Canadian Military History Volume 10 Issue 3 Article 3 2001 French Canadian Participation in the War of 1812: A Social Study of the Voltiguers Canadians Martin F. Auger University of Ottawa Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh Part of the Military History Commons Recommended Citation Auger, Martin F. "French Canadian Participation in the War of 1812: A Social Study of the Voltiguers Canadians." Canadian Military History 10, 3 (2001) This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian Military History by an authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Auger: French Canadian Participation in the War of 1812: A Social Study French Canadian Participation in the War of 1812 A Social Study of the Voltigeurs Canadiens Martin F. Auger uring the War of 1812, the participation of situation became problematic as there were only D French Canadians in colonial militia units 9,000 British regulars garrisoned in the whole such as the Voltigeurs Canadiens was of great of North America, of which 4,400 garrisoned importance for the defence of Lower Canada. The Lower Canada. This was a very moderate force, colony's lack of regular British troops combined considering that Lower Canada was the with the threats of American invasion rendered economic and political centre of British North crucial the mobilization of the local populace, America. 1 most of which was of French descent. Although lacking the discipline and structure of British Because of the lack of regular soldiers, regular soldiers. Lower-Canadian militiamen provincial/ colonial regiments, commonly known were able to neutralize numerous American as fencibles, were raised for local defence among invasion attempts. Altogether, this impressive the local population in each of Britain's North participation in the war effort helped redefine American colonies as early as 1793. The the military character of French Canadians. It structure and organization of fencibles closely also dissipated the British authorities' fears that resembled that of British regular regiments, and French Canadians were disloyal subjects. This they were subjected to the same laws, regulations study analyses the military organization of the and conditions of service as regular units. With Voltigeurs Canadiens to demonstrate the fencible regiments, it was felt that each British importance of French Canadian participation in North American colony had some capacity to the war, especially in Lower Canada, their defend itself, but there were never enough. For military campaigns and how the Voltigeurs' example, in 1812, there were only 700 men in victories became the pride of all French Canada. the Canadian Fencibles, a regiment recruited among the Lower-Canadian population.2 In the early 19th Century, the defence of British North America relied on regular soldiers, Although the colonial authorities were well provincial/ colonial (fencibles) soldiers, aware of the shortage of regular troops in Lower militiamen and native Indians. The British Canada, they knew they could not depend on regular army was the backbone of this reinforcements while Britain was at war with apparatus. However, with the advent of the France. Their only alternative was to arm the French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802) and the local population through the institution known Napoleonic Wars ( 1803-1815 ), Britain kept most as the militia. 3 The fact was that every British of its regular troops in Europe. As a result, the subject was a potential militiaman who could British North American colonies were neglected be called upon to defend his country or colony despite the American threat. By 1812, the in times of crisis.4 With an average population ©Canadian Military History, Volume 10. Number 3, Summer 2001, pp.23-41. 23 Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2001 1 Canadian Military History, Vol. 10 [2001], Iss. 3, Art. 3 of 270,000 habitants in 1812, Lower Canada Finally, the government created a volunteer was a perfect reservoir for the militia.5 However, corps. Although similar in organization to the problem was that this colony was not like regular regiments, such outfits were made up of any other. The vast majority of its population volunteers who agreed to serve for the duration (90 per cent) was of French origin. With Great of the war. Among such outfits was the Voltigeurs Britain at war with France, the British authorities Canadiens. Acting as front line units, these were fearful of their French Canadian subjects' corps were posted along the American border. 