Compagnies franches de la marine

The French colonial forces are believed to date to the establishment in 1622 by Cardinal Richelieu of the hundred Compagnies Ordinaires de la Mer. These units served as soldiers on board naval vessels of the Marine Royal. Desertions, floods, lack of funds and governmental interest considerably reduced their effectiveness. In 1626 Richelieu created the Régiment la Marine, of which he was the owner and honorary commandant. The regiment demonstrated its capability in limited battles along the provincial coast up to the Lérins Islands, near Cannes, and in the Bay of Biscay.

Richelieu created other regiments to sustain the effort of French colonization in New France. The first supported national efforts in the Antilles; the first French colonizers arrived in the islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique (named by the French) in the year 1630. The period of service of the regiments varied: Régiment du Havre (1636-1642), Régiment des Îles (garrisoned at îles de Ré and Oléron in 1636-1663), and the régiment des Galères garrisoned at Toulon. Louis XIII created the Régiment des Vaisseaux (1638-1643).

The latter was reformed by Cardinal Mazarin in 1664 and renamed as Régiment Vaisseau-Mazarin. The regiment was designated Régiment Vaisseau-Provence in 1658, then Régiment Royal-Vaisseaux in 1669.

In 1669, Jean-Baptiste Colbert State Secretary of the Navy (French: secrétaire d'État de la Marine) and avid developer of the marine royal (French Royal Navy) and colonial efforts, created two regiments: Régiment Royal–La Marine and the Régiment de l'Amiral; their forces were distributed among naval installations at Dunkerque, le Havre, Brest, Rochefort, and Toulon. For the first time they wore the grey-white uniform with blue vest, which became traditional for them.

In 1670 there were significant changes administered by Colbert and François-Michel le Tellier, Marquis de Louvois, respectively the Naval State Secretary and the Secretary of State of War. The four regiments of la marine were transferred from the secretariat of La Marine to that of the secretariat of La Guerre. This change was required to meet the successive military war demands of the reign of Louis XIV, who wanted the Crown to control all French units. The regiments were withdrawn from the French Navy, preserving only the name as a naval designation. During the Revolution of the late 18th century, the La Marine, Royal-Marine, Royal-Vaisseux, and the Régiment de l'Amiral ( re-baptized Régiment de Vermandois) were completely integrated into the French Army, becoming respectively, the 11^e, 60^e, 43^e and 61^e de Ligne in 1791.

The Marine Royale attracted numerous recruits in 1671: France was able to staff 196 naval vessels. Colbert decided to create 100 companies of "guardian-soldiers" intended to defend the naval vessels (French: Vaisseau). However, in 1673 Louvois has these men transferred to the French Army.

Starting this date, naval and marine officers were required to recruit their own crews. Owing to the presence of "levées" on the war or commercial sea ports, similar to the "marine press", the officers garrisoned their naval ships with defenders. However, the system found its limits quickly. The recruits were often lacking discipline and experience...and were discharged or deserted following their first campaign, ruining months of training. The naval and marine officers re-visited impressment and sought other ways to recruit crew. French naval and marine officers had limited access to experienced soldiers until 1682.

In 1683, three companies of Troupes de la Marine were sent to Québec to contain the nations of the Iroquois Confederacy from south of the Great Lakes, who were constantly raiding French settlements. They also blocked commercial fur trading routes to the interior of the Canadian colony, as they wanted to keep a monopoly on the trade.[3] By 1690, it became clear that the forces assigned to ships were not sufficient to defend the French colonies. Another force was created with that specific mission in mind; it was also called the Compagnies Franches de la Marine.[4]

