Original subtitles

NARRATOR: BEFORE GEORGE WASHINGTON,

ROBERT ROGERS IS THE MOST CELEBRATED SOLDIER IN AMERICA.

A DARING LEADER WHO CREATES A WHOLE NEW WAY TO WAGE WAR ON THE FRONTIER.

NOW, ROGERS AND HIS LEGENDARY RANGERS

ARE ON A MISSION OF LIFE OR DEATH.

HE HAS TO PILOT A RAFT DOWN SIXTY MILES OF RUSHING RIVER

TO FIND FOOD FOR THE REST OF HIS STARVING MEN.

IF ROGERS FAILS, THEY DIE.

[WATER RUSHING]

BUT THE WILD CONNECTICUT RIVER THUNDERS THE RAFT

INTO POWERFUL RAPIDS...

ROGERS: WE'VE GOT TO GET TO SHORE!

PORTAGE AROUND IT!

OGDEN: SMITH! WATCH THAT ROCK!

NARRATOR: AND THE RESCUE MISSION IS ON A ONE-WAY PATH TO CERTAIN DOOM.

[WATER RUSHING]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: THE DENSE FORESTS OF THE AMERICAN COLONIES

REQUIRE A NEW KIND OF WARFARE AND A NEW KIND OF SOLDIER,

AND ROBERT ROGERS IS THE PROTOTYPE.

BRADY CRYTZER: ROBERT ROGERS IS THE GODFATHER

OF AMERICAN SPECIAL FORCES AS WE UNDERSTAND IT.

STEPHEN BRUMWELL: IN NORTH AMERICA, YOU HAD DIFFERENT ENEMIES

WHO FOUGHT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

YOU NEEDED PEOPLE WHO WERE CAPABLE OF FIGHTING THEM

ON THEIR OWN TERMS.

MYKEL HAWKE: ROGERS WAS AT THAT UNIQUE POINT IN TIME, IN HISTORY,

WHEN IT'S THE EVOLUTION FROM ONE WAY OF FIGHTING

TO A NEW WAY OF FIGHTING.

A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT HE ACTUALLY WROTE DOWN AND MADE

AS THE GUIDING RULES AND PRINCIPLES FOR HIS SOLDIERS THEN,

WE STILL DO TODAY.

JOHN ROSS: ROBERT ROGERS INTRODUCED THE IDEA

OF REDEFINING WHAT WAS POSSIBLE.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE MARINES, THE SEALS,

THE RANGERS TODAY, THE CUTTING EDGE GUYS,

THEY DON'T ACCEPT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK IS POSSIBLE.

THEY REDEFINE WHAT IS POSSIBLE.

♪ ♪

[WATER RUSHING]

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: THE SON OF SCOTTISH SETTLERS,

ROGERS LEARNS HIS WILDERNESS SKILLS

GROWING UP IN THE WOODS OF WESTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

♪ ♪

[GUNSHOT]

BILL GORMAN: HE HAD FRIENDS WHO WERE NATIVE AMERICANS

IN THAT AREA AND HE LEARNED TO

HUNT WITH THEM,

HOW TO HIDE BEHIND TREES AND CAMOUFLAGE.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: ROGERS GETS A MASTER CLASS IN FRONTIER SKILLS AND NATIVE AMERICAN TACTICS,

BUT HE HAS NO INTENTION OF APPLYING THOSE LESSONS TO WAR.

THERE'S VERY LITTLE IN ROGERS' EARLY LIFE

THAT SUGGESTS THAT HE ASPIRED TO BE A PATRIOT

OR AN OFFICER IN THE BRITISH ARMY.

THIS WAS A YOUNG MAN OUT FOR ADVENTURE.

NARRATOR: BUT WAR SOON COMES CALLING.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

ROSS: ROBERT ROGERS IS 23.

HE HAS DEVELOPED EXTRAORDINARY WOOD SKILLS,

INDIAN SKILLS OF HUNTING,

AND THEN THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR REALLY BLOWS UP

AND THE BRITISH ARE REALLY IN NEED OF MEN.

NARRATOR: THANKS TO HIS SUPERIOR ABILITY, ROGERS IS MADE

A CAPTAIN IN A WILDERNESS-BASED FIGHTING UNIT: THE RANGERS.

OGDEN: ALL CLEAR UP AHEAD, CAPTAIN. FRENCHIES GOT NO IDEA WE'RE ANYWHERES CLOSE.

ROGERS: THAT'S THE IDEA.

KEEP CLOSE FORMATION.

LET'S GO.

♪ ♪

MARTIN MORGAN: THIS IS THE BIRTH OF RANGING,

MEANING MOVING OUT AHEAD OR IN FRONT OF

THE TIP OF THE SPEAR. AND SO...

RANGERS WERE THE EYES AND EARS.

THEY WERE, IN MANY WAYS, SORT OF A LONG-RANGE RECONNAISSANCE FORCE.

♪ ♪

E.J. SNYDER: ROGERS WOULD MOVE HIS RANGERS IN.

THEY WOULD GET THIS INFORMATION,

WHETHER IT WAS THE ENEMY FORCE, OR-

AN OBJECTIVE THAT THEY WERE GONNA RAID,

AND GET IT BACK TO THE REGULAR FORCES

'CAUSE IT WAS SO CRITICAL.

IT WAS INTELLIGENCE.

♪ ♪

MORGAN: RANGERS ARE ARMED, THEY HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO FIGHT,

BUT IT'S A FAILURE IF THEY FIRED A SHOT

BECAUSE THEY'RE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE ENEMY IS.

NARRATOR: IN THE FALL OF 1755,

ROGERS' RANGERS ARE TASKED WITH REPORTING ON TROOP POSITIONS

AT A FRENCH FORT IN NORTHERN NEW YORK.

SUCCESS ALL DEPENDS ON REMAINING UNSEEN AND UNHEARD BY THE FRENCH SOLDIERS.

THEY ARE RIGHT WITHIN SEEING THE WALLS

OF THIS GREAT FRENCH FORT

WHERE MILITIA COULD POUR OUT AT ANY SECOND

AND THEY WOULD BE DONE.

[CHATTERING]

NARRATOR: IF THE FRENCH DISCOVER ROGERS AND HIS MEN,

THE MISSION WILL BE A FAILURE,

AND THE RANGERS WILL BE CAPTURED OR KILLED.

