First Ranger

A Short Story

By: Brian Andrews, Jeffrey Wilson

Narrated by: Bradford Hastings

From New York Times bestselling authors Andrews & Wilson, First Ranger is American Sniper meets The Patriot, an action-packed and deeply emotional account of the birth of American Special Forces during the Revolutionary War.

The year is 1776, and General George Washington faces an impossible war. Outnumbered, outgunned, and outmaneuvered by the might of the British Empire, his Continental Army teeters on the brink of destruction. General Howe’s forces are closing in on Manhattan, ready to crush the rebellion before it ever takes root.

Desperate to turn the tide, Washington makes a daring decision: to fight not with numbers, but with nerve.

He turns to Thomas Knowlton, a fearless Connecticut militiaman known for his boldness and brilliance under fire. In secret, Washington gives him an unprecedented mission: to create a new kind of soldier. Trained to spy, sabotage, and strike from the shadows, Knowlton’s handpicked unit will become the prototype for every elite fighting force to follow.

First Ranger tells the electrifying true story of America’s original special operator—a man whose courage, ingenuity, and sacrifice helped forge the tactics of modern warfare and ignite a revolution.

©2025 Organic Machinery Media LLC and Jeffrey Wilson (P)2025 Blackstone Publishing

A&w can write!

First of all, Bradford Hastings did a fantastic job narrating this novella. It just added to the story and enjoyment. He is a new to me narrator. I’ve read all of the A&W books so I was prepared for the ending, it still hurt though. It goes to show you the author can write about any era.

Promising Story!

I really liked the main character. Appreciate the authors commitment to writing protagonists with a moral compass. Loved the history in this short story. Narrator was dynamite.

The drama of real history.

This forced me to peruse history. I did know about Knowlton’s Rangers. Another story “well done.”

My expectations and what was given are different

I enjoyed the movement of the story, and the creation of Rangers. it was off-putting though for various words used within modern military vernacular, and wouldn't have been used during the American Revolution, so it took me out of the story each time something was mentioned that didn't come to be until 50yrs later. still enjoyed it.

Lovable, inspiring characters.

Loved it! Great short story set during the war for our Nation’s independence. I look forward to the next story with great anticipation.