See The Early Eistory of Militia (1636-1700), page

136 OANADIAN MILITIA UNDEOR THE FRENCH EEGIME

of the nucleus of a Colony, the Colonists had to be military men. In the case of the earliest days of Canada, was it necessary or désirable that ail thèse military men should be sent from France? No such thing — for as soon as a few scattered settlers grew into an appréciable gathered community, military service was exacted. Louis XIV was a stingy King, but, on account of the Indians hère in those days, every settler had practically to be a military man.

Turning to a newer page of history, it was decided to send out against thèse Indians a régiment organized for the purpose — but it was hardly a régiment. A corps of 400 to 500 men divided in independent companies filled the purpose. This plan was concocted quietly. Ils fulfilment was delayed untii Frontena^c arrived in Québec. He found the King would not spend the money necessar}^ for the adéquate provision of troops, 'but h-e also found that the settlers had already shown battle. The King of France encouraged this combative spirit of those self-made militiamen as they least expensive way out of his difficulties in Canada, and explained to his Finance Minister that the keeping of Canada would not cost France much if the Canadian settlers raised a Militia, France sending guns, and the other necessaries for that service, on the condition that thèse implements of v/ar shouW be paid for by the men vrho used them. And so it was done ail the time after.

That is, if y ou like, amusing — and y ou must recognize the cleverness of that King. He overcame difficulties with those guns and with officers to keep the men who t^erved those guns in the habit and practice of using them. Thèse men, more very efficient in the kind of warfare common theu in tliiô country. ;

CANADMN (NHLITIA UNDEE THE FEENCH EEGIME 137

Frontenac used also his offi-cers as bailiffs — combining the duties civil and mrlitary in a person partly milita^}^ That acconnts for the immense importance which the Captains and Lieutenants always had under the French régime. They were in close communication with the Judges. They went into the work of shooting, shirmishing and scouting, and ail the business of the forest in those days. Any man with a pair of snowshoes could hunt his living on his way. Therefore, the living was inexpensive. A certain number of armed men were necessary, not only to protect the people of the posts, but also the furs they secured by trapping.

This wa3 Frontenac's plan. — He said: "I am going to enlist a certain number of volunteers. They will cost so much for pay, so much for food, so much for uniforms and accoutrements, and, for thèse expensives, I want no funds f rom the treasury", and without money he raised the first Canadian Militia, a body of crack Canadian Volunteers under regular discipline, and, for cleamess of understanding, they were "Eegular" Militia, while the previous body, which had been in existence for some time was called "Sedentary^^ Militia — a sort of active Home Guards, ail being Canadian troops.

But Frontenac found it next to impossible to deal with the Indians with thèse troops. without providing them with efficient militaîry leaders. We know that a company of 50 men need three officers — perhaps four. Officers came from Fr'ince for the Canadian troops, but soon after this System turned to be ail Canadian.

In countrv" places nobody could be thought more of than the Captain or the Lieutenant. Ail functions were in their ihands. In dealdng with the Indians, military officers were used ail the time. Owing to this system, thèse

138 OANAJ>IAN IMILITIA UNDER THE FEENCH EEaUME

officers were scattered through the country, so thait wlien the least number on the warfooting should hâve been 500, it was often found that only 150 men were available, owing to the large number that were detached and scattered about the country for dnties connected with Civil administration. Then when war caone, as it sometimes did, suddenly, and the&e officers were recalled, there turned ont to be a mass of offioers to a small number of men but ail the better.

If you consider properly the history of thèse old-time wars, it will astonish you to find that on the frontier, as far as Virginia, New England, or elsewhere, the number of combattants sent was so ismall. The reason for this is that for that kind of war no large body of fighters was either necessary or advisable. Flying groups of men, well officered (and this especially), could do marvels. Every officer was — had to be — a General himself, but a General strictly disciplined and under orders. Thèse leaders were marvellous. They terrorized the foreign population — they were, in effect, in efficiency, ahead of the Eegular Troops. They knew their business, and, what Louis XIV admired most was that it cost him nothing. The fur-traders gladly fumished the whole cost, or most part of it.

I hâve a letter addressed to a Captain of Militia by the Secretary of the Government explaining ail about the guns for which the people had to pay. That, and an hundred other bits of information, are usefui in re-recreating the methodjs of those days. The aim of the King seems to hâve been to avoid the expense of detaching the Eoyal troops for service in Canada, and to raisiC an ànexpeiisive and, at the same time, efficient force either of Volunteers, or unpaid Canadians, and this plan was most suocessful. Every settler became a soldier. The Canadians, ho\vever.

