Rogers laid no claims to fine writing, but his own manuscript reports, written mostly in camp and hastily, attest his possession of a fair chirography, a pretty good knowledge of grammar and spelling, together with a style of expression both lucid and simple; in short, these are such compositions as come naturally from a man, who, favored in youth with but a limited common school education, has in mature life mingled much with superiors and been often called upon to draft such writings as fall to the lot of a soldier or man of business.  Mr. Parkman also attributes to Rogers a part authorship of a tragedy long forgotten, entitled “Ponteach, or the Savages in America,” published in London in 1766.  It is a work of little merit and very few copies of it have been preserved.[A]

[Footnote A:  The full title of this book is “Ponteach; or the Savages of America.  A Tragedy.  London.  Printed for the Author, and sold by J. Millan, opposite the Admiralty, Whitehall, MDCCLXVI.”]

On the tenth of June, 1766, at the King’s command, General Gage appointed Major Rogers Captain Commandant of the garrison of Michilimackinac.[A] Sir William Johnson, then Superintendent of Indian Affairs, when apprized of it was filled with astonishment and disgust.  He regarded Rogers as a vain man, spoiled by flattery, and inordinately ambitious, dishonest, untruthful, and incompetent to discharge properly the duties of this office.[B] But as the appointment had been made and could not be revoked, it was determined to accept the inevitable and restrict his power, thereby rendering him as little capable of mismanagement as possible.  He was ordered by General Gage to act in all matters pertaining to the Indians under instructions of the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and to report upon all other matters to the Commandant at Detroit, to whom he was made subordinate.[C]

[Footnote A:  Journals, Hough’s edition, p. 218.]

[Footnote B:  Sir William Johnson in a letter to General Thomas Gage, dated January 34, 1765, says of Rogers:  “He was a soldier in my army in 1755, and, as we were in great want of active men at that time, his readiness recommended him so far to me that I made him an officer and got him continued in the Ranging service, where he soon became puffed up with pride and folly from the extravagant encomiums and notices of some of the Provinces.  This spoiled a good Ranger, for he was fit for nothing else—­neither has nature calculated him for a large command in that service.”—­[Journals, Hough’s edition, p. 215.

The same to Captain Cochrane November 17, 1767, says:  “I raised him (Rogers) in 1755 from the lowest station on account of his abilities as a Ranger, for which duty he seemed well calculated, but how people at home, or anywhere else, could think him fit for any other purpose must appear surprising to those acquainted with him.  I believe he never confined himself within the disagreeable bounds of truth, as you mention, but I wonder much they did not see through him in time.”—­[Journals, p. 241.]