Marching in Canada

These troops originally were recruited from the French mainland from among males sixteen years and older who were at least 5'5" tall. Starting in 1685, younger sons of aristocrats in Quebec were sent to France to attain a military or naval education and become officers.[5] However, throughout their history the Compagnies often did not have their full complement of soldiers, which the colonial leadership frequently complained about to the national leadership in metropolitan France. This was in large part due to the problems of recruitment of soldiers to Canada. The climate, and constant fighting with the powerful Iroquois, frightened off many French from signing up.[6] Another factor was that the French custom of having to ask for the consent of soldier to be sent to a region, which led many to refuse to go to Canada. The French resorted to using petty criminals to serve in the Compagnies Franche de la Marine.[7] Even under-strength, they served to defend the major towns of the colony. Other detachments were assigned to the small fur trading posts that were so important to the economy.[8]

One of the reasons for the multi-façade orientation service ( sea and land troupe de terre as a line infantry) of the Troupes de la marine, was due to the rivalry between the Colbert family, who were Ministers of the Marine, and the Le Tellier family whom were in charge of the Troupe de Terre.[9] These bad relations led to the Colbert family sending significantly more naval officers to serve on land than officers from the Troupe de Terre [10]

To render the limited access of proper naval experiences more operationally effective, the royal power decided to create new colonial troupes, with the initiative of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquis de Seignelay, succeeding to the secretariat of the Navy. Colbert requested from the military intendant of Rochefort, the creation of a corps of soldiers "toujours prêt à embarquer" (always ready to embark), "gens braves et capables de bons services" (brave people and capable of good services). Accordingly, are created six "companies of la marine" dependent on State Secretary of the Navy. Composed of 50 men each, units were dispersed between Brest, Rochefort, and Toulon, which became the principal war ports of France. They were "gardiens de port" (guardian of ports) in demi-solde assigned to the surveillance of the ports and royal vessels. Disposing of four months of leave per year, they remained in their homes in times of peace at the condition of reporting back to duty three to four times a year in sessions of inspection and exercises lasting three days. They were commanded by a Lieutenant de Vaisseau. They were definitely dependent of the "secretariat de la Marine" (Naval secretariat).

The royal ordinance of January 1, 1685 completed this system by the second foundation of the "soldats-gardiens" (guardian soldiers). Each port consisted of six "escouades" (sections) of 50 guardian soldiers and six companies of 50 demi-soldes, that is 300 of each type, totaling a theoretical of 600 soldiers per port. When the guardian soldiers of the ports would embark, those in demi-solde would be called to serve in their place at full pay. The number of companies of guardian soldiers by port became ten, that is 500 men in 1686, then eleven companies, that is 550 men in 1687. 150 men, that is three companies, assigned to Havre during the same year. The units of the same port are under the commandment of a "capitaine de vaisseau".

The successor of de Seignelay, Louis Phélypeaux, comte de Pontchartrain, signed the royal ordinance of April 15, 1689 which reinforced the ensemble of existing by supplementations of a company of 100 "apprentis-canonniers" (artillery-apprentices) at Brest, Rochefort and Toulon, one company of 50 "bombardiers" and six sections of 50 supplementary guardian soldiers at Brest, Rochefort, Toulon and le Havre. The ensemble of these units were regrouped under the designation of "troupes de la Marine" (Troupes de la marine). Principally mainly interested in the service at sea, these guardian soldiers could form up to a third of the equipment on which they boarded.

On December 16, 1690, the royal ordinance reorganized entirely the French troupes destined in outre-mer service. The royal ordinance authorized the creation of eighty companies franches de la marine integrating at the crops of the same units, new recruits in addition to the ensemble forming the guardian soldiers, port guardians in demi-solde, the artillery-apprentices and bombardiers.

When Governor Joseph-Antoine Le Febvre de La Barre took over leadership of New France in 1682, he soon learned that the colony did not have the forces to defend itself from potential attack by the Iroquois or other potential enemies. He quickly submitted a formal request for troops from the mainland.[8] In 1683, the Naval Department of France sent the first three Compagnies Franches de la Marine to New France. Their main mission was to defend the colonists and prevent disruption of the fur trade.[4] By the following year, the Compagnies had become a separate military force independent of regular branches of the French military.[8] The colony was also defended by militia. The force expanded by 1757 to 40 companies of 65 men scattered across the various settlements in New France.[4] Some 24 companies were also stationed in Ile Royale, principally at the Fortress of Louisbourg, and another 36 in Louisiana in the mid-1750s. A few companies were previously stationed in Placentia (Newfoundland) and Acadia.[19]

Troupes de la marine.

