Ranger

During the Revolutionary War, colonial troops couldn't fight the British along the Atlantic Coast and also defend the Pennsylvania and Virginia western borders against increasing Indian attacks. The settlers built forts and blockhouses for common defense, but these had to be defended by able-bodied men from the local families who formed militias. Most men couldn't patrol their areas constantly and continue to tend their farms, so individuals were called upon for short periods of time (commonly thirty days) to search for signs of enemy activity. Specialized ranger or spy units were organized for long term scouts and expeditions, as well as to teach survival skills to the young settlers defending their homes and families. Frequently, the rangers had a deep hatred for the enemy because many had lost family members in previous attacks. They were supposed to receive compensation from the government for time served, but frequently a hot meal, some gunpowder and the extreme gratitude of those they were protecting was their only payment. These men were intimately acquainted with the forest, physically fit, excellent hand-to-hand fighters and exceptionally adept with their rifles and tomahawks. They dressed in the "Indian style", meaning moccasins, leggings, breechclout and a linen or buckskin shirt. Many times, because of the vast distances that had to be patrolled, these men traveled alone. Stealth and knowledge of the enemy's tactics was essential and speed was paramount in alerting the settlers and in getting themselves out of harms way.

The model for my painting entitled "Ranger" is my friend Mickey Davis, who has permitted me to publish an account of an event which happened to some of his ancestors during the "Border War" period of the settlement of Western Pennsylvania and Virginia. The text and spelling has been reproduced word for word to best allow the true and accurate impressions of the authors' thoughts to flow through to the reader.

Somethin was alayin heavy on my head, I tried to push it off an git up at the same time but I could not. I tried to look see what was a goin on but I couldn't open my eyes. I reched up to my face an ran my fingers to my eyes I felt a warm sticky blood an that my eyes was stuck shut with dryin blood. I was rememberin now.

The krak I heerd was like the krak of a rifle, an the light I saw was like the time my pap shot the big doe down by the kreek at nite. The flash of muzzle made it day lite long nuff fer me to see that fat doe jump in the air with a hole in her neck, an flip over two times in the air!

Then I remembered that Indian whirlin that stick with a rock tied to it an smakin me a side of the head!

Finally I rolled over an wiped the blood from my eyes, an I sees an Indian arunin with Lektral Davis by his hair, Lektral is a boy bout 10 yrs. old, Lektral was half runnin an half a flyin! I heerd they was someone ahind me a movin! I was feard to look. He was a ranger sure to bet! Had a long ol brown huntin shirt on an them leggin socks, long dark hair an a look of a man that nowed what he was about! He didn't stop a runnin but slowed a step. His rifle wernt to rest on his sholder nor cheek when he fired. It was all so slow fer me. I seed this smoke an herd the krak, an a long ways off I seed that Indian still a runnin with Lektral but now he had a hole in his sholder an half his jaw blowed off at the same time that ranger shot! That Indian was in full gate but never let go of Lektral. But on the first step after I seen that ranger shoot that Indian in the sholder an the ball a comin out his jaw, I heerd another shot! An saw the side a that Indians scalp turn up like a fur cap in the winter an blood flyin to hit every tree fer 3 lengths around him. Now I seed this happen all in 3 strides of that Indian a runnin with Lektral Davis by the hair! Shot 2 times by the same man, in 3 strides!

As I looked back to the ranger he was still in that dog trot runnin them Indians an rangers use an by the time that Indian skidded to a stop on his belly that ranger was on him! That ranger grabbed Lektral by the waist an hunkered down ahind a tree.

I could see enough now it was Lektral Davis' unkle that had shot that Indian an had Lektral safe!

The woops and screams was died down now. The smoke from the burnin cabin was a layin low in that holler an burnin my eyes. I laid there tryin to get up. That ranger came from ahind after awhile. As I looked up they was about 1/2 dozen rangers all round me. They keerd for my head an gave me some cool water to drink. Lektrals unkle ask me if I was a mind an body to take Lektral back to the fort, I says I was. The other rangers ask me how many Indians they was that done this an which way they was headin. I told them all I could an as I stood the rangers was gone like smoke up a chimney an only me an Lektral a standin in the woods! not a site nor sine of them rangers!

The highly detailed painting entitled "Ranger" has been reproduced as a very limited edition, archival quality, giclee canvas print of only ten individually signed and numbered reproductions.

The giclee process, especially in small quantities, is an extremely costly endeavor, however, it allows the collector to obtain a superior quality, lasting work of art which can be displayed without the need of protective matting or glass.