| Rogers'
Rangers
Major Robert Rogers commanded a force known as Rogers' Rangers
during the French & Indian War in North America between 1754 and 1763.
With a few allowances made for modern technology, his standing orders
are still highly relevant today:
- Don't forget nothing.
- Have your musket clean as a whistle,
hatchet scoured, sixty rounds powder and ball, and be ready to march
at a minute's warning.
- When you're on the march act the way
you would if you was sneaking up on a deer. See the enemy first.
- Tell the truth about what you see and
what you do. There is an army depending on us for correct
information. You can lie all you like when you tell folks about the
Rangers, but don't never lie to a Ranger or an officer.
- Don't never take a chance you don't
have to.
- When we're on the march we march single
file, far enough apart so one shot can't go through two men.
- If we strike swamps or soft ground, we
spread out abreast, so it's hard to track us.
- When we march, we keep moving till
dark, so as to give the enemy the least possible chance at us.
- When we camp, half the party stays
awake while the other half sleeps.
- If we take prisoners, we keep 'em
separate till we have time to examine them, so they can't cook up a
story between them.
- Don't ever march home the same way.
Take a different route so you won't be ambushed.
- No matter whether we travel in big
parties or small ones, each party has to keep a scout about 20 yards
on each flank, and 20 yards in the rear, so the main body can't be
surprised and wiped out.
- Every night you'll be told where to
meet if surrounded by a superior force.
- Don't sit down to eat without posting
sentries.
- Don't sleep beyond dawn. Dawn's when
the French and Indians attack.
- Don't cross a river by a regular ford.
- If somebody's trailing you, make a
circle, come back onto your own track, and ambush the folks that aim
to ambush you.
- Don't stand up when the enemy's coming
against you. Kneel down, lie down, hide behind a tree.
- Let the enemy come till he's almost
close enough to touch. Then let him have it and jump out and finish
him with your hatchet.
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