In the early 1800s, the Northwest Territory was facing a crisis that ultimately ended in war. Hundreds of settlers into the Indiana Territory were being threatened by Indians. In past wars and the settling of the Kentucky, the use of mounted rangers became the only solution to attacks such as the Pigeon roost Massacre and others. Territorial Governor William Henry Harrison authorized these roving bands of mercenaries to roam the trade routes throughout Indiana and Ohio territories. These special operations teams patrolled between the many block houses raised between Fort Washington and Vincennes. The Delta Force of their day, these rangers was a hard hitting, fast moving fighting force that kept the Indians at bay. They were later used as a final option in the War of 1812 and proved to the standard military that a rider, well armed on horseback could and indeed had inflicted many casualties to the enemy. General Anthony Wayne initiated the use of mounted rangers in his pursuit of the Indian Confederacy during the Battle of Fallen Timbers which led to the Indian nations signing the Treaty of Greenville in 1795.
This is the untold story of the mounted rangers that protected wary settlers and homesteads all over the new Indiana Territory and kept the only trade route open by land to Vincennes and the state later called Illinois. The use of a well armed horseperson (a number of rangers were women) in groups of threes and fours patrolling the area could inflict serious injury upon any ground or mounted opponent. The saber was the primary weapon of a ranger while mounted. They could ride upon an enemy, fire two volleys, remount, stop again some distance and fire again two volleys and so on and so forth. The lightening speed and the use of Indian tactics made these elite fighting units of their day. The units traveled light with their staples and equipage on their horse which made them quite mobile. The rangers were generally good hunters and could live off the land with only minor supplies, mainly coffee
Indiana had only afforded certain types of equipment and could not outfit any major companies until after the War of 1812 and statehood in 1816. The weapons and equipage used by the rangers were of their own choosing. Their tent age and frocks were their only indications of their unit or possibly by a cockade worn on many kinds of headgear.
Our company is the only kind in existence. We are known as the Indiana Territorial Mounted Rangers, Captain Parker H. Moore’s Company. We are lead by a unique man by the name of Parker Moore. This unit exists only due to his tutelage in period horsemanship and the will to see history portrayed in this fashion.
Come visit our site and step back in time. Our camp, equipment and weaponry are all in the period ranging from the Revolutionary War to the War of 1812. Sign up to our site and engage us in our knowledge of warfare from horseback during this time period or quiz us on our knowledge of unit. We are based on factual documented evidence. Enjoy our picture gallery at different events and if you are interested in becoming a mounted ranger, see our requirements and training section and JOIN UP!