With the outbreak of the French and Indian War in 1754, the British seeing the success of the Rangers and their unorthodox style of indian style warfare and disciplined light-fighting skills, began forming Ranger companies from recruited American frontiersmen to serve alongside the British Army to fight against the French.
This Ranger is dressed for the summer campaign of 1757, before uniform coats were issued. He goes Indian fashion -- linen hunting shirt, breechcloth, leggings and moccasins. He wears a blue Scot's bonnet. A contemporary source wrote that the "Rangers who can get them wear nothing else when they go out."
He carries a blanket roll slung by a tumpline, a haversack, a British regulation canteen, a leather shoulder cartridge box with wooden block inside drilled for 16 cartridges and with a wisk and vent pick attached to the strap by a chain. A small buckskin bag holding extra musket balls is attached to the havesack strap. His hunting shirt is hand sewn natural linen, with 18th century gussets. His black sash is also linen. The breechcloth and garters are red silk. The neck cloth is muslin, and the bonnet is felt. The moccasins, leggings and ball bag are made from genuine buckskin. He carries a powder horn made of genuine deer antler.
His weapons include a tomahawk, with wooden shaft and metal head, and a scalping knife of antler and metal with a buckskin sheath. His musket is a 1745 British "Brown Bess" Sea Service Musket of 77 caliber. |
