Frontier Soldiers of New France - a brief review

 

The late Rene Chartrand’s legacy continues with this volume covering the French army in North America. It’s full title is ‘Frontier Soldiers of New France, volume 1; Regulation, clothing arms and equipment of the colonial troops in New France 1683-1760’. This book was co-authored with fellow Canadian scholar Kevin Gelinas.

Beautifully illustrated with a huge number of contemporary and specially commissioned colour and black and white images, uniform details, and photographs of surviving arms and equipment, this volume provides a comprehensive, probably the most comprehensive to date, examination of a fascinating and colourful period of French colonial history, one so closely linked to our own. 

Every aspect of the officers and men in the colony and their uniforms, be they serving in the Compagnies tranches de La Marine, Metropolitan companies, Artillerymen and even armed constabulary units and Swiss. Indeed, I had been unaware that detached companies of Swiss infantry served in New France and Louisiana during this period. I actually found the chapter on military hairstyles particularly interesting, as it sheds some light on the prevailing customs and mentality found in the colonies, and the thought of some bewigged and powdered French officer plunging through the forests of North America while trying to maintain an appropriate hairdo and appearance is an amusing one.

The second part of the book investigates regulation weapons and equipment of officers, non-commissioned officers, infantrymen and artillerymen, and each aspect is discussed in some detail and accompanied by a significant number of photographs of surviving equipment and numerous sketches and drawings. 

Finally, the appendices cover the Irish Company, the Corps of Cavalry and the troops stationed on the islands of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. The Irish appear to have been recruited from British prisoners of war, while the cavalry were a regular company of 200 men raised specifically to counter British incursions and landings and to generally make a nuisance of themselves wherever they could, which earned them the respect of their enemies and might make for an interesting skirmish game.

This is a well researched and presented book, and the authors have had access to previously unpublished material and resources.  For those interested in colonial warfare in North America this is an invaluable reference. 

ISBN 978-1-804515-46-4. Soft covers, 269 pages.

Armies and Wars of the French East India Companies 1661-1770 by the Late René Chartrand

I learnt yesterday that the author of this book, the universally well known and prolific author René Chartrand had passed away, which makes this review a somewhat poignant one.

Armies and Wars of the French East India Companies 1661-1770 by the late René Chartrand landed on my doormat a few weeks ago, and I had just finished reading it and had started writing this review when I heard of his passing. He was a giant among authors and historians of the 18th Century, and of France (and New France) in particular. People better placed than me will no doubt write of his life and career, so I shall focus on this wonderful book.

This is the first ever book of substance published in English or indeed French that is devoted to describing the military forces maintained by the French East India companies and their far flung trading operations. Following hard on the heals as it does of a number of other Helion books covering largely British influenced activities in India over the same period this book is a good counter balance as it completes the circle with its focus on those often overlooked or skimmed over French East India Companies.

This work is literally packed with the fruits of extensive research collated over many years, and is lavishly illustrated with a large number of colour and black and white images. There are 12 gorgeous colour plates of a number of different French soldiers, European and native, by Patrice Courcelle. Another 18 pages of colour images from a number of sources depict further uniform details and contemporary images of a range of subjects focusing on the Indian sub-continent.

The book tells the story of the development and expansion of the French East India company from its early days, through to operations in Madagascar, India and the Indian Ocean, Siam ( this episode was a new one to me), Africa, Louisiana and other diverse territories. The impact the wars in Europe had on these operations is also examined.

As well as details of the organisational structure, uniforms and weapons, not just of European infantry, but including European cavalry, artillerymen, foreign and native units, we get an insight into the lives of these soldiers, both at home and overseas.There are several interesting appendices and an extensive bibliography for those who wish to research the subject of this book further.

I found this book to be bursting with information largely new to me in such detail. It is well written, and is a most engaging and enjoyable read, where the knowledge and enthusiasm of the author for the subject clearly comes through in the writing. I cannot recommend this book highly enough and it is one well worth getting if you have any interest in what it has to be said having read it, an incredibly fascinating subject. 

ISBN 978-1-804513-40-8 soft cover 319 pages.