The Conquest

Tensions Among the French Staff

Attempts to Increase Military Strength

Soldier with regimental colour, régiment de Guyenne, circa 1755-1760

Caption: Soldier with regimental colour, régiment de Guyenne, circa 1755-1760

In spite of the tensions that kept them apart, all the officers agreed on one point: the need for reinforcements to defend New France. In Canada itself, Vaudreuil reorganized the troops to increase the number of men available to Montcalm. In May the artillery added a company of workers recruited from among the Canadians. In July a battalion of 500 men from the Compagnies franches de la Marine was established to support the metropolitan regiments. It was soon called the "Régiment de la Marine." 4 Nevertheless, it was felt that additional troops should be brought in from France. During the summer, the 2nd and 3rd battalions of the Régiment de Berry disembarked at Quebec City, and there were also several hundred recruits, 5 but the numbers were still inadequate. Seven "brigades" of Canadian militiamen were therefore formed, with 150 men in each, 16 regular soldiers of the Compagnies franches de la Marine serving as their instructors.