Fighting alongside Woodland Indians and their compatriots in the French Marines, the French Regulars provide plenty of muscle to face the hated British.
The French Regulars (Troupes de Terre) didn’t go through the disastrous introduction to wilderness warfare that the British experienced. Generally, the men of the Regular units were able to be assimilated into the French forces in Canada in a way that eased their introduction to woodland fighting. Despite this, there were tensions between French and colonial officers over the use of traditional linear or irregular tactics. Part of the focus on irregular warfare was due to the simple reality of manpower and logistics.
The French colonies did not have a large population and the men were spread over a large geographical area. This territory had been easy to defend when the British were disorganised and it had proven useful in sending war parties of Indian warriors with French Provincial and militia support to harass the British frontier and stir up trouble.
However useful, that strategy did not win the war. The British recovered from the attacks and went on the offensive. New France proved to be a large colony to defend and the French were going to need more than woodland warriors to win. The French strategy relied heavily on the use of Indian allies, Provincial troops, and militia to do most of the fighting in the colonies. This allowed for units of French Regulars to serve in detachments with them to learn the craft of woodland campaigning. Despite the usefulness of these skills, and the fact that warfare in North America made them indispensable, many French officers still relied on the Regular units to do the heavy fighting and supply the muscle to besiege and reduce British forts.
The French Regular in North America was a skilled fighter from regiments with a long history of excellent service. When it came time to serve the King in the colonies, he had learned to campaign in the wilderness alongside his comrades in the Provincial units, militia, and Indians allies, and this experience made him a formidable foe of the British. However well he fought, and however many British forts he could capture, he was outnumbered, out manoeuvered, and eventually overwhelmed by an opponent staking it all on a winning strategy in North America.
Contained in this splendid metal boxed set are 18 metal French Regular infantrymen including a command group of six (officer, 2 NCOs, 2 standard bearers and a drummer). Also included are wire standard poles and metal flag finials. There is also a full-colour background leaflet carrying flags for six famous French regiments.
To reinforce your boxed set we have packs of extra musketeers. Containing musketeers – 4 marching and 4 firing – they are just the thing for holding the British Redcoat at bay…
Dan Hewitson
Tom Mecredy
