Pawtuxet Rangers at the 2021 Bristol Fourth of July Parade

The Pawtuxet Rangers is an active independent military organization of the

Rhode Island militia The Rhode Island Army National Guard (RIARNG) is the land force militia for the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It operates under Title 10 and Title 32 of the United States Code and operates under the command of the state governor while not in fede ...

that was founded in 1774 and currently serves primarily as a ceremonial honor guard and as historic educators. The Pawtuxet Rangers operates an

armory Armory or armoury may mean: * An arsenal, a military or civilian location for the storage of arms and ammunition Places *National Guard Armory, in the United States and Canada, a training place for National Guard or other part-time or regular mili ...

museum in historic Pawtuxet village in

Warwick, Rhode Island Warwick ( or ) is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, the third largest city in the state with a population of 82,823 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. It is located approximately south of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, sout ...

. The Pawtuxet Ranger were chartered in 1774 to "protect the village of Pawtuxet (Cranston/Warwick line) in Rhode Island. The primary mission of the company today is to perpetuate history by participating in school programs, parades, battle reenactments, encampments, ceremonial programs and more." The historic Infantry group participated several wars and armed conflicts including the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...

, The

Dorr Rebellion The Dorr Rebellion (1841–1842) (also referred to as Dorr's Rebellion, Dorr's War or Dorr War) was an attempt by disenfranchised residents to force broader democracy in the U.S. state of Rhode Island, where a small rural elite was in control of ...

of 1842.The original organization sold its armory and became inactive The Rangers' charter was reactivated in 1972 when the Gaspee Days events were initiated to help in the celebrations. The Rangers purchased back their original Armory in 1985 and then restored it. The Pawtuxet Rangers still remain part of the Rhode Island militia but serves a largely ceremonial role and educational role using period muskets and cannon for special events.

References

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External links

Official website
Military in Rhode Island Historical reenactment groups