Inquiry Activity

Introduction Background Questions Written Format Resources Assessment

Introduction

It is likey you have never heard of Robert Rogers or the men he commanded, but behind the name is an amazing and controversial story of the French and Indian War with a close connection to Vermont and New Hampshire. In this inquiry you will be researching Robert Rogers, his accomplsihments, and his failures. We will put together a class booklet that contains all of our work.

Background

Robert Rogers Raid on the St. Francis Abenaki 1759

Robert Rogers was born in Methuen, Massachusetts in 1731 and grew up in the frontier of New Hampshire. Rogers became familiar with Indian raids that were a common occurrence during a series of wars that preceded the French and Indian War. The Abenaki, allies of the French, struck unsuspecting villagers at dawn. Many were killed while others were brought as hostages to Abenaki villages to the north. The English settlers were not soldiers and had no protection against the Abenaki raids. They were simply innocent casualties in a time where land in North America was very much in dispute.

Formation of Rogers Rangers

As a young man Rogers served as a scout during King George’s War, where he observed combat tactics employed by the British Regulars as well as colonial militias. Militias were citizen armies made up of colonists that were assembled and put into service as needed. They were often poorly trained and supplied. Rogers used what he learned from his experience as well as information gained from war manuals and literature to create his own fighting force. In 1756 Robert Rogers personally recruited over five hundred men to join his operation. Given the rank Major by British officials, Rogers and his rangers successfully completed a number of dangererous missions spying on the movements of the French and their Indian Allies. Rogers became widely known for his charisma and strong leadership skills. It was said that he could have his rangers accomplish almost anything.

Fighting Tactics

What made Rogers and his rangers different from most colonial militias as well as the British Regulars was their use of guerilla tactics. Conventional warfare of the time was to position all troops in an open area and charge the enemy. Since the French and their Indian allies refused to fight this way, the English were often at a considerable disadvantage in battle. Unlike the British Regulars, Roger’s men wore green uniforms and carried very little. Camouflage, stealth, and living off the land were among Rogers greatest strengths in wilderness warfare against the French and Indians.

The Raid

In the Fall of 1759 Rogers was given orders by General Amherst, commander of British forces to carry out a dangerous raid deep inside French and Indian Territory. With 140 rangers, he was to attack and wipe out the Abenaki village of St. Francis, the source of the raids on New England communities. The Rangers departed Fort Crown Point cautiously heading north on Lake Champlain. At Missisquoi Bay their boats would be hidden and used for the return trip south on the lake. The rangers marched north through swamps to the St. Francis River. Finally in the early morning hours of October 4, 1759 the rangers attacked St Francis and killed every fighting Abenaki Indian. English prisoners from New Hampshire and Massachusetts were freed from their Abenaki captors. In addition, Rogers and his men plundered a French Mission taking numerous gold and silver items of considerable value. Rogers learned from his Mohawk Indian scouts that the boats left hidden at Missisquoi Bay had been discovered by the French, and returning by way of Lake Champlain would not be possible. It was Rogers plan to head for Fort Wentworth beyond the Connecticut River (Groveton NH). About half of Rogers’s men died on the way to Fort Wentworth. The major causes were starvation, fatigue, injury, madness, and attacks by French and Indians. Starvation was especially severe with no time to safely stop and hunt for food and each man receiving only a small daily ration. The treasure from the French mission became extra weight and was left behind in the Vermont wilderness. To this day the gold and silver left behind by the rangers in the Vermont Wilderness has never been found. The remaining rangers made their way to Fort Wentworth only to find it abandoned. Rogers and a few of the 140 men he had started with then floated down the Connecticut River on some logs and branches to Fort Number 4 (Charlestown NH). The journey home had finally come to an end. Rogers was received as a hero.

Historical Interpretations

The English have historically looked upon Rogers raid as an attack on savages that ended the brutal raids on New England villages forever. Others assert that Rogers attacked the vllage when women and children mostly inhabited it, and Rogers greatly overstated his accomplishments.

Questions

Each student will be assigned one question from the list below. Your task is to research and formulate an answer to the question along with additional facts and vocabulary you encounter.

1.Why would Robert Rogers undertake such a daring raid deep into French and Indian Territory?

2.Why would the Indian nickname Rogers “The White Devil”?

