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Engagements: 1780 - Siege of Charleston 1781 - Pee Dee 1781 - Black River 1781 - Georgetown 1781 - Wragg's Ferry 1781 - Horse Shoe The regiment was originally raised on August 16, 1776 by Robert Rogers of French and Indian War fame. Command passed from Roberts to Lt. Colonel Christopher French in 1777, followed by Major James Wemyss of the 40th Regiment of Foot, who was wounded at Germantown. The Queen's Rangers achieved its greatest fame (or notoriety, depending on your viewpoint) under the leadership of John Graves Simcoe, first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada. Simcoe took command of the Rangers on October 15, 1777. Initial recruitment was from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Virginia. Later recruits came from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and South Carolina. The infantry included line (or "hat") companies, light infantry, and grenadier companies, and a highland company (raised from Mohawk Valley Scots). The Rangers eventually became a mixed or legionary force with the addition of Diemar's Hussars and Sandford's Bucks County Light Dragoons. The unit was later placed on the Regular British rolls as part of the "American Establishment" in May 1779 and renumbered as the First American Regiment. The Queen's Rangers were stationed in New York until sent to Charlestown in April 1780, returning to New York in June. The Rangers returned to the South in December as part of Arnold's expedition to Virginia. After this they became part of Cornwallis' army, eventually surrendering at Yorktown. Aside from Simcoe and Rogers, the unit also was home to the notable Benjamin Thompson. Thompson commanded a troop of dragoons during the Rangers' occupation of Long Island. He ordered the building of Fort Golgotha on Huntington church grounds. Thompson accheived postwar fame as an inventor in Europe, and received the honory title of Count Rumford. |
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© 2007 - J.D. Lewis - PO Box 1188 - Little River, SC 29566 - All Rights Reserved