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First Troop of Rangers, Georgia The
Recreated First Troop of Rangers, Province of Georgia Ron Shephard, Captain of the Troop |
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A brief history of the First Troop of Rangers, GeorgiaRon Shephard The First Troop of Rangers was formed in September 1756 to provide for the defense of the Georgia back country against Indian attacks. Governor John Reynolds decided, with the advice and consent of the Council, to form a troop of rangers consisting of six officers and seventy men. These provincial soldiers were to be based upon the exploits of earlier rangers in the colony’s history, and be full-time soldiers. Like their predecessors, the rangers were to be mounted soldiers and act much in the way of dragoons. With the departure of Governor Reynolds, Governor Ellis inherited the rangers and petitioned to have them entered into the regular British establishment. In words reminiscent of General James Oglethorpe, Governor Ellis summed up the worth of the rangers by stating they were “…well calculated for this country service, especially in case of Indian disturbances as they can shoot off horseback & ride full speed thro’ the Woods.” Ellis finally accomplished his goal after writing no less than thirteen letters to Lord Loudon, the commander-in-chief of all British forces in North America; Major General James Abercromby, Loudon’s successor; the Board of Trade; and William Pitt, the British Prime Minister. The Rangers were officially part of the British military establishment, and would be supported and supplied by the Crown. It is this group of stalwart men that we seek to emulate and honor with as accurate a portrayal of the First Troop of Rangers as possible. For further research, please see our Bibliography
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