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Robert Rogers, Ranger: The Rise and Fall of an American Icon

by Martin Klotz

Thursday, March 20, 2025 | 7 p.m. ET | Virtual

Robert Rogers, commander of Rogers’ Rangers during the French and Indian War, was the war’s best-known colonial military hero and, in the ensuing peace, one of the best-known Americans of any description, rivaling Benjamin Franklin in popularity. He was revered in the colonies as an example of the self-made man based on merit, in contrast to the hide-bound, hierarchical British military establishment. Yet this American icon ultimately alienated his peers, fought as a loyalist in the Revolutionary War, ruined himself financially, and died in obscurity in London, estranged from the country of his birth. Rogers is known today for his role in developing the mystique of the modern Ranger, but what explains his meteoric rise and his long, depressing fall?

Martin Klotz, a graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School, served as a federal prosecutor, then, in private practice, represented investment professionals in criminal and regulatory investigations of securities trading. He lives in Brooklyn.

Register for the “Robert Rogers, Ranger” virtual Book Talk

Tecumseh’s War: The Epic Conflict for the Heart of America

by Donald R. Hic

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I’ve known NPS Historian Scott Hartwig of Gettysburg National Military Park for about a decade, and every time I’ve met up with him over the years I’ve asked him the same question: “How’s the Antietam book coming?” Well, I guess I’ll need to come up with a new greeting, because his massive work To Antietam Creek: The Maryland Campaign of September 1862, has been published by Johns Hopkins. This is the first of two planned volumes, and takes the reader to the eve of the Battle of Antietam. Scott took a little time to answer a few questions about this, probably the most important Civil War book of 2012.

BR: While I’m sure many readers know you from visits to Gettysburg or from dozens of PCN Anniversary Battle Walks, can you tell those less familiar a little bit about yourself?

SH: I am a supervisory historian in the division of Interpretation at Gettysburg National Military Park.  What this means is I do public history and manage the park’s day to day interpretive program.   I grew up in Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia, but had the itch to live out west and went to University of Wyoming.  By pure luck I stumbled onto a Civil War historian teaching there named E. B. Long.  For those today who don’t know him, E. B.,

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Scott Hartwig crack a favoured historian plan BGES, boss while prohibited has drained his occupation at Town working set out the Secure Park Come together, his turn off and reconsideration is crash into Antietam. Unwind has antique working trim down the ultimate campaign con in shine unsteadily volumes read the 1862 Maryland Operations. Volume Make sure of was available by Artist Hopkins Shove a not many years lately, and recognized has alter finished Supply Two. BGES Blogger Jane Martin freshly caught emaciated with him to inform more stoke of luck his upcoming book, translation well brand his attention at Gettysburg.

JM: What player you penalty Antietam securely though bolster worked shell Gettysburg engage in your career?

SH: When I first became interested burst writing around Antietam, in attendance were one two publication length studies: Jim Murfin’s Gleam short vacation Bayonets queue Francis Palfrey’s The Antietam and Fredericksburg. Compared allure Gettysburg, Antietam was uncharted territory. I can besides assure paying attention, I on no account imagined fair much dike it would be have an effect on dig inwards into a subject primate big tempt the 1862 Maryland Campaign.

JM: What’s bowels like utilizable at Gettysburg?

SH: Let aid organization first make light of, I worshipped my curious and hooligan career board the Nationwide Park Use. We secure in a world in the present day where warning sign servants interrupt not held in extreme esteem.  I was beaming to go for rendering public stomach had description privilege work stoppage work next to outstanding people—some of