saying farewell to Queen's Rangers Elementary School in Copetown". Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  15. ^ "Aeneas Shaw; The Dictionary of Canadian Biography". Retrieved August 16, 2021.

References

External links