Ranger Equipment & Food Rations.

"Frosts were falling

When the ranger's horn was calling,

Through the woods to Canada.

"Straggling rangers, worn with dangers,

Homeward faring, weary strangers,

Pass the farm-gate on their way.

Tidings of the dead and living,

Forest march and ambush giving,

Till the maidens leave their weaving,

And the lads forget their play."

Whittier.

 

Ranger Information 1757 as of 9/8/12

Rangers who were in uniform which consisted of a grey duffle coat and vest,
and buckskin breeches and leggings. Arms consisted of individually owned
flintlock fusils in the Rogers's Companies as well as privately owned scalping
knives and tomahawks Hobb's and Speakman's carried regulation muskets,
cartouche boxes, and wore regulation shoes from the King's stores, and were
supplied with hatchets by a contractor. Unlike the Rogers's Companies, they did not all have the Corps' most prolific weapon, the scalping knife. p.116

The Rogers's Company officers carried compasses in the large end of their
powder horns. This excellent practice was later imitated by all the officers of
Rogers' Rangers. Ammunition per man consisted of 60 rounds of powder and ball.
Provisions consisted of two weeks' supply of dried beef, sugar, rice and dried peas
and corn meal. The food rations were carried in a knapsack strapped over the
shoulder.

Rogers had allowed small fires to be built in the heavy part of the woods, in
pits about three feet deep. The coals were now rekindled and the Rangers quickly
made themselves gruel of cornmeal, which was washed down with rum from their wooden canteens.

 Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth. (Edited for script mistakes by Keith H. Burgess.)

 http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/FRENCH-INDIAN/2001-07/0995759866