ROSS: ONE OF THE GUYS WALKS RIGHT TOWARDS HIM.

HE'S GONNA STUMBLE RIGHT OVER THEM.

NARRATOR: ROBERT ROGERS CAN SEE ONLY ONE COURSE OF ACTION.

♪ ♪

ROGERS: SURRENDER.

MAKE A SOUND AND I'LL SHOOT. [IN FRENCH] COMPRENEZ VOUS?

NARRATOR: THE FRENCH SOLDIER KNOWS THAT IF ROGERS SHOOTS,

HE WILL ALERT ALL THE TROOPS IN THE FORT.

BUT HE WANTS THE GLORY OF KILLING THE AMERICAN RANGER HIMSELF.

[FIGHTING]

IT WILL BE HIS FINAL MISTAKE.

[FIGHTING]

[FIGHTING]

♪ ♪

ROGERS: REPOSITION YOURSELVES UP THE HILL.

SMITH: FRENCHIES COULDN'T'VE HEARD.

HE DIED REAL QUIET. C'MON.

NARRATOR: ROGERS' BOLDNESS AND QUICK THINKING SAVES THE MISSION.

HE IS ABLE TO DELIVER THE VALUABLE INTEL BACK TO HIS COMMANDERS,

AND HE BEGINS TO EARN A REPUTATION AS A WARRIOR WHO THINKS LIKE FEW OTHERS.

ROSS: AND IT'S IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, MIXED WITH ROBERT ROGERS' BACKGROUND

OF LONG HUNTING AS A BOY,

LEARNING HOW THE INDIANS LIVED AND DEALT WITH THEIR ENVIRONMENT,

HE BEGAN TO DEVELOP A WHOLE NEW WAY OF WARFARE.

WE KNOW IT AS SPECIAL OPERATIONS.

♪ ♪

[WATER RUSHING]

NARRATOR: ROGERS' SUPERIORS IN THE ARMY QUICKLY PUT HIS RANGERS TO THE TEST AGAIN.

ROGERS: RIGHT THEN. THE FRENCH FORTIFICATION IS ONE MILE DUE NORTH.

I NEED TWO SCOUTS.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR THE RANGERS ARE SENT UP LAKE GEORGE ON A SECRET AMPHIBIOUS MISSION

TO REPORT ON ENEMY ACTIVITY ALONG LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

♪ ♪

[FOOTSTEPS]

THE FRENCH HAVE ALLIED WITH THE ABENAKI PEOPLE,

WHO HAVE BEEN PUSHED OUT OF THEIR ANCESTRAL HOMES BY THE BRITISH.

♪ ♪

BRUMWELL: THE ABENAKI ARE A PEOPLE WHO HAVE

LONG STANDING GRIEVANCES AGAINST THE ENGLISH SETTLERS.

SO, THEIR NATURAL AFFILIATION IS TOWARDS THE FRENCH.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: BUT THINGS SEEM TO GO WRONG ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

[GUNSHOTS]

[WAR CRIES]

THE RANGERS HAVE BROKEN RULE NUMBER ONE:

REMAIN UNDETECTED.

NOW SPEED IS ALL THAT CAN SAVE THEM.

[RUNNING FOOTSTEPS] [WAR CRIES]

ROGERS: CAREFUL WITH THAT ONE, LADS.

OGDEN: CAPTAIN!

CAPTAIN! THEY'RE ONTO US!

♪ ♪

THEY MIGHT BE SWARMING THROUGH THE WOODS ANY TIME NOW.

♪ ♪

TO THE CANOES.

WE'LL REGROUP TWO MILES DOWN

WHERE THE RIVER BENDS.

SMITH: CAPTAIN!

NARRATOR: THE LAST CANOES IN A FRENCH FLOTILLA ARE HEADED FOR ROGERS' POSITION.

OGDEN: I DON'T LIKE TO GRIPE, CAPTAIN,

BUT THIS AIN'T GOOD.

NARRATOR: THE ABENAKI AND FRENCH SOLDIERS

HAVEN'T SPOTTED THE RANGERS YET,

BUT THEY SOON WILL, AND ROGERS HAS NOWHERE TO RUN.

CRYTZER: ROGERS WAS CAUGHT IN A CLASSIC HAMMER AND ANVIL SITUATION.

IF THEY TURNED AND RAN INTO THE WOODS,

THEY RUN DIRECTLY INTO AN AWAITING AMBUSH FORCE.

IF THEY WENT TO THE WATER,

THE ABENAKI AND FRENCH SOLDIERS WOULD MOW THEM DOWN.

SMITH: WE CAN FIGHT 'EM OFF.

OGDEN: WE'RE ABOUT TO BE OUTNUMBERED.

WE GOT FRENCHIES COMING DOWN THE RIVER RIGHT NOW

AND COMIN' THROUGH THE WOODS IN A FEW MINUTES.

SMITH: IF YOU HADN'T GIVEN US AWAY- ROGERS: THAT'S ENOUGH.

MORGAN: THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE CALLING ON HIM,

NOT JUST TO BE A SKILLED FRONTIERSMAN,

BUT HE ALSO HAS TO BE SKILLED AS A LEADER.

HE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE IN ENEMY TERRITORY.

IT OCCASIONS HIM TO THINK ON A LEVEL THAT A REGULAR INFANTRY,

CALVARY, OR ARTILLERY COMMANDER JUST WOULDN'T HAVE TO.

♪ ♪

OGDEN: WHERE DOES HE THINK HE'S GOING?

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: WITH HIS ESCAPE ROUTES CUT OFF, ROGERS DOES THE UNTHINKABLE.

ROGERS: HEY! PLEASE! HELP!

NARRATOR: ALONE IN A CANOE, SEEMINGLY UNARMED,

HE PADDLES TOWARD CERTAIN DEATH.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: FRENCH AND ABENAKI FORCES ARE CLOSING IN

ON CAPTAIN ROBERT ROGERS AND HIS TEAM OF RANGERS.

WITH NOWHERE TO RUN, ROGERS EXPOSES HIMSELF TO ENEMY FIRE

IN AN ACTION THAT LOOKS LIKE MADNESS.

ROGERS: HELLO!

ROGERS' BEHAVIOR WAS BIZARRE.

