tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33041938.post5600219229691500335..comments2024-03-29T10:07:43.170+00:00Comments on <p align="right">Steve's Random <br>Musings on Wargaming <br>and other stuff...</p>: New York RegimentSteve-the-Wargamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07077311120172727690noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33041938.post-63423385859638625792011-08-02T23:44:26.938+00:002011-08-02T23:44:26.938+00:00If you're looking for an ex-pat unit you want ...If you're looking for an ex-pat unit you want the 2nd Canadians (aka Hazen's or Congress' Own). They wore brown coats faced white. The light company wore a helmet (which is what is usually illustrated in uniform books) but the line companies wore cocked hats<br /><br />When Montgomery and Arnold captured Montreal in 1775 they raised two regiments, the 1st and 2nd Canadians. There were no uniforms at the time. Most of the recruits were British American merchants who had moved to Quebec Province after the F&I war. There were, however, a fair number of Canadiens who enlisted based on their enthusiasm for the Patriot cause.<br /><br />After the defeat at Quebec City later that year and the subsequent campaign by Carleton to drive out the invaders the 1st & 2nd Canadians found themselves based in New York without any recruiting grounds. Neither had been recruited up to strength. Before long they were merged under Hazen, colonel of the 2nd Canadians and adopted as "Congress' Own". They tended to be assigned recruits who didn't fit into any of the state-based regiments, not unlike the German regiment.Mike Manninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17952246639206188028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33041938.post-70112564616208233952011-06-19T07:53:53.744+00:002011-06-19T07:53:53.744+00:00I agree with the histiory lesson!
They wore white ...I agree with the histiory lesson!<br />They wore white plumes because of their Bourbon origin!<br />Regards<br />RafaRafael Pardohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00482026140017463557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33041938.post-79740339678564551072011-06-19T03:43:46.521+00:002011-06-19T03:43:46.521+00:00Excellent series of posts Steve nice bit of histor...Excellent series of posts Steve nice bit of history figure and unit, good read.<br /><br />PPPaintPighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09047331820540221681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33041938.post-36700136333530776982011-06-17T12:13:07.785+00:002011-06-17T12:13:07.785+00:00Mekelnborg - fascinating, I hadn't realised th...Mekelnborg - fascinating, I hadn't realised that - I thought it was a flavour of "France" or "French"..<br /><br />Ross Mac/Ray - thanks for that - I still quite fancy using them as an expat regiment - a little bit of fiction never went astray, and don't let history get in the way of a good story.. if those Marines had been based in Canada for any length of time, there would surely have been ties.... :o))Steve-the-Wargamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07077311120172727690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33041938.post-77125289559451345072011-06-17T09:16:43.605+00:002011-06-17T09:16:43.605+00:00Used to have a unit of the marines in 28mm myself,...Used to have a unit of the marines in 28mm myself, good work.The Angry Lurkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01227314379603418332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33041938.post-78011041604863249492011-06-16T20:17:56.053+00:002011-06-16T20:17:56.053+00:00The 'franche' part, plural franches, means...The 'franche' part, plural franches, means 'free,' so we would call it 'independent.' Independent companies.<br /><br />It is used in English like a 'franked' letter has postage already paid, and also in words like 'franchise.'<br /><br />The Marine part is because in the French government administration they fell under the bailiwick of the Department of Marine, meaning of the Navy.<br /><br />There is a good memoir from one of them, but I can't think of the name right now--maybe someone else will--the Jolicouer one. It was reprinted about fifteen years ago, and many of the reeanactors will know the one.mekelnborghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02269195057608159822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33041938.post-52009528551195489092011-06-16T17:34:33.980+00:002011-06-16T17:34:33.980+00:00So what are you going to use the figures for? I...So what are you going to use the figures for? I'd suggest an American Milita unit in undress. For a little more info on the Companies Franches de la Marine follow the link. I recently painted up some figures in 15mm fro the new Blue Moon range.<br />http://onelover-ray.blogspot.com/2011/05/recently-painted-no-28-compagnies.htmlRay Rousellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07352596392520905197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33041938.post-64845630467242128022011-06-16T17:04:09.886+00:002011-06-16T17:04:09.886+00:00When I was a young kid in the early '60's,...When I was a young kid in the early '60's, one of the great treats was getting to picnic on Ile Ste Helene near Montreal because it meant a chance to see the re-enacted Cie Franches doing their drill sessions complete with fake battle. ( a group sponsered by the Museum there and a predecessor to the curret one). <br /><br />From my time, long past, at the Museum at Fort St. Jean the evidence indicated 2 things that may be of interest. One is that "proper" uniforms such as tricorne and white gaitors would have been worn in major garrisons such as Quebec and Louisbourg while on the frontier posts down the Missippi and on the Great lakes, more relaxed dress codes were usual. In winter all sorts of regional adapatations would be seen esp fur caps and touques. The troupes de la terre copied the fashion of waistcoat only in summer time. <br /><br />While the rank and file were almost exclusively French. A large portion of the officers In Quebec and on the Frontier were Canadiens from the wealthier signeurial or land owning classes. After the conquest, most of the soldiers returned to France as did a few of the Canadien officers who had hopes of a career. The Canadiens living in what is now Quebec largely stayed neutral during the American Revolution, the militia defenders of Quebec being largely raised from British immigrants but it was touch and go. One could always raise the "Evageline" battlion of ex-pat Acadians as well, Cie Franches served in the Maritimes as well as in Canada.Ross Mac rmacfa@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04053555991679802013noreply@blogger.com