The British invasion of Lake Champlain and the northern Hudson River area lead by General Burgoyne in the summer of 1777, created a sense of terror in the hearts and minds of the area's frontier settlers. The roads and trails leading away from lake Champlain became clogged with refugees fleeing from the impending danger.

Town delegates from throughout Vermont met at Windsor to draft the constitution for the Republic of Vermont. The first day of the session, a warning came of the imminent danger from the north. Six days later, word arrived of the evacuation of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence. A Council of Safety was quickly appointed to manage the affairs of the state, and the convention adjourned.

On July 11th, the Council of Safety met at Manchester, Vermont. They elected officers, who immediately turned their attention to the alarm. In response, they requested immediate assistance from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and the Commander of the Northern American Army. They also took action to raise a Regiment of Rangers - Vermont's first Home Guard. Hence, Herrick's Regiment of Rangers - the Green Mountain Rangers - were formed.

Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Herrick was commissioned as the Regiment's Commandant. By July 24th, four companies had reported for duty at Manchester. One of those companies was under the command of Captain John Warner. John hailed from Bennington. He was the brother of the famed Colonel Seth Warner, commander of the Continental Line Regiment (Regular American Army), the "Green Mountain Boys".

Members of Captain Warner's Company hailed from the towns of Pownal, Bennington, Sunderland, Sandgate, Rupert, Pawlet, Poultney, and Rutland in Vermont, plus Granville and Skenesborough (Whitehall) in New York, as well as areas of western Massachusetts. Each Ranger earned £1 per month during their time of service. Soon after mustering for duty, the company engaged in Ranging (Scouting) to gather intelligence about British positions & movements, to protect frontier inhabitants, and to seize Tories and their property.

On August 15th, the Company marched in mass to Bennington, where they slept on their arms that night. They participated in both actions of the battle the following day, the initial three-pronged attack against Burgoyne's widely spread lines, and the following clash with the force of Hessians marching to reinforce the British after Burgoyne's initial defeat. The Battle of Bennington was the first major set back for Britain's General Burgoyne, and was a harbinger of things to come. Only one ranger from John Warner's Company was killed in action that day.

After the Battle of Bennington, the company was stationed at Pawlet. From there, the members of the company continued ranging and performed guard duties over a cache of supplies. During the time they were headquartered in Pawlet, they participated in the attack to retake Fort Ticonderoga, the capture of lake George landing, the battle of Mounts Hope and Defiance on Setpember 19th, and the water borne attack on Diamond Island in Lake George on September 24th.

The Company was also at the surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga on October 17th. After returning to Pawlet, members of the company assisted in guarding the Public Stores at Bennington. The company was also involved in the ambush at Gilland's Creek, north of Crown Point, as well as the repossession of Mount Independence.

In early December of 1777, the Company was discharged from service. Some of the Rangers were still on scout and didn't find out they'd been discharged until January of 1778.

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