THE FRENCH AND ABENAKI DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF THAT.

WHOA! WHOA! WHOA!

WHAT IS HE DOING COMING TOWARDS THEM?

WHAT IS THIS CRAZY GUY DOING?

ROGERS: PLEASE! I JUST- DON'T SHOOT!

♪ ♪

[GUNSHOT]

AND THEN BANGO!

[GUNFIRE]

CRYTZER: THE FRENCH FELL INTO AN AMBUSH,

AND THEY WERE MOWED DOWN BY ROGERS' MEN

WAITING BEHIND THE TREES.

ROSS: THEY HADN'T BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS GOING ON, ON THE SHORE.

VINTAGE ROGERS AND THIS WHOLE IDEA OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS.

CRYTZER: IT SHOWED INCREDIBLE FORWARD THINKING AND CREATIVITY

TO GET OUT OF A SITUATION THAT SEEMED SO PERILOUS AT THE TIME.

HE COULD'VE BEEN KILLED, BUT HE WASN'T TRYING TO SAVE HIMSELF,

HE WAS TRYING TO SAVE HIS MEN.

AND IT'S WHY WE SPEAK SO HIGHLY OF HIM, STILL,

250 YEARS LATER.

NARRATOR: ROGERS AND HIS MEN ARE ABLE TO LOAD THEIR CANOES AND ESCAPE DOWN THE RIVER.

THANKS TO DARING DEEDS LIKE THIS, CAPTAIN ROGERS SOON GETS PROMOTED TO MAJOR,

AND HE BECOMES ONE OF AMERICA'S FIRST MEDIA CELEBRITIES.

SO, WHEN THE PEACEFUL

CITIZENS OF PHILADELPHIA, OR BOSTON,

OR EVEN LONDON OR EDINBURGH, PICK UP THEIR NEWSPAPER

AND READ THESE KIND OF GRIPPING ACCOUNTS OF BRUTAL FRONTIER WARFARE,

THEY THINK, "OH, THIS ROGERS FELLOW SEEMS TO BE GOIN' OUT THERE

AND GIVING THE FRENCH AND INDIANS A GOOD LICKING."

SO, BY 1759, ROGERS IS ONE OF THE MOST CELEBRATED MEN,

NOT ONLY IN NORTH AMERICA, WHERE HE'S FAR MORE FAMOUS THAN GEORGE WASHINGTON,

BUT ALSO BACK IN LONDON.

NARRATOR: BUT ON THE FRONT LINES,

FAME MEANS LITTLE.

♪ ♪

AS THE WAR DRAGS ON, THE BRITISH EXPAND THE RANGER FORCES,

EVEN IF THEY HAVE TO RECRUIT MEN WITH NO EXPERIENCE.

♪ ♪

SMITH: ALL RIGHT. LET'S SEE YOU LOAD THIS.

♪ ♪

NO, HERE.

♪ ♪

CLOSE IT.

♪ ♪

AND NOW THE RAMROD.

♪ ♪

ROSS: SO, THE EARLY RANGER OUTFITS,

ROGERS BUILT WITH A LOT OF HIS FRIENDS

THAT KNEW WOODS CRAFT.

BUT AS THE WAR CONTINUED ON, HIS RANKS WERE FILLED WITH

MEN WHO'D NEVER STEPPED INTO THE WOODS.

♪ ♪

ROGERS: PUT YOUR MUSKET AT FULL COCK, SON.

LIEUTENANT STEVENS, SHOW HIM, PLEASE.

♪ ♪

NOW AIM FOR THE MIDDLE TARGET.

♪ ♪

[GUNSHOT]

[MURMURING, LAUGHTER]

WHERE'RE YOU FROM, SON?

RECRUIT: BOSTON, SIR.

I LOADED CARGO AT THE DOCKS.

ROGERS: AND WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A RANGER?

RECRUIT: WELL, TO BE HONEST, SIR, I DIDN'T.

ROGERS: THE SOLDIERS CAME AND CONSCRIPTED YOU?

RECRUIT: THEY CONSCRIPTED A FRIEND O' MINE

AND HE DIDN'T WANNA DO IT. SO,

HE PAID ME 3 SHILLINGS TO TAKE HIS PLACE.

ROGERS: I SEE. RECRUIT: BUT,

MY GIRL, SHE'S REAL PROUD THAT I BECAME A RANGER.

STEVENS: NO DOUBT SHE READ ALL ABOUT US IN THE GAZETTE AND THE EVENING POST.

[RANGERS LAUGH]

ROGERS: ALL RIGHT, AT EASE.

WELL, I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

NOW, WE HAVE A BIG MISSION COMING UP,

AND I'LL NEED MEN I CAN COUNT ON.

RANGER SMITH, CAN I BORROW YOUR MUSKET?

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[GUNSHOT]

♪ ♪

ROGERS: NOW, I NEED YOU TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT,

SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

RECRUIT: I'LL DO MY BEST, SIR.

ROGERS: LIEUTENANT STEVENS, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

STEVENS: IT'S THE RANGER'S WAY, SIR.

ROGERS: AYE, SO IT IS.

KEEP PRACTICING.

NARRATOR: ROGERS HAS TO DO ALL HE CAN

TO BRING HIS NEW RANGERS UP TO SNUFF,

BECAUSE THEIR NEXT MISSION IS THEIR BIGGEST YET.

♪ ♪

TO STAY A STEP AHEAD OF THE ENEMY, ROGERS KNOWS

HE HAS TO DO MORE THAN JUST GATHER INTELLIGENCE,

HE HAS TO GO ON THE OFFENSIVE.

ROSS: ROBERT ROGERS CAME UP WITH A BOLD PLAN

THAT NO ONE HAD EVER EVEN CONSIDERED BEFORE:

TO STRIKE RIGHT INTO THE HEART OF FRENCH TERRITORY.

[YELLING]

NARRATOR: ON OCTOBER 4, 1759, A LARGE CONTINGENT OF ROGERS' RANGERS

EXECUTE A RUTHLESS SURPRISE ATTACK ON THE FRENCH

AND ABENAKI VILLAGE OF ST. FRANCIS.

BUT NOW COMES THE HARD PART.