In the early seventeenth century, Cardinal Richelieu ordered the creation of the Troupes de la Marine to serve aboard French naval vessels. About eighty companies of one hundred men each were formed.[1] The Troupes de la Marine were dispatched by Louis XIV in 1682[20] to replace French regulars in New France, and were used to garrison other French colonies. Initially, the troops that were recruited in France and arrived in Quebec by 1683 were composed of three companies. However, the troops that arrived were raw, many of whom were unfit for battle, and overall poorly supplied [21] The number of companies in Canada steadily increased over the years and reached as many as 40 companies by the year 1757.[22] The roughly 30 companies stationed in the territory of Canada (varied between 28-35 based on the economic and military developments in France) gradually developed into the first permanent 'Canadian' military force [23]

The vast majority of soldiers did not live in barracks. The town of Montreal only built a barrack in 1685, which only sheltered 100 of the 250 soldiers stationed there at the time.[24] Most soldiers lived with colonists. To prevent conflict between colonists and soldiers, the Intendant, Jacque de Meulles passed legislation that stated, " an ordinance which obliged the habitants to provide no more than one pot, one chaudière, and a place for the soldier to sleep.".[25] This was later altered to include a straw bed, and place by the fire during the winter months [25]

The companies were considered colonial regulars and eventually became well trained in conventional warfare and became proficient in the native style of warfare known as "La Petite Guerre".[26] Prior to this, fighting between French and Natives was mainly between Canadian militia and their native allies, as previous attempts at engaging the Iroquois in conventional warfare was proven to be ineffective [27]

In Louisbourg, the cannoniers-bombardiers company (artillery company) was established in 1743. Two soldiers were chosen from each company stationed at the Louisbourg Garrison, to be trained by the master gunner at firing and aiming cannons.[28] As a result of their extra training and duties, the cannoniers were paid an additional six livres per month in compensation for their inability to earn money in the construction of forts or elsewhere, and were offered cash prizes for good marksmanship.[29] The Louisbourg artillery company was composed of 13 canoniers, 12 bombardiers, one drummer, two corporals and two sergeants, led by a lieutenant and a captain.[29]

Flag of the Compagnie Franche de la marine

Royal Regulations for the Captains and other Officers of the Compagnies Franches de la Marine on September 29, 1693.

The Compagnies were varied in their makeup, and it was not until 1757 that their organization was standardized.[8] Each Compagnie was led by a Captain whose name was used to refer to it. Other officer and petty officers in each Compagnie after the 1757 standardization included a lieutenant, two ensigns, two sergeants, and three corporals as well as two drummers and two cadets who would later be eligible for officer positions.

A company of marines was usually composed of 45 to 65 soldiers, two sergeants, two corporals and one drummer, overseen by a capitaine.[30] The majority of the rank and file soldiers were lower-class men recruited in France, although the officers were increasingly Canadian-born and noble. Promotions from soldiers to the officer corps were non-existent and the individual ranks were separated by large pay gaps.[31] Young Canadian-born men were usually admitted into the officer ranks by commissions as cadets or ensigns through the governor.[31] The sons of noblemen or existing officers were usually preferentially selected for positions in the officer corps as well.[31] Cadets constituted a boy or young man who served in a company and was being trained to become an officer in the future.[30] Officers would often exploit the selective nature of admittance to the corps by enrolling their boys sometimes as early as age 5 in order to receive more rations and an extra salary.[30] In 1717, the admission of officers under the age of 14 was prohibited, but the exploitation of the system continued.[30]

Service in the officer corps of the Troupes de la Marine was an important source of economic opportunity and prestige for New France's elite and there was usually a waiting list for commissions in Marine companies. However, colonial enlistment of rank-and-file soldiers was discouraged because it reduced agricultural settlement.[22] During periods of peace, soldiers received additional pay for their services in the construction of forts and roads.[32] Due to a chronic labor shortage, the colonial regulars were also permitted to increase their pay by rendering their services on local farms.[32]

