Butler's Rangers
Encyclopedia
Butler's Rangers was a British provincial regiment
composed of Loyalist
s (or "Tories") in the American Revolutionary War
, raised by Loyalist John Butler
.
Most members of the regiment were Loyalists from upstate New York
. Among the regiment were former black slaves, the total number of black soldiers in Butler's Rangers is unknown, with estimates ranging from two to "more than a dozen". While some blacks served in other units
and as sapper
s in the Engineer Corps and in the Royal Artillery
, Sir William Howe banned the enlistment of blacks and ordered the disbanding of existing black regiments.
The Rangers were accused of participating in — or at least failing to prevent — the Wyoming Valley massacre
of July 1778 and the Cherry Valley massacre
of November 1778 of white settlers (including some Loyalists) by Joseph Brant
's Iroquois. These actions earned the Rangers a reputation for exceptional savagery. They fought principally in western New York
and Pennsylvania
, but ranged as far west as Ohio and Michigan and as far south as Virginia.
Their winter quarters were constructed on the west bank of the Niagara River in what is now the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
. Although the building that houses The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
Museum in that community is traditionally known as "Butler's Barracks
", it is not the original barracks and never housed Butler's Rangers. It was built in the years following the War of 1812
to house the Indian department and received the name because Butler had been a Deputy Superintendent in that department.
Variation A
Their uniforms consisted of a green woolen coat faced white and a white woolen waistcoat. Their pant garment was gaitered trousers made from Russia sheeting, a hemp product. Their hats were round hats, useful in shielding their faces from the sun. When in garrison or on parade, they could bring up the leaves of that hat to form a cocked hat. Their belting was black.
Variation B
Dark green coats faced with scarlet and lined with the same, a waistcoat of green cloth, and Buckskin Indian leggings reaching from the ankle to the waist...their caps were almost skull caps of black jacket leather or turned up felt with a black cockade on the left side. Their belts were of buff leather and crossed at the breast where they were held in place by a brass plate marked in the same manner and with the same words as the cap plate.
musket
. A mix of other firearms may have been used but would have created a supply issue due to calibre variations.
, a primary reserve regiment of the Canadian Forces based out of St. Catharines, Ontario.
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
composed of Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
s (or "Tories") in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, raised by Loyalist John Butler
John Butler (pioneer)
John Butler was a Loyalist who led an irregular militia unit known as Butler's Rangers on the northern frontier in the American Revolutionary War. He led Seneca and Cayuga forces in the Saratoga campaign. He later raised and commanded a regiment of rangers.-Background:John was born to Walter...
.
Most members of the regiment were Loyalists from upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
. Among the regiment were former black slaves, the total number of black soldiers in Butler's Rangers is unknown, with estimates ranging from two to "more than a dozen". While some blacks served in other units
Black Loyalist
A Black Loyalist was an inhabitant of British America of African descent who joined British colonial forces during the American Revolutionary War...
and as sapper
Sapper
A sapper, pioneer or combat engineer is a combatant soldier who performs a wide variety of combat engineering duties, typically including, but not limited to, bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defences, general construction and building, as well as road and airfield...
s in the Engineer Corps and in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
, Sir William Howe banned the enlistment of blacks and ordered the disbanding of existing black regiments.
The Rangers were accused of participating in — or at least failing to prevent — the Wyoming Valley massacre
Wyoming Valley massacre
The Battle of Wyoming was an encounter during the American Revolutionary War between American Patriots and Loyalists accompanied by Iroquois raiders that took place in the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania on July 3, 1778...
of July 1778 and the Cherry Valley massacre
Cherry Valley massacre
The Cherry Valley Massacre was an attack by British and Seneca forces on a fort and the village of Cherry Valley in eastern New York on the cold, snowy and rainy morning of November 11, 1778, during the American Revolutionary War. It has been described as one of the most horrific frontier...
of November 1778 of white settlers (including some Loyalists) by Joseph Brant
Joseph Brant
Thayendanegea or Joseph Brant was a Mohawk military and political leader, based in present-day New York, who was closely associated with Great Britain during and after the American Revolution. He was perhaps the most well-known American Indian of his generation...
's Iroquois. These actions earned the Rangers a reputation for exceptional savagery. They fought principally in western New York
Western New York
Western New York is the westernmost region of the state of New York. It includes the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, the surrounding suburbs, as well as the outlying rural areas of the Great Lakes lowlands, the Genesee Valley, and the Southern Tier. Some historians, scholars and others...
and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, but ranged as far west as Ohio and Michigan and as far south as Virginia.
