Fort Ranger (Rutland, Vermont)

Rutland · Vermont · American Revolutionary War

Quick BriefFort Ranger was a picket fort near Rutland, Vermont, constructed prior to May 1779, serving as headquarters for the Vermont state force during the Revolutionary War. Governor Thomas Chittenden ordered Captain Thomas Sawyer to command the fort and scout for British incursions from the north or near Lake Champlain. Nothing remains of the site today.

History & Significance

Fort Ranger was a wooden picket fort built by citizens of Rutland with assistance from the Vermont militia to defend against enemy incursions. The enemy—the British, their allied Native warriors, and Tories—had by 1779 harassed and raided several Vermont towns, prompting the construction of these defenses.

After the loss of Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Independence, Fort Ranger was part of a string of forts for the defense of Vermont. Captain Thomas Sawyer held command and maintained constant scouts toward the Lake to gather early intelligence on enemy movements.

After the war, Fort Ranger served community gatherings. In 1903, the Daughters of the American Revolution placed a marble fountain at the site. Fort Ranger in Rutland was built over with highways and cities, leaving no visible remains.