Much has been written about Robert Rogers, his Rangers, and their exploits during the French and Indian War. But not much is known about the ill-fated retreat from their raid on the Abenaki Village of St. Francis in Quebec. In 1759, Rogers marched north from Crown Point with a small band of 200 troops to destroy the Abenaki Village of St. Francis. The Abenaki were allies of the French and played a significant role in maintaining French control of Canada. Following the raid, the destruction of the village, and the massacre of many Abenakis, the Rangers fled south into the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. The Rangers' retreat is one of peril, starvation, despair, extreme suffering, incredible fortitude, and determination for survival. After the raid, many Rangers
plundered the village, taking with them sacred objects, wampum, gold coins, and other treasures. As the Rangers retreated through the uncharted wilderness, weakened by hunger and exhaustion, they buried their treasures. Of the 200 men who began the mission, fewer than 100 survived to tell their tale. Gordon will recreate this incredible journey of Robert Rogers' Rangers, taking you to the Abenakis Mission Village of St. Francis in Odanak, Quebec, and along their retreat routes through the Northeast
Kingdom, including Derby. Perhaps you, like many others, may want to grab a metal detector and follow the routes of the Rangers’ retreat through the Northeast Kingdom.
Since moving to Newport, Vermont, from New Hampshire, Gordon has delved into the history of the Northeast Kingdom on a variety of topics. He writes columns for the Northland Journal and a monthly column, Back Country Notes, for the North Star Monthly. His current interest is the spiritual revivalist movement of the 1830s, the conversion of 300 residents of the Northeast Kingdom to Mormonism and their exodus to Ohio and eventually Utah.
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