• 28 Compagnies Franches de la Marine of Canada 1683-1755
  • 30 companies 1750s with 1500 soldiers and 120 officers
• Compagnies franches de la Marine of Acadia
  • 4 companies with 200 soldiers and 12 officers by 1702
• Compagnies franches de la Marine of Plaisance
  • 3 companies with 150 soldiers and 9 officers by 1690s
• Compagnies franches de la Marine on Ile Royale 1710s
  • 24 companies with 1200 soldiers and 96 officers by 1749

Prior to 1687, the vast majority of officers serving in Canada were from mainland France.[33] This is especially interesting as Canadian elites were only admitted into the officers corps in 1687.[27] The vast majority of these officers were descendants of the officers of the Carignan-Salières regiment whom arrived in 1665 to attempt to eliminate the Iroquois threat[34] The usage of Canadian officers was especially important to the Ministry of the Marine, and the monarchy, as the vast majority of French officers had no desire to serve in Canada, and it was cheaper to recruit from Canada, than to transport officers from France [35] The massive debts brought to the Canadian nobility by their attempt to replicate French noble life in Canada, led to many captains skimming from the military and excess work wages of their soldiers [36] It was the Captain's duty to distribute wages.

Compagnies Franches de la Marine uniforms

Those serving in the Compagnies were given rations of bread, bacon, and dried peas, and received a replacement uniform every other year.[4] The clothing and equipment of New France's troops were generally purchased in France and then shipped to Canada. Many records indicate that uniform and attire were altered from time to time, but remained very similar to that of the uniforms of other forces in France's other colonies in the Americas.

In the 1750s, private soldiers were issued a long collarless single-breasted coat or justaucorps of greyish white, with lining and deep cuffs of blue. Pockets with horizontal flaps were placed low on the hips, and the skirt corners could be hooked back to facilitate movement. The long-sleeved waistcoat, breeches, and stockings were blue. Accompanying this, a black felt tricorn decorated with a cockade and button, was worn very low over the eyes; its brim was edged with false-gold lace. Soldiers also wore black buckled shoes, topped with gaiters of white duck, which were fastened with a black strap and reached to the thigh. For aesthetic purposes, a white cravat and shirt were worn.[37]

Uniform differed depending on rank, as corporals wore a yellow lace around the top of the coat cuffs. That of sergeants was quite similar, but made of higher quality material, having an inch-wide stripe of gold lace edging the cuffs and pocket flaps. Sergeants wore a grey-white uniform with a red lining and red stockings. This was very specific to the Compagnies franches de la Marine at this time. They also carried halberds, a tradition that was common across Europe. Two gold lace stripes were worn on the cuffs and pocket slaps of sergeant-majors. Common soldiers wore a grey-white uniform lined and faced with blue. This was a distinctive colour of the Troupes de la Marine. Their hats were trimmed with imitation gold braid, which was a blend of brass wire and yellow cord. This difference in materials demarked the lesser ranking of the soldier. In terms of weapons, they carried a musket, bayonet, and a sword.[38]

Drummers wore the King's small livery or insignia. Their blue coat had brass buttons and red cuffs and lining. Although similar to the uniform of a private soldier, it was heavily ornamented along the seams and buttonholes with the King's livery lace, featuring white chain on a crimson ground. Their waistcoat, breeches, and stockings were also red. Buff sword-belts and drum slings were bordered with livery lace, while the blue drum shells were spread with fleur-de-lis. Drummers a rank above wore the great livery, which distinguished itself only through the red triangles on white ground that appeared between the strips of livery lace.[37]

