The Canadian Militia: A History of the Origin and Development of the Force (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

Inhaltsangabe

Excerpt from The Canadian Militia: A History of the Origin and Development of the Force

Many duties of a civil nature in connection with the administration of the law, the regulation of statute labour, and the making and maintenance of roads, bridges and other public utilities were imposed upon the Captains of Militia, these useful officials being compensated for their services in time of peace by grants of powder and ball. At least from the year 1754 until the Capitulation of Montreal every parish was a garrison, commanded by'a Captain of Militia, whose authority was not only acknowledged but rigidly enforced. From the date first mentioned until the appearance of Saunders' fleet in the St. Law rence, the militia of Quebec, Montreal and Three Rivers was frequently exercised, the Quebec militia including a carefully trained artillery company which performed good service during the siege.

The clothing supplied the militiaman can scarcely be described as a uniform. At the embodiment of the levies the Town Mayor furnished each militiaman with a gun, a capote, a Canadian cloak, a breech clout, a cotton shirt, a cap, a pair of leggings, a pair of Indian shoes and a blanket. The old Canadian militiaman during the French regime must certainly have looked more serviceable than soldierly', particularly to the critical eyes of those used to the prim, tight-laced soldiers of those days. But he showed in the field and forest that he could do the work required of him.

After receiving their equipments, the militiamen were marched to the garrison for which they were destined. The French authorities do not appear to have made any serious attempt, apart from the case of the Quebec artillery company, to make trained line soldiers or artillerymen out of the militia. They pre ferred to rely upon the smart professional soldiers of the Carignan, Languedoc, Beame, Guienne La Sarre, Berry and Royal Roussillon regiments and the Troupes de la Marine for the line of battle, leaving to the militia the just as dangerous, and con sidering the country, just as important, functions of partisans and bushrangers. As the country was not suitable for cavalry, the commanders depended largely upon the militia for the important duties of the scouting and intelligence service. Consequently, while clothing the peasant soldiery in a fashion as much unlike the military uniform of the day as anything well could be, the French officers made no attempt to instill into the ranks of the militia any idea of drill and discipline beyond such as was necessary to secure a fair show of order while on the march. The employment as scouts and skirmishers was congenial to the warlike race, and they readily came forward whenever the war drum sounded.

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