OANADMÎ^ (NflLITIA U:S"DER THE FRENCH REGIME 139

eeeni to hâve taken advantage of the situatoin, for in a d^spatch. from the King, a passage to the following effect occiirs : — "I désire that a Eegister be established to show how maoïy guns are issued to each man/^ Why? It was because, under the s^^stem then ruling^ the men niight took, with authority from the captain of Militia, what guns they needed for hnnting, and pay for them so mueh a month. Therefore, as the men preferred hnnting to soldiering, the King foimd they were nsing his guns for their own sport and support, rather than for his service. The thing wâs no joke, but it is amusing when you follow it.

So, you see, the militiamen acquired guns, primarly for hunting. He couldn^t do it now. He may be cleyer, but it wouldn't look nioe.

The whole System was as follows: Every man able to carry arms received a gun, paid for it by instahnents, practised shooting at home constantly under the guidaace of the captain or lieutenant of sedentary militia of his parish, and was allowed to use the firelock for hunting. When war came, the sedentary move with their own dress on. They reoeived no pay.

'Now let us see the Eegular Militia kept, Ist, for the care of the forts and trading posts; 2nd, for war purposes. Thèse, ail Volunteers were paid, equipped, &c., by the King, aoid formed into detachments or companies absolutely independent from one another. They were in the hands of the department of Marine and Colonies, thus you find them styled MAEINE and sometitmes COLOISTIAL troops, but they had no thing in common with the sea — to call them Colonials is far more correct.

From thèse were taken the officers who lead the Militia through war, and who educated eyery militiamen in time of

140 iOANAJ>IAN CVflLITIA UNDER THE FEENCH REGIME

peace. The highest grade or rank was that of Captain — and the suprême honour the Cross of St-Louis.

In the days when the population of Canada came to be 60,000, there was such a Militia that Lower Canada was a barrack — a Military Camp of men able to do anything, but over-officered, and thèse officers, having not sufficient militaryduty, were often sent into the woods to act as interpreters in négociations with the Indians.

I think I hâve given an idea of the military organizatiion of the time which has been lost sight of, and is it not wonderful, when you examine that System, to f ind that it is almost exactly the same as that of our own days ? The spirit of both is '^^Scouting''. In the British Army we find the heavy cavalry, to some extent, superseded by the Mounted Infantry, sharp-shooters, men acting on their own initiative, men dispensed ^^k propos", men concentrated "à propos''. That is the idea which stands now, but it is an idea not altogether new.

When Montcalm arrive d, in 1756, he brought some detacliments of regular troops with him; later on he said of the Canadian troops under his command: "They ean't march and they can't drill — they can run through the bush, surprise the enemy, obtain enough to live on — but they are no soldiers." It is certainly a fact that the French officers were astonished, even stupefied, at thèse men, and disapprove of them, but the Government understood their good qualities and made light of the complaints of the officers of the Regular Army.

When the French troops were embarking from Canada for their return to France, the iSedentary Militia were marched into the Courthouse to be disbanded, The Commandant epoke to them in French. He said: "Messieurs,

(OAXABIAÎ^ CVriLITIA UNDER THE FRENCH REGI^Œ 141

you are going to be disbanded — sent home. Let ea»cli man take a ticket and attach it to his gnn, so that if we want him to use it again, he wi'll be able to find it." It is said that the men were crazy with joy at the prospect. Afterwards, on the first call, each one pickel np his gun again.

Whenever there was occasion to combine two or more Canadian Companies into a little Brigade, an officer of the Eegular Militia was put in command. It was impossible to work after the manner of Eegular régiments when the work was so detached. There could be no unity of warlike opérations where the field was so extensive.

The Captain of Sedentary Militia was revered — even the Seigneur of the parish was in several cases subordinate to him. If the Seigneur had power hère, so, ailso, the Captain had power there. The Militia dominated everything — was, indeed, the whole force. Everything was subordinate to militarism. There were no Royal troops, there was no regimental organization, but the whole of the affairs of the Colony were under Military Rula The old soldiers of France could not, clever as they were, hâve done what thèse Canadians did, because the Canadians were accustomed to Ithe work and the Frenchmen were not.

How was the French cadet appointed? Who wrote in his favor? I do not know — wasn't his appointment made in France? Some of those who obtained appointments had as much power as the C. P. E. has now. I cannot pénétra te thèse mysteries. I must stop hère.

There is something further. What they did, we can do lagain. Every man who is capable of bearing arms, should ibear arms. We can form their excellence, we can put them into shape. They are again the men of Louis XIV, and, in'stead of the Colonists serving the King, it is the Govern-

142 (Ca:n^adm:n militia under the fuench reobce

ment who will pay the soldi^er;, it is the country who will benefit by the Colonist.

Gentlemen, I pay you a compliment in exchange for the compliment yon hâve padd me in listening to me» Gentlemen, I présent arms. (2)