Once again, the quality of material is what predominantly marked the distinctiveness of the uniforms of officers. The coat was left unadorned, but the waistcoat was frequently embellished with gold lace. Their buttons and gorget were gilt, and hats were braided with fine gold lace. The gorget was worn only on duty, while the men were armed with a gilt-hilted sword, as well as an espontoon, which was exchanged for a fusil in battle. New soldiers, or cadets, wore the same uniform as others and were distinguished only by an aiguillette of blue and white silk with brass tips. Cadets served only in Quebec (Canada), Île Royale, and La Louisiane.[37]

Compagnies Franches de la Marine Officers

At full dress parades, officers carried spontoons and swords; they wore gorgets. If they were deemed of a higher ranking, they might wear the coveted Cross of St. Louis, hung on a scarlet ribbon at the breast. In order to reward officers with long and distinguished careers, Louis XIV created the Royal and Military Order of St Louis in 1693, knighting those deemed worthy. Numerous Canadian officers received this cross for their work. Non-commissioned officers or sergeants were armed with halberds for formal occasions.[18]

While in western regions, regulars wore a casual, serviceable dress based on that of woodsmen. This included buckskin or cloth leggings, moccasins, and breeches of Indian design. There were some cases when they dressed entirely in Native American apparel, most likely for purposes of warfare. In winter, the Canadian hooded capot, woollen tuque and leggings, moccasins, and mittens were given to soldiers.[37] To facilitate movement, troops used snowshoes overland. Except during wartime, the soldiers were allowed to supplement their income with outside work. They often worked as laborers on local farms or to help build forts and roads.[8]

Ammunition and arms were carried with a buff leather waist-belt with brass buckles, which was attached to a double frog and holding brown leather, brass-tipped scabbards for sword and bayonet. The sword carried was brass-hilted and had a straight blade. A red-brown leather cartridge-box was attached to the waist-belt. Eventually it was worn suspended on the right hip from a buff leather cross-belt. The standard French cartouchière of the mid-eighteenth century held thirty musket cartridges instead of nine, contrasting with its predecessor, though it can be assumed that there were many different stylistic variations. The older variant was engraved with the King's arms or a white anchor and border. Soldiers also carried a small brass-mounted powder-horn was also carried.[37] The cartridge case was used to carry ammunition and a model 1728 French infantry musket, or "St. Etienne", although different types of flintlock muskets and fusils were carried at different points in the history of the units.[39] Although the exact designs of the muskets used by a unit such as the Compagnies franches de la marine can no longer be found, it is accepted that they were all of the flintlock type. Given that the colonial regulars were the responsibility of the navy, they carried navy-model muskets made at Tulle.  In the 1740s, the navy began to purchase muskets from St-Etienne, which probably resembled the army's 1728 model. In 1752, the royal magazines at Montreal and Quebec contained a great variety of muskets and bayonets.[37]

The Compagnie Franche de la Marine were under strict instructions from the King in France. Some rules were as simple as remaining orderly (which included application to their living quarters, marching, etc.) and obeying orders (the penalty for non-obedience was to be arrested and held in custody for 8 days and having the governor-general notified). Other rules were very specific; for instance, in order to leave their designated living area, the soldier must have necessary engagement, permission from the commander, and be away no longer than 8 days.[2]

They were supplied with firewood, candles, muskets and ammunition (when needed), and it was their duty to take care of their own weapon. When the soldiers reached their assigned station, the troop commander assigned living quarters, often among civilian households in towns, as they did not always have sufficient barracks for troops or officers.[2] At the garrison, the troops had to practice with their weapons – twice per week with the musket, once per week with a grenade. If they were absent from practices, the major would be obligated to notify the commander, who would take charge of the absentee.[2]

The commissioner, accompanied by the major, regularly inspected the soldier's weapons and living quarters, and captains were held responsible for their soldiers' orderliness. If these were not satisfactory, the governor-general and intendant would be notified, who would hold back the officer's pay. The officer would be required to complete training in weapons with the soldiers.[2] Once the commissioner's inspection was complete, he would fill out a certificate, asserting that the soldiers had taken care of their duties, and captains could allow only those who had done so to conduct paid work.[2] In addition, Sergeants were required to visit the soldiers of their squad twice per week to keep track of their activities and behaviour in order to keep the captain up to date and to root out potential deserters.[2]

