Reply #47: And Roger's Rangers fought for the British between 1775-1781 [View All]

Begin the King's Ranger, then the Queen's Rangers. Raised from Volunteers from New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. After the war, re-settled in Ontario (Where it is still part of the Canadians Military). One of many examples of Americans who backs the British during the Revolution. At the same time the Majority of Americans wanted Independence. These American Torys had a good Military Reputation during the Revolution BUT THE FACT THEY FOUGHT WELL DOES NOT MEAN THEY REPRESENTED THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS (Just like the new Iraq Army represents the Majority of Iraqis). Thus you make some good points, but none of them shows who the majority of Canadians and Canadian Militiamen supported the Crown between 1812-1815. The Historians I have read lean to neutrality at best (with many Canadians and Canadian Militiamen more than willing to accept American Rule in the War of 1812 AND the American Revolution). As I said in my previous Post, the Canadian Militia had two conflicting tendency in the War of 1812, the Enlisted Ranks being the sons of people who fought on the American Side at Bunker Hill, and a Leadership whose fathers fought on the British side during the Revolution. As a result the Canadian Militia has at best a mixed reputation in the War of 1812.

I should also point out the US Militia was almost at bad at time. New England and New York Militia (Neither Threaten by Native Americans by the time of the War of 1812) did NOT support the War (New England even held a convention to succeed from the Union over the War, the Convention disbanded with the News of Jackson's victory over the British at New Orleans and the Peace Treaty ending the war (do to the limitation of Communications at that time period, Jackson Victory was known first and than a few days later news of the Peace Treaty, even through Jackson's Victory was AFTER the Peace Treaty had Been Signed in Europe). The Federalist Party of Washington and Adams basically dissolved over supporting Succession and then having that movement undercut by the Treaty and Jackson's Victory.