battle battle occurred march french indian war fought members british ranger companies led french troops indians allied france battle took place near northern new_york frontier area british province new_york french province canada battle given british combatants wearing rogers led band rangers regulars scout french positions french commander fort alerted movement sent force consisting indians meet fierce fighting british troop casualties french believed rogers killed action forced abandon regimental jacket contained commission papers escape scene battle gave rise tale rogers escaped capture sliding feet frozen surface rock known rogers slide background french indian war broke british french colonists territorial disputes colonial escalated following year include regular troops french enjoyed successes frontier battles british notable failure occurred british stopped southward advance battle lake george bases fort located crown point new_york known british french indian allies continued scout probe british defenses upper hudson_river british fewer indian allies resorted companies rangers scouting reconnaissance activities ranger companies organized directed eventually known prelude captain rogers sent reconnaissance mission northwards fort march lieutenant colonel fort commander originally planned men taking reduced number reason believe french knew expedition french captured man earlier expedition israel connecticut rangers suspected informed captors british plans reconnaissance revealed estimated indians near fort expedition composed men rogers ranger companies included volunteer soldiers 27th regiment march wore marched snow feet deep left steep mountain separating right stopped hour break advance guard spotted rogers reported ninety chiefly indians march captain french commander fort heard rumors indians british nearing sent ensign company indians canadians response reports found day indian scouts reported found tracks enemy party noon march led men mixed company indians canadians fort followed shortly indians french groups joined forces company yards ahead spotted rogers men battle rogers men immediately set ambush men came range british opened fire killing indians according rogers force broke retreated disarray rogers half men gave chase critically muskets stopped collect men alerted gunfire set ambush rogers men arrived attack force killed wounded estimated men rangers fought considering outnumbered numbers falling quickly successful attempts prevent flanked hour half heavy fighting numbers significantly reduced remnants british force tried escape battle rogers men away group men surrendered killed discovered pocket men aftermath rogers company returned march rogers originally reported french killed actually survived report stemmed manner rogers escape discarded belongings including regimental coat contained military commission episode gave rise local legend rogers escaped battle sliding feet hill frozen surface proof event supposedly went quickly known rogers slide reports casualties numbers forces involved differed battle rogers report event estimated french indian force casualties accounts battle doubted variety commentators inconsistent accounts letter written held captivity restored reputation french advantage following second ambush rogers went rebuild companies serve july
Battle on Snowshoes