I am a member of a company of Rogers' Rangers and King's Rangers, based in Connecticut and led by Mike Fitzgerald. Why the Rangers? Well, as I met a few of them, I found them to be great fun and incredibly nice. Also, I have come to admire what Robert Rogers and his Rangers did during the French & Indian War. The King's Rangers were led by the same Robert Rogers and his brother James during the Revolutionary War, as Loyalists to the Crown. We portray both.

Chauncey Goodrich is the name for my persona, a lad who joined Rogers' Rangers roundn 1756. This persona continues to develop, while I explore more about who I might have been and where I might have been from. (And about that name, "Chauncey Goodrich"...) Why be a male? Well, I thought that re-enacting the battles would be far more fun than sitting around sewing, and women didn't go into battle; so if I want to go into battle, I have to be a guy. It's like being a Lehrbeuben in Die Meistersinger (that is to say, it's like being in the role of "Apprentice" in Wagner's opera Die Meistersinger, which I did about 10 years ago, along with playing other pant roles with Opera Colorado). Having said that, though, I have also spent time as "Sarah" in 18th century women's clothing and "manned" the camp dinner. I enjoyed that very much.

Anyway, some Ranger organizations would not take me as a male, only as a female to be completely authentic, so I couldn't join just any group as a Ranger; some aren't so strict in their "authenticity", especially when they need interested bodies. I saw several women as soldiers, and thought... "if they can be a soldier, I can!" My unit is, thank god, one of those who feels if a female is interested and can play the part, then why not. I believe I have since proven their faith in my abilities to hold my own, having received high commendations from both the British generals and the French commanders on my appearance and performance in the field.

Another unit I could have joined, and gave serious thought to, is that of James Rogers' Co. of Rogers Rangers led by Horst Dresler, but they are a northern unit and I felt I couldn't make it to most of their events.  So, I ended up with Rogers' Own Co. of Rangers.

This is a picture of me in my F&I clothes--but not the official Rogers' Rangers regimental coat--and with my musket slung on my back, at the Top of the World in North Carolina, where Chingachgook, Hawkeye, and Cora said farewell to Uncas in the 1992 movie Last of the Mohicans.

You might be interested in seeing up close the gorgeous and personalized engraved powder horn I am wearing in this photo. I also have a John Bush style powder horn, singularly special and appropriate for a Ranger in the F&I. AND I have a wonderful third powder horn made for me by Wade Stoner.