My reenacting career centers entirely around the second half of the 18th century, both the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. I have attended hundreds of reenacting events, most frequently as a soldier under the name of Chauncey Goodrich. Why be a male? Well, I thought that re-enacting the battles would be far more fun than sitting around sewing, and women didn't go into battle; so if I want to go into battle, I have to be a guy. It's like being a Lehrbeuben in Die Meistersinger (that is to say, it's like being in the role of "Apprentice" in Wagner's opera Die Meistersinger, which I did many years ago, along with playing other "pant roles" with Opera Colorado).

Having said that, though, I have also spent time as "Sarah" in 18th century women's clothing and "manned" the camp dinner. I enjoyed that very much.

Initially, I wanted to become a Ranger. This was in part because I met Rangers first, in part because I admired the Rogers' Rangers mystique, and in part because I got an early indication that redcoats wouldn't take me as a soldier. In fact, some Ranger organizations would not take me as a soldier, only as a female to be completely authentic, so I couldn't join just any group. Some aren't so strict in their "authenticity," especially when they need interested bodies. I saw several women as soldiers, and thought... "if they can be a soldier, I can!"

I joined a Ranger unit which, thank goodness, was one of those who feels if a female is interested and can play the part, then why not. I had the option of joining James' Rogers Coy. of Rogers' Rangers, who I met first the first time I ever saw a reenactment, but they are based too far north for me. So I joined a Rogers Rangers unit based in Connecticut. I believe I have since proven their faith in my abilities to hold my own, having received high commendations from both the British generals and the French commanders on my appearance and performance in the field. You will see me as Ranger Chauncey in the early reenacting experiences I've shared on this website.

Over the years, I have researched and studied, and learned and progressed. In particular, I participated in what I believe is the quintessential 18th century colonial soldier experience, the Lake George Tactical. I became senior ranger (most experienced person at the Lake next to Wade Stoner (Capt. Quintin Kennedy) and became brevet Lt. at the Lake. I'm now the British Commander at the Lake, as Lt. Chauncey Goodrich.

In the summer of 2007, I and a number of fellow members of the ranger unit I was in, formed a new unit, the Quintin Kennedy Detachment. This is a bit of an adventure for us, because of our decision to reenact a "detachment." In the French and Indian War, as you can read in the accounts, detachments were sent out to attack supply trains, to scout, to gather supplies, and in every way to harass the enemy. These were the day-to-day activities; people think the big battles are all-important but those were few and far between, while detachments were a regular and frequent event. However, because detachments consisted of soldiers from multiple regiments or companies, they have never before been portrayed by a single unit of reenactors. Reenacting units are always (not for any particular reason) a single company or identifiable entity of soldiers (redcoats or militia). We are representing a mixed group, and that is something people will have a hard time understanding when we show up in different uniforms.

That said, for many of the "big" events where redcoats are needed in large numbers, especially the 250th anniversary events going on right now, we are going as redcoats, representing a detachment from the 60th of Foot, as you can see in the picture at the upper left. At smaller events, I'll portray someone from some unit (to be determined) on a detachment.

So now Chauncey Goodrich is Sgt. of the Quintin Kennedy Detachment.

This is a picture of me in some of my F&I ranger clothes--but not the official Rogers' Rangers regimental coat--and with my musket slung on my back, at the Top of the World in North Carolina, where Chingachgook, Hawkeye, and Cora said farewell to Uncas in the 1992 movie Last of the Mohicans.

You might be interested in seeing up close the gorgeous and personalized engraved powder horn I am wearing in this photo. I also have a John Bush style powder horn, singularly special and appropriate for a Ranger in the F&I. AND I have a wonderful third powder horn made for me by Wade Stoner.