New-France under arms
January-June 1757
Recrutement poster for the colonial Compagnies Franches de la Marine
As Montcalm left Montréal, unwilling to share compagny with Vaudreuil for the winter, he established his winter quarter in Québec itself. He writed many letters to the court, presenting how the “odious domination of the Canadien's nobles” were distrupting his efforts to wage war for the king. He received many letters from Vaudreuil, giving him his operational's order for the summer of 1757 and informing him of the gouverneur général's plans.
For Vaudreuil had many plans to defend his positions. He was busy completing New France's mobilisation, organising militia levies, the training of troops, the supplies situation and the various alliances with the natives tribes. Never before had New-France been defended by so many soldiers...but never again had she been invaded by as many red coats...
New France forces were well adapted to the task and, he hoped, would suffice to the task.
Historian's and gamer's corner
A patrol from the Compagnies Franches de la Marine garding Fort Chambly, at the gate of Canada
The main force of the colony was the Compagnies Franches de la Marine, Marines Free Compagny.
Formed of French and Canadiens soldiers, they were commanded by Canadiens officers and garrisoned the many forts which protected the vast lands of New France. In game term, we see 2 units that represent them. Colonial Line Infantry and Trained Militia. As I was one of the proposer of this change, let me explain it a bit. The Marine's free compagnies were organised in small units of a hundred man called a compagnie. Not in batalion like it's the norm in WiA. But to keep the games coherent, they mixed them up in batalion, so it is why I will continue to give the number of Free Compagnies in OOB (ie elements). They were trained to fight as line infantry AND in the indian way of the “petite guerre”. This is why militias now evolve into light infantry units wich are also representing the Free Compagnies. Those units are powerful tool in my hands, moving fast and packing quite a punch, with a trait that give them a initiative bonus.
Natives warriors in the maelstrom of battles
The second most important part of my defense were my indians allies. It's the French and Indians war after all. Light, fast, sneaky, serving as raiding party, scouts and mobiles reserves, I could not hold a year without them.
Then, we got our last line of defense, the powerful and feared Canadien's militias
Militia during a raid
In Canadian and Québécois history, the militia are a real myth. They fought most of the French and Indian war, beaten time and time again American invasion in 1776 and 1812-1814, they fought with savagery, like the indians, making deep raid in the snow and ambushing regulars armies. If recent military and historic work have downsided a bit their real effectiveness, a fact remain: they were fearsome opponent, far superior to the militias of the 13 Colonies. As I said before, the game rush to represent them. One way is by the formation of the trained militamen and their representation as Free Compagnies. But they had other role. First, the normal militia units, raised to defend their cities (like in the Acadian campaign of 1755-1756) or each year in Canada. To keep the game balanced, they are not mustered as long as there are the maximum number of trained militia in game. Let's assume it is representing the attrition and reinforcement of those units. And we also got our most precious units. Let's call them the Elite Militias (pun intended): the coureurs des bois. Those men are the main responsibles for the vast growth of New France. They explorated all of America, made contact with the indians and adopted much of their traditions. (IRL, they would even guide Lewis and Clark in their quest for pacific...let's hope we don't get there in the game). They are my expert ambushers, irregular fighter giving punch to my indians armies. They were “the devil incarnate” if we quote a fairly unknown american of this time: benjamin franklin. I will refer to them either as Coureurs des Bois or, mainly, as Irregulars.
o, these were the colonial forces. Formidable, but clearly incapable of beating back the vast redcoats armies that menaced to destroy New France. So, the colony turned to old France for help. As I said, the strategy of Versailles was to destroy Great-Britain allies in Europe and then to invade the island itself, thus forcing her to evacuate whatever colony she would have invaded before the peace treaty. But sending enough force oversea to force Great britain into long and costly war against much smaller force was considered a sound strategy and thus, France sent some regular forces and warship to New France, to prevent it's annexation.
French soldiers preparing for a review
Batalions detached from many active regiments were sent to form Dieskau and Montcalm main forces: nearly 8000 men would defend New France, from Louisbourg to Fort Carillon and William Henry. With their outstanding commander, the Marquis de Montcalm or his second in command, the Chevalier de Lévis, they would inflict heavy losses on the Redcoats, winning incredible battles at Oswego, Fort William Henry, Fort Carillon, repulsing 6 landing on Québec itself before the disaster of the Plains of Abraham. They would even rally under Lévis, counterattack, win a great victory at the second battle of the Plains of Abraham and siege Québec until english reinforcement forced them to surrender Montréal in 1760. If the colonial's forces would serve as the sword of the colony, the regulars would be her shield, barring the way to Canada.