ALREADY EXHAUSTED FROM THE LONG MARCH TO ST. FRANCIS,

THE RANGERS NOW FACE A NEARLY TWO HUNDRED MILE TREK TO A RENDEZVOUS POINT,

WHERE ROGERS' TRUSTED OFFICER, SAMUEL STEVENS, WILL MEET THEM WITH FOOD AND SUPPLIES.

THE RANGERS ARE ALREADY STARVING.

THEY EXPECTED TO COMMANDEER PROVISIONS FROM ST. FRANCIS,

BUT ALL THEY FOUND WAS DRIED CORN.

IF YOU EAT IT IMMEDIATELY, IT GOES RIGHT THROUGH YOUR SYSTEM.

SO, YOU END UP PACKING SOME IN YOUR CANTEEN,

SOME IN YOUR CHEEK, TRYING TO BREAK IT DOWN.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, CAPTAIN AMOS OGDEN

IS WOUNDED IN THE ATTACK, SLOWING THEIR RETREAT.

AND ROGERS HAS TAKEN A HOSTAGE,

FOURTEEN YEAR OLD ANTOINE GILL, CALLED SABBATIS,

THE SON OF AN ABENAKI WOMAN AND A FRENCHMAN.

CRYTZER: ROGERS TOOK HIM HOSTAGE BECAUSE IF THEY WERE ATTACKED OR SURROUNDED,

HE'D BE A VALUABLE NEGOTIATING PIECE.

ROGERS: MORE SOLID GROUND THROUGH THOSE TREES.

THAT'LL HELP HIDE OUR TRACKS. THIS WAY.

NARRATOR: BUT THE SULLEN TEENAGER HAS NO DESIRE TO HELP ROGERS ESCAPE VENGEANCE.

ROGERS: THAT MEANS YOU TOO.

[IN FRENCH] COCHON .

ROGERS: I UNDERSTAND FRENCH.

AND YOU'LL GET THROUGH THERE. [IN FRENCH] TOUT DE SUITE .

MY PEOPLE WILL FIND YOU AND KILL YOU ALL. [SPITS]

ROGERS: DON'T WASTE YOUR SPIT.

SAVE IT TO MOISTEN YOUR CORN.

ROSS: THEY'RE IN A RACE FOR, NOT ONLY THEIR LIVES,

BUT TO ESCAPE STARVATION.

NARRATOR: WITH NO GAME TO EASE THEIR HUNGER,

THE RANGERS HAVE TO RESORT TO DESPERATE MEASURES.

THERE WAS SOMETHING CRAZY GOING ON WITH THE WILDLIFE.

THERE WAS AN INCREDIBLE DEARTH OF DEER, SQUIRRELS,

OF BEAR, PARTRIDGES, ANYTHING.

SMITH: MAJOR, SOME OF THE MEN THINK THE GROUP'S SO BIG, WE'RE SCARIN' AWAY THE GAME.

THEY WANNA SPLIT UP INTO SMALLER UNITS FOR BETTER HUNTIN'.

ROGERS: THAT'S AN ILL NOTION.

SMITH: I KNOW. THEY WANNA VOTE.

BRUMWELL: ROGERS FELT MORE COMFORTABLE KEEPING HIS MEN TOGETHER.

IF YOU SPLIT UP, YOU'RE FAR MORE VULNERABLE.

BUT I THINK HUNGER PANGS WERE PARAMOUNT

AND HAD OUTWEIGHED THE FEAR OF PURSUIT.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: OUT OF OPTIONS, ROGERS GATHERS HIS MOST TRUSTED OFFICERS FOR A CRUCIAL DECISION.

ROGERS: THE MOTION IS DIVIDE OUR FORCES

AND TRY TO REACH STEVENS AT THE RENDEZVOUS POINT BY SEPARATE ROUTES.

BRUMWELL: A VOTE WAS TAKEN, WHICH REFLECTS THE DEMOCRATIC NATURE OF THE RANGERS,

OPPOSED TO MORE CONVENTIONAL FORCES.

ROGERS: ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: EVEN THE CAPTIVE, SABBATIS, GETS A VOTE

BECAUSE ROGERS IS NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS LIFE AS WELL.

♪ ♪

ROGERS: OPPOSED?

CRYTZER: THE MISSION WAS BEHIND THEM,

SURVIVAL WAS THEIR TOP PRIORITY,

BUT HUNGER WAS THE ONLY THING ANYONE COULD THINK ABOUT.

SNYDER: SOMETIMES, THERE'S NOT A GOOD CHOICE,

THERE'S ONLY BAD CHOICES, SO, YOU PICK

THE BEST BAD CHOICE YOU CAN,

AND THEN YOU JUST ROLL WITH IT.

NARRATOR: ROGERS WILL ABIDE BY HIS RANGERS' DECISION,

♪ ♪

BUT THEIR VOTE MAY HAVE JUST SEALED THEIR FATE.

[WAR CRIES]

[GUNFIRE]

MARCH ON NO FOOD,ARRATOL

MAJOR ROBERT ROGERS SPLITS HIS RANGERS INTO SMALLER GROUPS.

[WAR CRIES]

BUT OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS,

ROGERS LOSES MANY OF HIS MEN TO THE ENEMY,

[GUNFIRE]

AND EVEN MORE TO STARVATION.

MORGAN: DIVIDING YOUR FORCE CAN

ON THE ONE HAND BE SALVATION

AND ON THE OTHER HAND IT CAN BE YOUR DOOM.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: ROGERS' OWN GROUP HAS MANAGED TO SURVIVE,

EVEN THOUGH HE'S TAKEN ALL THE WEAKEST AND THE WOUNDED WITH HIM.

SO, IT WENT WITHOUT SAYING THAT ROGERS WOULD TAKE THE WOUNDED

WHEN THEY SPLIT UP IN THEIR DIFFERENT GROUPS.

HE TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO HELP THEM ALONG,

AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MADE IT HOME.

OGDEN: MAYBE IT'S BEST I STAY HERE, MAJOR.

ROGERS: HOLD TIGHT AND WE'LL BOTH MAKE IT.

NARRATOR: RANGER AMOS OGDEN IS STILL RECOVERING FROM A BATTLE WOUND.

AND WITH ABENAKI WARRIORS PROWLING THE WOODS,

ROGERS NEEDS TO CROSS THE RIVER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

HAWKE: ONE OF THE REALLY SIGNIFICANT ROGERS' STANDING ORDERS

WAS "LEAVE NO MAN BEHIND."