3. How does the real Robert Rogers hold up to the legend of Robert Rogers?

4. Why might the British Regulars (real British Soldiers) and Rogers Rangers not always get along?

5. Why have American all but forgotten Robert Rogers’s contributions in the French and Indian war?

6. How did Rogers Rangers fight differently from the British Regulars?

7. How did Rogers Rangers survive the hardships of the journey back from St Francis?

8. How does Roger’s account of the attack on St Francis differ from the account of The Abenaki?

9. Why do people believe that a silver treasure associated with Rogers is hidden in Northern Vermont or New Hampshire?

10. Why was Vermont a dangerous place in the 1700’s during the French and Indian War?

11. Why did the Abenaki raid villages such as Deerfield in the 1700’s?

12. To what extent is the Indian reputation as savages and scalpers deserved?

13. How did Robert Rogers demonstrate the qualities of leadership and heroism?

14. To what extent did Rogers have other accomplishments during his lifetime?

15. How did Robert Rogers participate in the American Revolution?

16. How did the 1759 Raid on St. Francis affect the French and Indian War?

17. How and why did Rogers establish rules for being in Robert Rogers Rangers?

18. To what extent are today’s Army Rangers descended from Rogers Rangers?

19. To what extent were the men recruited to be in Rogers Rangers prepared to be soldiers?

20 . How did Robert Rogers demonstrate the qualities of a villian or criminal?

21. How should history remember Robert Rogers?

Written Format

Please use the following format to write up your Rogers Rangers inquiry. Type your write up on a single page. We will use each page to create a book about Rogers Rangers and each person in class will get a copy. Pictures and illustrations on your page are optional but if you use a picture off a website it must also be cited.

Question (# ):

Researched by:

Class:

Date:

Paragraph Answer:

Notes found in support of answer:

Other notes of interest:

Vocabulary:

Source Citations:

Resources

Here are a few internet sources to get you started. Searching carefully will reveal additonal quality sources.

http://seacoastnh.com/History/As_I_Please/The_Tarnished_Tale_of_Robert_Rogers/

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1186.html

http://www.acidus.com/rogers.html

http://www.rogersrangers.com/

http://www.ranger.org/html/rogers_rangers.html

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/topic/colonial/rogers/index.html

http://users.rcn.com/smartin.javanet/revenge.htm

http://www.avcnet.org/ne-do-ba/rrr_4.html

http://www.avcnet.org/ne-do-ba/rrr_2.html

http://www.avcnet.org/ne-do-ba/rrr_3.html

http://reenacting.net/history/stfrances.html

http://www.vermontfolklifecenter.org/childrens-books/malians-song/additional_resources/rogers_raid_facts.pdf

http://www.vermontfolklifecenter.org/childrens-books/malians-song/additional_resources/day_rogers_raid_in_indian_tradition.pdf

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,90389.0/topicseen.html

http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1971/5/1971_5_81_print.shtml

http://mymilitaryhistorypages.bravehost.com/RangerHistory.htm

http://www.tolatsga.org/aben.html

http://www.dickshovel.com/ind.html

Assessment

	Research	Product	Discussion/Sharing	Use of Time
Accomplished	Initiates high-level inquiry by formulating probing questions, identifying the needed information, locating, examining, and analyzing various resources, and creating complete source citations	Demonstrates thorough understanding of topic, the ability to make numerous connections, and is a powerful, high quality, aid to share learning	Well prepared and demonstrates a strong desire to share learning with others Detail on Discussion Rubric	All time used wisely, extra time is used to extend and expand inquiry into additional areas
Proficient	Initiates inquiry, by formulating probing questions, identifying the needed information, locating and examining resources, and creating complete source citations	Demonstrates understanding of topic, the ability to make connections, and serves as an meaningful, high quality, aid to share learning	Prepared and demonstrates a desire to share learning with others Detail on Discussion Rubric	All time used wisely
Amateur	Initiates inquiry by formulating probing questions, locating, and using resources, and creating source citations	Demonstrates new learning, the ability to make basic connections, and serves as an aid to share new learning	Not fully prepared, shares some learning with others Detail on Discussion Rubric	Most time used wisely
Beginner	Initiates basic inquiry identifies, uses, and cites sources with assistance	Demonstrates basic learning	Unprepared, attempts to share learning with others Detail on Discussion Rubric	Some time used wisely

Accomplished