Strategic Corner: OOB of New France in 1757
I have decided to give you a detailled OOB of the beginning of the summer of 1757 as it represent the full mobilisation of New France, it's strategic organisation and the peak of his military power. As you will see, I'm many time outnumbered but I can still give my ennemy a bloody noose.
New France OOB
Commander in chief:Gouverneur Général de la Nouvelle-France, le Marquis de Vaudreuil. Montréal
2nd and 3rd Bataillon du Régiment de Berry, 1600 men
Montréal's garrison: Compagnies Franches de la Marine, 400 men, (size 2 Depot)
Montréal in 1757
Québec Garrison (size 2 Depot)
Commander: Lieutenant-Colonel Testard de Montigny (*)
Compagnies Franche de la Marine: 400 men
Defensives canons: 136 pieces
Trois Rivière garrison
400 militiamen
Lake Champlain front
Commander in chief: Marquis de Montcalm, maréchal de camp. (***)
Second in command: Chevalier de Lévis, brigadier.(**)
French forces*:
Officers: Colonel de Boulamarque(**), Lieutenant Colonel de Bougainville(*), Capitaine de Sarrebourse de Pontleroy,chief engineer(*), commandant Comte de Malartic (*), Colonel Plantavit de la Pause(*)
Soldier from the Royal Languedoc Regiment
2nd B. Régiment de la Sarre: 800 men
2nd B. Régiment Royal Roussillon: 800 men
2nd B Régiment de Guyenne: 750 men
2nd B Régiment de Béarn: 725 men
2nd B Régiment de la Reine (Queen's own): 675 men
2nd B Régiment du Royal Languedoc: 650 men
Bataillon Royal de la Marine de Louisbourg: 700 men (the elite infantry who defended Acadia in 1755)
Artillery*: 24 canons.
Colonial forces:
Colonel de Boishébert de Raffetot(*)
Acadiens Irregulars: 250 men
Canadien Irregulars: 300 men
Compagnies Franches de la Marine: 3775 men
Native allies: 4 tribes, nearly 800 braves.
Fort Carillon finished and ready to hold off the redcoats.
Fort Carillon garrison, (size 3 depot)
Compagnies Franches de la Marine: 400 hommes
Great Lake Front.
Commander in chief*: the Chevalier de Rigaud, (**)
Second in Command. Daniel Liénard de Beaujeu, colonel(**)
Colonial forces
Officers: lieutenant-colonel Chartier de Lotbinière(*)
Compagnies Franches de la Marine: 3800 men
Irregulars and natives allies
Officers: colonel Pécaudy de Contrecoeur(**), Capitaine de Langlade(*), Capitaine de Lignery(*)
Canadien irregulars: 900 men
Native Allies: 5 tribes, nearly 1600 braves
Fort Niagara's garrison (size 1 depot): Capitaine Pouchot de Maupas
Compagnies Franches de la Marine: 400 hommes
Fort Detroit's garrison (size 1 depot)
Compagnies Franches de la Marine*: 400 men
Ohio Front
Commander in chief: Major Jean Daniel Dumas(*)
Fort Duquesne's garrison (size 2 Depot)
Capitaine Coulon de Villiers (*)
Compagnies Franches de la Marine: 1900 men
Native Allies
Officers: Delawares chieftains Shingas and Jacobs
10 indians tribes*: nearly 3250 braves.
Louisbourg Fortress
Commander in Chief: the Chevalier de Drucourt (***)
Second in command: Capitaine Vicomte de Desandrouins(*)
Louisbourg garrison on watch
Officer: Capitaine Gaspard de Chaussegros de Léry(*) (the hero of the acadian campaign of 1755)
Louisbourg's garrison (size 2 depot)
2nd B. Régiment d'Artois: 800 men
2nd B. Régiment de Bourgogne: 800 men
Compagnies franches de la marine: 3000 men
Acadien milita: 800 men
Defensive batteries: 136 canons
Marine
France battle fleet
French frigate "La Belle Poule" raiding british commercial lines
Amiral Comte Dubois de la Motte(***)
Contre-Amiral Marquis Desgouttes*
16 ships of the line, 2 frigates, 3 transports ships
Fluvial flotilas*:
4 armed boats on the Lake Champlain, 4 armed boats on the Lake Ontario, 4 armed boats on the Lake Érié and 4 armed boats on Lake Supérieur. 6 fluvial transports flotilas.