Their winter quarters were constructed on the west bank of the Niagara River in what is now the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Niagara-on-the-Lake is a Canadian town located in Southern Ontario where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario in the Niagara Region of the southern part of the province of Ontario. It is located across the Niagara river from Youngstown, New York, USA...
. Although the building that houses The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
The Lincoln and Welland Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces based in St Catharines and Welland, Ontario.The Regimental Colonel-in-Chief is The Countess of Wessex and...
Museum in that community is traditionally known as "Butler's Barracks
Butler's Barracks
Butler's Barracks was the home of Loyalist military officer John Butler , in what was then Newark, Upper Canada; present day Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario...
", it is not the original barracks and never housed Butler's Rangers. It was built in the years following the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
to house the Indian department and received the name because Butler had been a Deputy Superintendent in that department.
Organization
The regimental company commanders of Butler's Rangers, 1777–1784, were:- Capt. Andrew Bradt
- Capt. Walter ButlerWalter Butler (Loyalist)Walter Butler was a British Loyalist officer during the American Revolution. He was born near Johns town, New York, the son of John Butler, a wealthy Indian agent who worked for Sir William Johnson...
(John Butler's son, killed in action, 1781) - Capt. William Caldwell, victor at the Battle of Sandusky and the Battle of Blue LicksBattle of Blue LicksThe Battle of Blue Licks, fought on August 19, 1782, was one of the last battles of the American Revolutionary War. The battle occurred ten months after Lord Cornwallis's famous surrender at Yorktown, which had effectively ended the war in the east...
- Capt. George Dame
- Capt. Bernard Frey
- Capt. Lewis Geneway
- Capt. Peter HarePeter HareCaptain Peter Hare was a company officer in Butler's Rangers, a militia unit during the American Revolutionary War, and British Loyalist...
- Capt. John McDonellJohn McDonellCaptain John McDonell was a soldier, judge and political figure in Upper Canada following the American Revolution. He was elected as the first speaker for the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada.-Early years:...
- Capt. John McKinnon
- Capt. Benjamin Pawling
- Capt. Peter Ten Broeck
- Capt. Andrew Thompson
Uniform
There is disagreement as to what the Ranger uniform looked like.Variation A
Their uniforms consisted of a green woolen coat faced white and a white woolen waistcoat. Their pant garment was gaitered trousers made from Russia sheeting, a hemp product. Their hats were round hats, useful in shielding their faces from the sun. When in garrison or on parade, they could bring up the leaves of that hat to form a cocked hat. Their belting was black.
Variation B
Dark green coats faced with scarlet and lined with the same, a waistcoat of green cloth, and Buckskin Indian leggings reaching from the ankle to the waist...their caps were almost skull caps of black jacket leather or turned up felt with a black cockade on the left side. Their belts were of buff leather and crossed at the breast where they were held in place by a brass plate marked in the same manner and with the same words as the cap plate.
Weapons
They primarily used both the Long-Land and Short-Land forms of the Brown BessBrown Bess
Brown Bess is a nickname of uncertain origin for the British Army's Land Pattern Musket and its derivatives. This musket was used in the era of the expansion of the British Empire and acquired symbolic importance at least as significant as its physical importance. It was in use for over a hundred...
musket
Musket
A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smooth bore long gun, fired from the shoulder. Muskets were designed for use by infantry. A soldier armed with a musket had the designation musketman or musketeer....
. A mix of other firearms may have been used but would have created a supply issue due to calibre variations.
After war
Butler's Rangers were disbanded in June 1784, and its veterans given land grants in the Niagara region of Ontario as a reward for their services to the British crown. In 1788, the Nassau militia was formed with John Butler as its commander, filling its ranks with the demobilized officers and men of Butler's Rangers. In the early 1790s, the county was changed to Lincoln and the name of the militia changed to Lincoln Militia by 1793. It was the Lincoln Militia who fought in the War of 1812 (1812–1815). This regiment exists today as The Lincoln and Welland RegimentThe Lincoln and Welland Regiment
The Lincoln and Welland Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces based in St Catharines and Welland, Ontario.The Regimental Colonel-in-Chief is The Countess of Wessex and...
, a primary reserve regiment of the Canadian Forces based out of St. Catharines, Ontario.
Novels
- Brick, John, The King's Rangers, 1954
- References to this war are described in the novel "Zach" by William Bell
- Miller, Orlo, "Raiders of the Mohawk," 1966. The Story of Butler's Rangers. A romanticized account based on the true life experiences of Daniel Springer, who served in the Rangers along with his older brother, Richard.
External links
- { url=http://realpeopleshistory.com, Butlers Rangers history,photos, relationship to Six Nations}