In the situation of the desertion of a soldier, the captain-commander of his living quarter, the major of the troop, and the captain of the soldier would be required to write to the governor-general and intendant (individually), alerting them to the situation and providing the name of the soldier, as well as inform them regarding the measures that had been taken to find and arrest the individual.[2]

Once a deserter was located and taken into custody, he was tried before the judge in the closest town, on the condition that his officers had to be present. If an insufficient number of officers and captains were available to review the case as a council or panel, the commander may call a Lieutenant who has reached twenty-two years of age to sit in council.[2]

War of the League of Augsburg (1688-1697)

• Battle of La Hogue (29 May 1692)
• Battle of Lagos (27 June 1693)

War of the Spanish Succession (1709-1714)

• Battle of Malplaquet (Sept. 11, 1709)
• Battle of Denain (24 July 1712)

War of the Polish Succession (1733-1738)

• Siege of Danzig (1734) (February 22 to July 9, 1734)

Seven Years' War (1756-1763)

• Battle of Minorca (1756)
• Battle of Lagos (19 August 1759)
• Battle of Quiberon Bay (20 November 1759)
• Battle of Belle-Isle (1761)

• Siege of Quebec (16 to 21 October 1690)
• Shipping Cartagena (2 May 1697)

• Defense of Guadeloupe (1703)
• Shipments Rio (1710 and June 1711 to February 1712)

• War of the Quadruple Alliance (1718-1720)
• Naval battle of the Dauphine (Bay Island Mobile ) (19 August 1719)
• Seat Pensacola (2 September 1719)
• Wars Foxes (1712-1714 and 1729)
• Wars Natchez (1717-1719 and 1729-1731)
• Wars Chickasaws (1736 and 1739-1740)

• Raid on Canso
• Siege of Louisbourg (1745)

• Battle of Fort Necessity (July 3, 1754)
• Siege of Fort Beausejour (June 1755)
• Battle of the Monongahela (9 July 1755)
• Battle of Fort Carillon (8 July 1758)
• Siege of Louisbourg (June–July 1758)
• Defense of Guadeloupe (April 1758)
• Plains of Abraham (September 13, 1759)
• Battle of Sainte-Foy (April 28, 1760)
• Siege of Quebec (April 29, 1760)
• Defence of Montreal (September 1760)
• Defense of Martinique (1761)

Third Intercolonial War

• Battle of Negapatam (6 July 1746)
• Seat Madras (August 21 September 1746)
• Siege of Pondicherry (Fall 1748)

Fourth Intercolonial War (1754-1760)

• Battle of Cuddalore (29 April 1758)
• Battle of Negapatam (3 August 1758)
• Seat Madras (December 1758-February 1759)
• Battle of Pondicherry (10 September 1759)
• Siege of Pondicherry (March 1760 to January 4, 1761)

• The Compagnie Franche de la Marine exercising during the 400th Anniversary of Québec City in 2008.
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• Chartrand, René (1984). The French Soldier in Colonial America. Bloomfield, Ont.: Museum Restoration Service.
• Chartrand, René (1997). Louis XV's Army (5): Colonial and Naval Troops. Osprey Publishing.
• Eccles, W. J. (1974). "The French forces in North America during the Seven Years' War." Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, vol. 3: xv-xxiii.
• Greer, Allan (1979). The Soldiers of Isle Royale, 1720–45. Environment Canada, pp. 7–9.
• Greer, Allan (1997). The People of New France. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, pp. 50–51
• Morton, Desmond (1985). A Military History of Canada. Edmonton: Hurtig, pp. 18–23.
• Stacey, C.P. (1974). "The British Forces in North America during the Seven Years' War." Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, vol. 3: xxiv-xxx.
• Sutherland, Stuart R. J (1988). "Troupes de la Marine", The Canadian Encyclopedia, Volume 4, p. 2196. Edmonton: Hurtig Publishers.