Total War - Zone

A

French soldiers of the early 17th century

These French soldiers wear a style of clothing common through much of Western Europe in the early seventeenth century. Note the musket rest carried by the man at left, and the pike carried by the man in the background. Mid-19th century engraving after a drawing by Alfred de Marbot.

B

French pikeman, circa 1635
Pikemen’s armour and pikes were sent to Quebec during the 1620s. The armour appears to have been worn by some soldiers until the later 1630s although the pikes were seemingly hardly ever used. In Europe, pikemen were still seen in battlefields in decreasing numbers until they vanished by the end of the century. In America, pikes or halberds might be used by a few ceremonial guards and sergeants but were otherwise not used.

C

French soldier armed with matchlock muskets of the 1640s
In the 17th century, an increasing majority of soldiers were armed with firearms, like these French troops of the 1640s armed with matchlock muskets. Print after Lostelneau.

D

Soldier of the Company of the Hundred Associates in Canada, circa 1650
This employee of the Hundred Associates carries a flintlock musket (or 'fusil'), which appeared in the colony in the late 1640s. The fusil was lighter than the older matchlock musket and its firing system was more trustworthy. This made it an ideal weapon for Canada. The Iroquois' acquisition of firearms changed the military tactics in New France. Helmets and breastplates became useless, and French soldiers simply wore their usual clothing. This man's clothing follows contemporary civilian fashions in France. Hanging from a belt around his chest, this soldier carries individual charges of gunpowder in flasks jokingly known as 'the Twelve Apostles'. Reconstruction by Michel Pétard.

E

Training begins for the Massachusetts militia, 1637
When the colony of Massachusetts formed militia regiments in 1637, the new militiamen imitated European organization and tactics as closely as possible. This was a complete contrast with the militiamen in New France. Reconstruction by Don Troiani.

A

Drummer of the régiment de Carignan-Salières, 1665-1668
This reconstruction depicts a drummer of the régiment de Carignan-Salières during the regiment's service in New France. He is wearing the livery of the princes of Carignan. The Carignan coat of arms is painted on the drum cylinder; the central shield is a white cross on a red field. The drummer's role was to communicate the orders of the commander through drum rolls. Reconstruction by Michel Pétard.

B

Officer with the regimental colour of the régiment de Carignan-Salières
Officer with the regimental colour of the régiment de Carignan-Salières, 1665. The colours were in the livery colours of the Prince of Carignan which were red lined with blue. The regimental uniform was brown with grey facings. Print issued on the 300th anniversary of the foundation of Trois-Rivières in 1934.

C

Ende 17 Jhs. frankokanadischer General

D

1690 frankokanadische Infanterie

E

1630 farnkokanadische söldner

A

1665 frankokanadische königswache

B

Soldier of the British independent companies in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, between 1698 and 1717
This man wears the classic red coat of the British soldier, with green cuffs, the colour associated with the independent companies. He holds a flintlock musket fitted with a 'plug' bayonet. A sword completes his armament. Independent companies were used to guard places that were not important enough to warrant a regiment. In 1698, a company was formed for St. John's, Newfoundland, where it stayed until it was made prisoner during the 1709 French capture of St. John's. In 1713, four companies were raised to garrison Nova Scotia (formerly Acadia), and the next year four more were created for Newfoundland. Reconstruction by Gerald A. Embleton.

C

Soldier from Gibbon's Regiment of Foot in Newfoundland, 1697-98
Gibbon's Regiment was the first regular British army unit to be stationed in present-day Canada. Noteworthy on the English musket of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries is the 'dog lock', a kind of small safety catch attached to the gun lock to hold the hammer. Reconstruction by Gerald A Embleton.