WHAT THAT DOES IS INSTILL CONFIDENCE IN ALL OF HIS MEN

THAT IF THEY GET HURT,

IF THEY FALL ON THE BATTLEFIELD,

THEY WON'T BE LEFT TO SURVIVE ON THEIR OWN.

♪ ♪

ROGERS: [GRUNTS]

OGDEN: [GRUNTS] MAJOR.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: EVEN ROGERS' HOSTAGE, FOURTEEN YEAR OLD SABBATIS,

CAN'T HELP BUT BE IMPRESSED BY ROGERS' RESILIENCE

AND DEDICATION TO HIS MEN.

HAWKE: MEN KNOW WHEN THEIR LEADER CARES FOR THEM,

AND I THINK A VERY SIMILAR THING WOULD BE HAPPENING

WITH ROGERS AND THIS YOUNG BOY THAT HE'S TAKEN CAPTIVE.

IF HE'S TREATED WITH DECENCY AND RESPECT, AND THEN HE LEARNS

FROM THEM THAT THEY'RE ALSO GREAT WARRIORS, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT

HE CAN BELIEVE IN AND BECOME A PART OF.

♪ ♪

ROGERS: THE GOOD THING ABOUT TRAVELING ALONG THE RIVER

IS WE CAN FILL OUR CANTEENS.

OGDEN: [LAUGHS]

♪ ♪

ROGERS: ALL RIGHT, THEN. LET'S GO.

NARRATOR: ROGERS' MEN WILL FOLLOW HIM ANYWHERE,

BUT AS THEIR LONG MARCH CONTINUES,

STARVATION BEGINS TO TAKE ITS TOLL.

THE CONDITIONS OF HUNGER ARE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE JUST REALLY CAN'T TRAIN FOR.

YOU CAN BE PRETTY DARN TOUGH,

BUT WHEN YOU'RE EXPOSED TO NEVER-ENDING HUNGER,

YOUR ABILITY TO KEEP IT TOGETHER WILL BEGIN TO FRAY.

NARRATOR: ROGERS SENDS HIS MOST ABLE MEN OUT TO HUNT AND FORAGE,

BUT HE MAKES ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FINDS.

AH- [LAUGHING]

LOOK AT THIS.

IT'S CALLED "CHICKEN OF THE WOODS."

THIS'LL FILL AN EMPTY BELLY.

DOLE IT OUT.

SNYDER: IT'S CALLED CHICKEN OF THE WOODS FOR A REASON.

IT HAS THE TEXTURE OF CHICKEN. IT'S GOT PROTEIN,

IT'S NOURISHING, IT FILLS YOUR STOMACH UP.

AND SO, FINDING THAT IS A HUGE SCORE.

♪ ♪

ROGERS: WHAT DID YOU FIND?

RECRUIT: LEAVES.

ROGERS: THOSE ARE BEECH-TREE LEAVES

AND THEY'VE GONE BROWN.

THAT'S NO GOOD FOR YOU NOW.

EAT THE MUSHROOM.

OGDEN: CHEW IT SLOWLY.

♪ ♪

ROSS: IF THERE WAS A WEAK LINK, THERE WAS SOMEBODY WHO WAS NOT FEELING UP TO IT

OR LOST THEIR NERVE, HE FELT THAT THE WHOLE GROUP COULD BE VULNERABLE.

SO, HE HAD THIS REALLY EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY TO REALLY LISTEN TO WHERE PEOPLE WERE

AND MOVE THEM INTO A PLACE WHERE THEY FELT VERY CONFIDENT.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: WHEN ROGERS JUDGES THEY'VE PUT ENOUGH DISTANCE

BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND THEIR PURSUERS,

HE ALLOWS HIS EXHAUSTED MEN TO REST FOR THE NIGHT.

ROGERS: SENTRY DUTY.

TWO HOUR SHIFTS.

OGDEN: I CAN STAND SENTRY.

I'M FEELIN' MUCH BETTER

WITH SOME MUSHROOMS IN MY BELLY.

THIS IS A GOOD VANTAGE POINT.

SMITH: I DON'T KNOW WHY THERE'S NO GAME.

SABBATIS: YOU HAVE BEEN CURSED.

♪ ♪

ROGERS: WE'VE DONE WELL SO FAR.

I FIGURE WE'RE MORE THAN HALFWAY TO THE RENDEZVOUS POINT,

AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS:

SALT BEEF, SALT PORK, BISCUITS WITH WHITE FLOUR,

IN A WEEK, MAYBE LESS.

♪ ♪

SABBATIS: MY PEOPLE WILL NOT HAVE TO FIND YOU RANGERS TO KILL YOU.

YOU WILL ALL JUST STARVE TO DEATH.

♪ ♪

I'LL JUDGE THAT FOOLISH TALK TO YOUR BEING A HUNGRY YOUNG MAN.

WELL, THERE'LL BE MEAT AND BISCUITS FOR YOU, TOO.

GET SOME REST.

WE'RE ON OUR FEET COME SUN-UP.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: AT THIS POINT THE ONLY THING KEEPING

THE RANGERS GOING IS ROGERS' LEADERSHIP

AND THE PROMISE OF FOOD AT THE RENDEZVOUS POINT.

♪ ♪

CRYTZER: THE RANGERS HAVE TO BE THINKING

EVEN THOUGH THERE IS HELP WAITING FOR THEM,

WILL THEY EVEN SURVIVE IN TIME TO GET THERE?

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: AFTER SIXTEEN DAYS IN THE WILDERNESS,

EVEN ROBERT ROGERS' IRON WILL IS AT THE BREAKING POINT.

♪ ♪

SMITH: MAJOR? ROGERS: EVERYONE PREPARE AND FIRE A VOLLEY.

LET 'EM KNOW WE'RE ON OUR WAY! SMITH: YOU MEAN WE'VE-

ROGERS: WE'VE DONE IT. AT THAT HILL, I SAW

THE RIVER CURVING DOWN. I RECKON WE'RE FIVE MILES WEST-

SMITH: THE RENDEZVOUS POINT! ROGERS: AYE!

LIEUTENANT STEVENS IS THERE WAITING FOR US

WITH MEAT AND BREAD AND- SMITH: SALVATION.

COME ON, BOYS! YOU HEARD THE MAJOR!

