United States Mounted Rangers

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The United States Mounted Rangers, also known as the Battalion of Mounted Rangers, were formed in 1832 to help defend the western frontier. At that time the Regular Army had few cavalry after the War of 1812, and the opening of the Santa Fe Trail created a need for military escorts for the trading caravans across the prairies.

Before the Rangers, in 1829, four infantry companies from Fort Leavenworth tried to protect caravans and learned that foot soldiers were no match for mounted opponents like the Comanches. After the Black Hawk War, Congress approved the idea of a mounted ranger unit for frontier defense.

The Rangers were organized into six companies. Each company had a captain, four lieutenants, five sergeants, five corporals, and 100 private rangers. Major Henry Dodge was the commander. The officers and noncommissioned officers were drawn from civilian life. The private rangers were experienced outdoorsmen—hunters and trappers—who had to supply their own horses, gear, and clothing and pay for their horses’ forage. They enlisted for one year and received one dollar a day in addition to their pay.

Three companies were stationed at Fort Armstrong, Illinois, and three at Fort Gibson, Indian Territory. Their mission included escorting caravans on the Santa Fe Trail and supporting Indian agents mediating with the Five Civilized Tribes relocated west of the Mississippi. One Fort Gibson company later moved to Fort Leavenworth to help with caravan escorts.

The Mounted Rangers proved undisciplined and costly. Their dirty leather hunting shirts made them look like militia, and the Secretary of War, Lewis Cass, showed that the battalion cost more than a regular regiment of dragoons. When the one-year enlistments ended, Congress decided to replace them with the United States Regiment of Dragoons. Major Dodge became the regiment’s colonel, and four captains and four lieutenants from the Rangers joined as officers.