The
early history of the North American continent is filled with the wars of
different groups of people struggling to gain control of areas to obtain access
to more land and more fur. The fur trade
and the wars over it depended on Native Americans. In order to obtain more furs each Native
group had to move deeper into the continent, thus creating more warfare. European countries made alliances with Native
tribes to obtain more furs. They also
used their Native allies to persuade other Native tribes to do what they
want. Failing this, the people of the
rebellious tribes were either killed or captured to be enslaved.
The
French government used Native American warriors in their territorial conquest
before the British government. The
Europeans learned they needed Native scouts and guides to avoid Native traps. After defeat of Fort Duquesne 9 Jul 1755
British realized they had to change.
British parliament authorized establishment of rangers, including
Rogers’ Rangers which was active in northern New York.
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| Major Robert Rogers, with Mohican warriors in the background to his right. |
The
American colonists realized that guerrilla style warfare was crucial to enable
the thirteen colonies of 3 million people to defeat the largest and best armed
empire currently in the world. Natives
stressed strategy and technique instead of technology. The American troops used guerrilla tactics
when not enough men to fight the British in the traditional European manner. Famous guerrilla fighters of the American
Revolution were Francis Marion of South Carolina and Ethan and Ira Allen and
their Green Mountain Boys of Vermont.
Indeed, the Green Mountain Boys had three Mohican men in their
ranks: Henry, John and Jonathan Van
Gilder. The Mohicans, the related
Wappingers and one band of Oneidas were the primary Native Americans to freely
fight on the Patriot side.
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| Drawing of a Mohican man in the uniform of his regiment, artist a Hessian officer. |
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