FIRE A VOLLEY! LET 'EM KNOW WE'RE COMIN'!

[GUNFIRE]

[LAUGHTER]

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: AT LAST, THE RANGERS HAVE REACHED THE RENDEZVOUS POINT,

WHERE SAMUEL STEVENS WILL BE WAITING WITH FOOD AND SUPPLIES.

ROGERS: YOU'VE ALL STUCK TOGETHER,

DIDN'T GIVE UP.

I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT,

AND NOW YOU'LL EAT.

TONIGHT, YOU'LL FEAST LIKE KINGS!

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: BUT AS THEY GET CLOSER...

THEY ARE DEVASTATED BY WHAT THEY FIND.

♪ ♪

WHEN THE RANGERS FINALLY DO REACH THE RENDEZVOUS POINT,

THERE'S NO ONE THERE.

ROSS: AND THERE'S NO STEVENS,

HE'S LEFT.

AND IT APPEARS THAT HE'S GONE

JUST WITHIN A FEW HOURS.

NARRATOR: ROGERS AND HIS RANGERS HAVE MANAGED TO SURVIVE INSURMOUNTABLE ODDS.

BUT NOW, THEY'VE BEEN ABANDONED TO A SLOW DEATH FROM STARVATION.

NARRATOR: FOR SIXTEEN HARROWING DAYS,

ROBERT ROGERS HAS KEPT HIS STARVING TEAM ALIVE

WITH THE PROMISE OF FOOD AT THE RENDEZVOUS POINT.

BUT THE BRUTAL REALITY IS A DESERTED CAMPSITE.

CRYTZER: ROGERS HAD PERSONALLY REQUESTED THAT

SAMUEL STEVENS BE THERE WITH THE SUPPLIES.

HE KNEW HIM AND HE TRUSTED HIM, BUT HE WAS GONE.

♪ ♪

SMITH: MAJOR, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

WHERE'S STEVENS?

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: ROGERS CAN'T BELIEVE THAT ONE OF HIS OWN MEN WOULD HAVE ABANDONED THEM.

BUT JUST TWO HOURS EARLIER,

SAMUEL STEVENS HAD BEEN WAITING AT THE RENDEZVOUS POINT.

HE WAITED FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME,

BUT HE DIDN'T WAIT LONG ENOUGH.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: STEVENS HEARD THE SHOTS THAT ROGERS FIRED TO SIGNAL HIM THAT THEY WERE CLOSE,

BUT MISTOOK THEM FOR THE ENEMY.

STEVENS FLED SIXTY MILES DOWN THE RIVER,

BACK TO THE BRITISH FORT NUMBER FOUR.

♪ ♪

[ROGERS GRUNTS]

ROGERS: COME BACK!

STEVENS!

[GUNSHOT]

♪ ♪

STEVENS WAS A RANGER.

HE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN, YOU NEVER LEAVE.

♪ ♪

BRUMWELL: IF STEVENS HAD WAITED AT THE RENDEZVOUS

FOR EVEN JUST TWO HOURS,

IT WOULD HAVE MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

CRYTZER: TO GET THERE AND FIND IT ABANDONED

MUST HAVE BEEN A HURT, A- A DEPRESSION

THAT WE, JUST AS MODERN PEOPLE, CANNOT FATHOM.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: THE RANGERS ARE TOO WEAK TO PURSUE STEVENS.

THEY ARE REDUCED TO EATING THE LEATHER FROM THEIR BELTS,

AND FOR SIX LONG DAYS, ROBERT ROGERS HAS NO PLAN.

BRUMWELL: AFTER ALL OF THE HARDSHIPS HE'D BEEN THROUGH,

EVEN A MAN WITH THE KIND OF MORAL COURAGE

AND THE PHYSICAL HARDIHOOD OF ROGERS

MAY HAVE HAD SOME KIND OF A MENTAL COLLAPSE.

ROSS: HE KNEW THAT THEY WERE GONNA DIE.

ROGERS COULD ALWAYS PULL A RABBIT OUT OF A HAT,

BUT THIS ONE EVEN CHALLENGED HIM.

OGDEN: WELL, MAJOR.

THANKS FOR THE FEW DAYS OF REST.

JUST WHAT I NEEDED.

STILL NO GAME, BUT I FOUND BREAKFAST.

WE'RE ALL ALIVE THANKS TO YOU.

WHAT ARE YOUR ORDERS?

HAWKE: WHEN YOU HIT A MASSIVE DISAPPOINTMENT,

THAT IS A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR ANY LEADER.

THE ABILITY OF A LEADER TO REBOUND FROM

THESE SETBACKS WITH A CLEAR HEAD

AND MAKE A GOOD DECISION

BECOMES THE THING THAT DECIDES IF WARS ARE WON OR LOST.

ROGERS: FORT.

UH, FORT NUMBER FOUR.

SIR?

THERE'S FOOD

AND MEDICINE.

IT'S JUST

60 MILES.

OGDEN: EASY HIKE ON A FULL STOMACH, BUT-

ROGERS: BUT IN OUR CONDITION WE'D NEVER MAKE IT...

ON FOOT.

♪ ♪

[ROGERS GRUNTS]

RANGERS,

GET OUT YOUR HATCHETS.

BRUMWELL: WHATEVER HE WAS GOING THROUGH, HE PULLED HIMSELF TOGETHER.

AND HE CAME UP WITH HIS PLAN TO RAFT DOWN THE CONNECTICUT

TO FORT NUMBER FOUR AND TO COME BACK WITH SUPPLIES.

NARRATOR: ROGERS DIRECTS THE RANGERS TO CUT DOWN TREES AND BUILD A RAFT.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

IT LOOKS LIKE A MIRACLE, BUT THE RAFT CAN'T CARRY EVERYBODY.

♪ ♪

ROGERS: I'M AFRAID I CAN ONLY TAKE

THE THREE STRONGEST THIS TIME.

OGDEN, YOU AND SMITH WILL STEER.

SABBATIS: AND ME.

ROGERS: YOU?

SABBATIS: YOU DON'T THINK I CAN DO IT?

HELP SECURE THE GUNS AND SUPPLIES. [IN FRENCH] S'IL VOUS PLAIT .

