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United States Army Rangers currently fighting the war against terrorism
studied the same rules that their predecessors did during the French
and Indian War. The Rangers' standing orders are below, as written
by Major Robert Roger in 1756.
1. Don't forget
anything.
2. Have your musket clean as a whistle, hatchet scoured, sixty rounds
powder and ball, and be ready to march at a minute's warning.
3. When you're on the march, act the way you would if you were sneaking
up on a deer. See the enemy first.
4. Tell the truth about what you see and what you do. There is an
army depending on us for correct information. You can lie all you
please when you tell other folks about the Rangers, but never lie
to a Ranger or officer.
5. Never take a chance you don't have to.
6. When we're on the march we march single file, far enough apart
so one shot can't go through two men.
7. If we strike swamps, or soft ground, we spread out abreast, so
it's hard to track us.
8. When we march, we keep moving till dark, so as to give the enemy
the least possible chance at us.
9. When we camp, half the party stays awake while the other half
sleeps.
10. If we take prisoners, we keep 'em separate till we have had
time to examine them, so they can't cook up a story between 'em.
11. Never march home the same way. Take a different route so you
won't be ambushed.
12. No matter whether we travel in big parties or little ones, each
party has to keep a scout 20 yards ahead, twenty yards on each flank
and twenty yards in the rear, so the main body can't be surprised
and wiped out.
13. Every night you'll be told where to meet if surrounded by a
superior force.
14. Don't sit down to eat without posting sentries.
15. Don't sleep beyond dawn. Dawn is when the French and Indians
attack.
16. Don't cross a river by a regular ford.
17. If somebody's trailing you, make a circle, come back onto your
own tracks, and ambush the folks that aim to ambush you.
18. Don't stand up when the enemy's coming against you. Kneel down.
Hide behind a tree.
19. Let the enemy come till he's almost close enough to touch. Then
let him have it and jump out and finish him up with your hatchet.
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