13 loyalty. Nobody knew how they would react in The structure of such regiments will be the advent of war. 6 addressed in the subsequent pages as we analyze the organization of the Voltigeurs. As war with the United States seemed more and more imminent, the Lower-Canadian The defence of British North America also Legislative Assembly, in consultation with depended on native Indian allies. In charge of Governor-General Sir George Prevost, this force was the British Indian Department. authorized the mobilization of the militia in April Its task was to ensure that good relations 1812.7 Overall, more than 60,000 militiamen prevailed between the Indian nations and the could be mobilized in Lower Canada8 organized British authorities in North America. On the in three categories; Sedentary Militia, Select other hand, its military role was to secure the Embodied Militia, and Corps ofVolunteers.9 Indians' alliance in the advent of war with the United States.14 This was done by supplying the The Sedentary Militia was the basis of this aboriginals with numerous gifts. Because natives system. As the 1803 Militia Act stipulated, every hoped for "homelands" to be returned to them able man aged between 16 and 50 was in America if the British were successful, they automatically part of this body. Every April these supported the war in Canada. As a result, the men registered for a week-end of military Department raised numerous Indian companies training, which often ended in taverns. Each to be used as military auxiliaries during the War Lower-Canadian parish was organized as a of 1812. In Lower Canada alone, 770 Indian company of the Sedentary Militia. The purpose warriors were mobilized. 15 of this system was to make sure every colonial subject was ready to defend his "homeland." In All military forces in British North America most cases, these militiamen did Corvee work, were under the command of Governor-General supplying front line troops with provisions and Sir George Prevost. Appointed on 13 September equipment. Hence, when the war scare of 1812 1811,16 Prevost never got complete jurisdiction emerged, these were the first units the Assembly over military decision making. Although mobilized. 10 commander-in-chief, he constantly received orders from British Prime Minister Lord Robert The Legislative Assembly also imposed Liverpool; British Secretary of War Lord Henry conscription in order to levy four battalions of Bathurst; and Britain's Commander-in-Chief, the what came to be called the Lower Canada Select Duke ofYork. 17 The Adjutant General of Lower Embodied Militia. In May 1812, 2,000bachelors Canada's militia was Fran<;ois Vassal de Monviel, aged between 18 and 30 were drafted for a who monitored all the militia units including the minimum service period of 90 days and a Voltigeurs. 18 maximum of two years. Chosen by ballot among the Sedentary Militia, the battalions of the Select The Voltigeurs were created a few days after Embodied Militia acted as front line units and the mobilization of the militia had been ordered were mobilized along the American border.U by the colony's Legislative Assembly. The idea Eventually, new battalions were created to for raising such a military outfit was proposed counter the American menace which existed in by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles-Michel the border regions. Every year, Sedentary Militia d'Irumberry de Salaberry to Governor-General divisions each had to conscript men within their Prevost on 13 April1812. 19 The levy of this corps ranks for service in the Select Embodied Militia. was immediately authorized by the governor on Overall, eight battalions were raised between 15 April.20 Although most of the conditions in 1812 and 1814. 12 de Salaberry's proposal were approved, Prevost 24 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol10/iss3/3 2 Auger: French Canadian Participation in the War of 1812: A Social Study made a few changes. For instance, de Salaberry Canada, Holland and the West Indies. 24 His hoped to raise a "Corps of eclaireur or rifle." career in the regular army ended when he was His goal seemed to be a highly mobile outfit, promoted Lieutenant-Colonel of the Militia of the specialized in skirmishing and scouting Province of Lower Canada by Prevost on 1 April operations. As he indicated, "the use of Indians 1812.25 Just 33 years of age, de Salaberry was a would be necessary for the role and purpose of perfect candidate to command the newly-created this unit." Such a clause did not suggest the Voltigeurs. His 19 years of military experience, establishment of a typical infantry regiment, for acquired on the battlefields of Europe and the Indian integration would not have been that Antilles also made him aware of the most recent crucial. 21 Prevost tactic.26 responded by approving a "Volunteer Provincial Although the Voltigeurs Corps of Light Infantry." Canadiens were to be This meant a unit whose organized like a regular organization and regiment, they were not function was similar to part of the British that of the fencibles or regular army other infantry regiments. establishment. Like Since Indians need not other militia corps of be integrated into such volunteers, they had regiments, Prevost only been "raised to counter attached 60 aboriginal the apprehension of war warriors "armed, with the United States or clothed after their own actual war." This meant manner" to the unit.