BRUMWELL: IT'S POSSIBLE THAT IN UNDERGOING THESE SHARED HARDSHIPS,

THE FORTITUDE SHOWN BY ROGERS IMPRESSED SABBATIS SUFFICIENTLY

THAT IT OVERRODE ANY LINGERING ANIMOSITY HE MIGHT HAVE HAD TOWARDS ROGERS.

ROGERS: IT SHOULD TAKE US FOUR DAYS TO REACH THE FORT, FIVE AT THE MOST.

I WILL RETURN WITH FOOD IN 10 DAYS.

YOU HAVE MY WORD.

RECRUIT: GOOD LUCK, MAJOR.

ROSS: ROBERT ROGERS PROMISED, AND HIS WORD WAS HIS VOW,

THAT HE WOULD BE BACK IN 10 DAYS.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

ROGERS: BETTER THAN WALKING.

NARRATOR: IT'S A SIXTY MILE JOURNEY DOWN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER

FROM THE RENDEZVOUS POINT TO FORT NUMBER FOUR,

AND NOT ALL OF THOSE MILES ARE ON CALM WATER.

♪ ♪

ROSS: RAFTS ARE NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT TO POINT

AND THAT WAS JUST IN THE CALM WATER.

WHEN THEY HIT WHITE WATER THAT WAS

A DIFFERENT ORDER OF MAGNITUDE.

ROGERS: KEEP IT STEADY, OGDEN!

OGDEN: DOIN' MY BEST, MAJOR.

SMITH, WATCH THAT ROCK!

NARRATOR: ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE VOYAGE, THE CURRENT INCREASES,

AND SO DOES THE DANGER.

♪ ♪

OGDEN: SEE THAT, MAJOR?

WATERFALL!

WE HAVE TO GET TO SHORE!

NARRATOR: CAREENING TOWARD A WATERFALL,

ROGERS' DESPERATE RESCUE MISSION...

SMITH: THE RIVER AIN'T O' YOUR OPINION, MAJOR!

NARRATOR: IS HEADED FOR CATASTROPHE.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: MAJOR ROBERT ROGERS IS ON A DESPERATE MISSION

TO BRING BACK FOOD TO HIS STARVING RANGERS.

OGDEN: WATCH THAT ROCK!

NARRATOR: BUT ON THE TREACHEROUS CONNECTICUT RIVER,

HE MEETS A FOE HE CAN'T FIGHT.

ROGERS: EVERYBODY SWIM TO SHORE!

NOW!

JUMP!

♪ ♪

ROSS: THE CONNECTICUT RIVER HAS SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FALLS IN IT.

FOR INSTANCE, ONE THAT THEY HIT FIRST WAS WHITE FALLS

AND THE RAPIDS BY THE FALLS COME VERY QUICKLY.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: WITH THEIR RAFT DESTROYED,

ROGERS' MEN REGROUP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FALLS.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

SMITH: MAJOR,

WE MAYBE MADE IT HALFWAY.

I CAN'T WALK ANOTHER 30 MILES TO THE FORT.

NOT IN TIME TO SEND FOOD BACK TO THE MEN AT THE RENDEZVOUS.

ROGERS: YOU'RE RIGHT.

ROSS: THEY LOSE THEIR HATCHETS,

THE BOAT IS BROKEN UP INTO TINY PIECES,

AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GAME OVER.

THEY ARE IN ANOTHER IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION.

NARRATOR: BUT ROBERT ROGERS IS AT HIS BEST WHEN THINGS SEEM IMPOSSIBLE.

ROGERS: AYE.

WE NEED TO MAKE ANOTHER RAFT. SMITH: WHA-?

♪ ♪

ROGERS: THOSE LOOK LIKE SOME GOOD TREES THERE.

MAJOR, EVERY HATCHET,

EVERY KNIFE WE HAD WENT OVER THOSE FALLS.

ROGERS: I'VE GOT MY FLINT.

LET'S FIND A GOOD TREE.

CRYTZER: THERE'S ONLY ONE OTHER OPTION, MAKE ANOTHER RAFT.

THIS TIME THEIR TOOLS ARE GONE AS WELL.

BUT, ON THE FRONTIER, NECESSITY IS ALWAYS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION.

[STRIKING FLINT]

ROSS: HE HAS A FLINT WHICH HE KEPT ON HIS PERSON.

SO, HE COMES UP WITH THIS EXTRAORDINARY PLAN.

NARRATOR: ROGERS USES THE ONLY TOOL HE HAS TO MAKE LOGS FOR THE RAFT:

FIRE.

HAWKE: BURNING THE BASE OF THE TREES,

USING FIRE FOR BREAKING WOOD,

I'VE DONE THAT MANY TIMES.

IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME.

IT'S UGLY, BUT IT IS DOABLE.

BUT, IN WARFARE, YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH EXTREME SOLUTIONS

FOR EXTREME PROBLEMS.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: THANKS TO ROGERS' INGENUITY,

THE RANGERS ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY.

BUT THEY'VE LOST PRECIOUS TIME.

BRUMWELL: MEN WHO WERE AT THE RENDEZVOUS POINT

WERE DESPERATE, STARVING.

HE PROMISED THEM THAT HE WOULD BE BACK IN 10 DAYS.

NARRATOR: THREE DAYS HAVE ALREADY PASSED.

AND A FEW MORE MILES DOWNRIVER,

ROGERS DISCOVERS MORE TROUBLE:

AN EVEN LARGER WATERFALL.

ROSS: WHEN THEY HEAR ANOTHER BIG ONE,

THEY LOOK AT IT AND THERE'S REALLY NO WAY

THAT THEY CAN TAKE THE RAFT DOWN

WITHOUT PROBABLY LOSING THEIR LIVES.

NARRATOR: ROGERS CLIMBS DOWN TO THE RUSHING WATERS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FALLS.

FIFTY FEET ABOVE, THE OTHER RANGERS CAREFULLY LOWER THE RAFT.

IF THEY LOSE THEIR GRIP, THEY WILL LOSE THE LAST HOPE FOR THEMSELVES

AND THEIR DYING FRIENDS.

THEY ARE SO WEAK AT THIS POINT.

THIS IS DO OR DIE.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: MIRACULOUSLY, THE RAFT SURVIVES,

AND ROGERS' STARVING, EXHAUSTED MEN ARE ABLE TO PRESS ON.

