Benjamin Church (ranger)

Benjamin Church
A posthumous illustration of Church
Born	c. 1639 Plymouth, Plymouth Colony
Died	17 January 1718 (aged 78–79) Little Compton, Colony of Rhode Island
Military career
Allegiance	New England Colonies
Service/branch	New England Militia
Rank	Colonel
Battles/wars	King Philip's War Great Swamp Fight King William's War Battle of Falmouth Androscoggin River expedition Raid on Bagaduce Raid on Chignecto Siege of Fort Nashwaak Queen Anne's War Raid on St. Stephen Raid on Grand Pré Raid on Chignecto
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Colonel Benjamin Church (c. 1639 – January 17, 1718) was a New England military officer and politician who is best known for his role in developing military tactics and participating in numerous conflicts which involved the New England Colonies. He is also known for commanding one of the first ranger units in North America. Born in the Plymouth Colony, Church was commissioned by Governor Josiah Winslow to establish a company of rangers after the outbreak of King Philip's War in 1675. A force of New Englanders led by him was responsible for tracking down and killing Wampanoag sachem Metacomet, which played a major role in ending the conflict.^[1][2]

During the French and Indian Wars, Church participated in asymmetric warfare against the French and their indigenous allies. He led troops to raid the French colony of Acadia during King William's War and Queen Anne's War. Starting his military career at the rank of captain, he was promoted to major and subsequently to the rank of colonel.

Church paid special care to outfitting, supplying and instructing his troops in ways inspired by indigenous methods of warfare and ways of living. He emphasized the adoption of indigenous techniques, which prioritized small, mobile and flexible units which used the countryside for cover, in lieu of massed frontal assaults by large formations. Church also pioneered the use of indigenous warriors as auxiliaries to bolster and educate his soldiers. In 1716, his memoirs, entitled Entertaining Passages relating to Philip's War, was published and is considered by some to constitute the first American military manual.^[3][2]