Contact Zig Misiak

To learn more about Real People's History please contact:

Zig Misiak
Phone: (519) 757-0910
Email: zig@realpeopleshistory.com

Butler's Rangers History

A gold plated button said to have belonged to Captain Wm Caldwell of the Butlers Rangers
as well as an original breast plate (original owner unknown).

"The Butler's Rangers were formed in 1777 by Colonel John Butler, during the American (Rebellion) Revolution they continued to fight along side their allies and friends, the Haudenosaunee until they were disbanded in 1784. They were the "shock troops" of their day and were the toughest, roughest and most focused soldiers of their time. Taught well by their Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) friends they were able to walk, run and paddle in a huge territory from Detroit to Albany and hundreds of miles south of the Great Lakes. These Rangergreen coated and buckskin clad men were almost shadows rather than flesh and blood. Certainly the rebellion was not forfeited by them as they never lost a major battle.

At the end of the American Revolution the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations) ancestral territory was simply negotiated away, without consultation with the Confederacy, forcing many to move on to land given to them by the Crown north, east and west into what is now known as Canada. Even though the British were no longer at war with their rebellious cousins the Six Nations still clung to the possibility that they would be supported by the British if they continued to fight. Tired, outnumbered, no alliances outside of a few other First Nations the Six Nations yielded to the inevitable and were slowly and painfully robbed of their lands.These warriors, both Haudenosaunee and Butler's Rangers, continued a friendship that lasted throughout the war of 1812. Though not officially Butlers Rangers during that period the ex-rangers of the American Revolution still maintained their friendship and alliances with their Haudenosaunee allies. The Ancestral friendship is maintained today with the recreation of the Butler's Rangers and the only sanctioned Mohawk re-enactment group known as The British Native Allies, lead by our friend Okwaho.

We, the (Canadian) Butlers Rangers of the North have developed a great friendship with our fellow reeanactors (men, women and children) in the United States. Not only are we solid members of the Northern Brigade in Canada but of the British Brigade in the U.S.A. For years we have met at events and share our campfires, stories, history and the love of our hobby. We cherish that friendship very much. This unbroken contact has allowed all the rangers units, McDonell's and the rangers companies in the U.S. to keep current on matters of historical importance and maintain the integrity of the ranger ancestors.

Captain Scott Paterson, our company commander, is a gifted artist and responsible for the four black and white images on this page.

Butler's Ranges Images

Top three images: A Butlers Ranger emblem showing the ranger badge shrouded by turkey and eagle feathers symbolizing the close friendship between the Haudenosaunee and the Butlers Rangers during the American Revolution.

Far right: A photo was taken at Niagara on the Lake in 1996 on the 200th anniversary of John Butlers death. Our fellow rangers from the United States as well as the Kings Rangers paraded across a flooded road after we presented the colours over John Butlers burying ground. It shows Zig Misiak in the centre, Terry Hey to his left and Scott Paterson just behind Zig's shoulder. We, McDonell's Company, of Butlers Rangers were gifted the only known recreated stand of colours in the world by our honourary Colonel, Lorne C. Butler. Our colonel was laid to rest in Brantford in 2007. We were present at his funeral representing all Butlers Rangers reeanctment units on both sides of the border. Okwaho represented the Mohawk Nation standing by us as always.

The colours are sewn to scale one being the Kings Colours and the other, to the right, the Butlers Rangers regimental colours. It is felt that the original colours were likely taken or destroyed during the War of 1812 when the Americans occupied what is known today as Niagara on the Lake. John Butlers home has recently been excavated and appears to have been burnt during that time. No evidence of colours or uniform were discovered other than a small, dome shaped, gold plated button with the words "Butlers Rangers".

Next left: A rare image of a ranger on horse back.

Far right: John Butlers bronze, Ottawa, and Zig Misiak, unveiled in 2007. Here's an interesting bit of trivia. The artist used Zig's gorget, breastplate and took photos of Zig in preparing for the bronze casting.

Next left: Scott Paterson created this unique and accurate image of John Butler as he would have looked in a British Provincial uniform from the American Revolution.

To the right: A depiction of a ranger having been out in the field for months.

Note: Other than the gold button and breast plate none of the drawings or photos are to be reproduced without written consent from Real Peoples History, Zig Misiak