♪ ♪

ON THE SIXTH DAY, FOUR HAGGARD, WEARY MEN STAGGER OUT OF THE WILDERNESS

TOWARD FORT NUMBER FOUR.

ROGERS: MAJOR ROBERT ROGERS AND COMPANY.

OUR RAFT HAS BEEN MOORED BY YOUR CANOES.

I MUST SEE YOUR COMMANDING OFFICER ON A MATTER OF GREAT URGENCY-

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: AGAINST ALL ODDS, ROGERS HAS MADE IT TO HIS DESTINATION,

BUT IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO SAVE HIS MEN OR HIMSELF.

NARRATOR: AFTER A PUNISHING SIX DAY JOURNEY,

ROBERT ROGERS HAS REACHED FORT NUMBER FOUR

TO RETRIEVE FOOD FOR HIS STARVING MEN.

ROGERS: I NEED TO SEE YOUR COMMANDING OFFICER

ON A MATTER OF GREAT URGENCY.

NARRATOR: BUT HE'S SO WEAK FROM HUNGER HE BARELY SEEMS ALIVE HIMSELF.

♪ ♪

THE SOLDIERS AT THE FORT QUICKLY GET TO WORK

LOADING SUPPLIES FOR THE RANGERS SIXTY MILES UPRIVER.

AND DESPITE HIS CONDITION, ROGERS IS DETERMINED TO MAKE SURE THE FOOD REACHES HIS MEN IN TIME.

ROGERS: REMEMBER

TO PORTAGE THE CANOES AT TWO SEPARATE POINTS:

OUTTAUQUEECHEE AND WHITE FALLS.

YOU UNDERSTAND? REDCOAT: YEAH.

NOW, I PROMISED MY MEN THEY'D HAVE FOOD IN 10 DAYS

THAT LEAVES YOU FOUR DAYS TO REACH 'EM.

DON'T YOU DARE MAKE ME A LIAR.

GET IN!

NARRATOR: ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER REACHING FORT NUMBER FOUR,

ROGERS SENDS CANOES UPRIVER WITH PROVISIONS,

HOPING IT'S NOT TOO LATE.

ROGERS: GODSPEED.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: THE RANGERS AT THE RENDEZVOUS POINT HAVE BEEN

WAITING FOR TEN LONG DAYS WITH NO FOOD,

AND THEIR HOPE HAS ALL BUT RUN OUT.

ROSS: THEY ARE SO WEAK AT THIS POINT.

EXACTLY 10 DAYS LATER,

PROVISIONS REACHED WHERE THE REMNANTS

OF ROGERS' MEN LAY.

♪ ♪

HAWKE: IN THE COURSE OF MY MILITARY CAREER, I'VE HAD A HANDFUL OF TIMES WHERE

THINGS GOT REALLY DIRE AND SOMEONE HAS TO GO OUT TO GET HELP AND COME BACK.

YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE EVER GONNA GET THERE.

SO, WHEN YOU ACTUALLY SEE THEM COMING IN, THE ELATION, THE JOY,

IT ALMOST SEEMS UNBELIEVABLE.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR THE RESCUE TEAM SAVES MOST OF ROGERS' RANGERS.

BUT FOR SOME MEN, TEN DAYS HAS BEEN TOO LONG.

THE RANGERS HAD ONLY

REALLY BEEN KEPT GOING BY THIS PROMISE OF THE FOOD

THEY WOULD GET AT THE RENDEZVOUS POINT.

AND SOME OF THEM COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE, THEY DIED.

AND THIS WAS SOMETHING WHICH, OF COURSE,

ROGERS HIMSELF WAS INCANDESCENT WITH RAGE ABOUT

WHEN HE FINALLY GOT IN.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: ROGERS PUSHES FOR A COURT MARTIAL OF SAMUEL STEVENS,

THE OFFICER WHO ABANDONED THE RANGERS TO STARVE.

FIVE MONTHS LATER, STEVENS' TRIAL IS HELD IN NEW YORK.

♪ ♪

IS THE TRIAL OVER?

IT'S OVER.

WILL HE HANG?

SMITH: AFRAID NOT. OGDEN: NEVER WEAR A UNIFORM AGAIN.

THAT HE WON'T.

ROSS: STEVENS WAS INDEED COURT MARTIALED

AND DRUMMED OUT OF THE CORPS.

BRUMWELL: ROGERS FELT THAT STEVENS HAD ESCAPED VERY LIGHTLY

FOR WHAT WAS BASICALLY A GROSS DERELICTION OF DUTY.

WHEN HE DIES,

THE PRIESTS HAVE TOLD ME WHERE HIS SOUL WILL GO.

♪ ♪

LET'S GET BACK TO HEADQUARTERS.

SMITH: RAISE A GLASS TO THE DEAD.

OGDEN: AS WELL THE LIVING.

ROGERS: AND TO THE NEXT MISSION.

♪ ♪

SNYDER: AS A RANGER, THE EQUIPMENT HAS CHANGED,

AND IT'S MORE MODERNIZED,

BUT THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS HASN'T CHANGED MUCH.

AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT TRADITION HAS CARRIED ON

FROM WAY BACK IN THE 1700S 'TIL NOW,

ON THE MODERN BATTLEFIELDS OF IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN,

THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHAT ROGERS PUT TOGETHER.

ROGERS: NOW!

GORMAN: HE DIDN'T FEEL MORE IMPORTANT THAN HIS MEN.

THEY WERE EQUAL TO HIM.

HE WOULDN'T SEND THEM INTO ANY TYPE OF BATTLE

THAT HE WOULDN'T BE WILLING TO DO HIMSELF.

HE'D RISK HIS OWN LIFE RATHER THAN RISK ONE OF HIS MEN.

HAWKE: ROGERS' RANGERS ARE AN ABSOLUTE HEROIC LEGACY

THAT ALL THE AMERICAN SPECIAL OPS LOOK UP TO

AND HAVE A RESPECT FOR.

HIS LEGACY LIVES ON TODAY

WHEN YOU SEE ALL THOSE YOUNG RANGERS USING

THE EXACT PRINCIPLES THAT HE TAUGHT THEM,

TO THIS DAY, SO THAT THEY CAN SURVIVE MANY CONFLICTS

THAT THEY'RE ABOUT TO FACE.

♪ ♪