Français  Contact Us  Help  Search  Canada Site Volume 1 (1000–1754) Volume 2 (1755-1871) Volume 3 (1872–2000) CHAPTER 1 The First Warriors CHAPTER 2 Soldiers of the Sixteenth Century CHAPTER 3 The First Soldiers of New France CHAPTER 4 The King's Soldiers CHAPTER 5 The Compagnies Franches de la Marine of Canada The Ministry Of The Navy Takes Control Canadian Officers Canadian Campaigns The Strategic Defence Of Canada European Tactics: Impractical In Canada Canadian Tacticians An Original Doctrine Of War Organization Of Expeditions Pierre Le Moyne D'iberville Dominance Of Raid Warfare Treatment Of Prisoners Canadian Militiamen Canadian Voyageurs Militia Weapons Militiamen In Combat Specialized Militia Companies The Shock Of The Attack On Lachine 1690: A Key Year The American Colonies Attack New France Phips At Quebec The Exhaustion Of The Iroquois The Failed Invasion Of 1711 Toward the Creation of an Empire The First Expeditionary Corps CHAPTER 6 Soldiers of the Atlantic Seaboard CHAPTER 7 The Military Empire APPENDIX A The Organization of New France APPENDIX B Daily Life in New France APPENDIX C Flags and Uniforms APPENDIX D Reference      CHAPTER 5 The Compagnies Franches de la Marine of Canada           Phips At Quebec ( 1 page )                     Sir William Phips before Quebec in October 1690 (Click image to enlarge) The fleet arrived at Quebec, where Frontenac and his troops were waiting, on October 16, 1690.  Phips rather presumptuously gave the count an hour to surrender, before he would attack.  Frontenac's hot temper gave rise to one of the most famous phrases in Canadian history:  "The only response I have for your general is through the muzzles of my cannons." 68 These words perfectly summarized the feelings of the officers and men, both from the regular troops and the militia. The Massachusetts battalions landed to the east of the city, marching in a line with their drums beating and their flags flying in the wind - a beautiful sight according to observers from both camps - before being raked over by defenders lying in ambush.  In their haste to get back on their ships, the Americans left five of their six artillery pieces on the field.  The two sides bombarded each other, and the American flagship was damaged, losing its colours, which fell into the hands of the French.  On October 24, the fleet weighed anchor and returned to Boston. Thus ended the first American attempt to invade Canada.  But the story was not over yet in Boston.  When the expedition returned without the expected booty, the debt owed by Massachusetts rose to some £50,000 - an enormous sum for the times.  The coffers were empty.  In order to "calm the clamour of the soldiers and sailors" 69 demanding their pay, the authorities, fearing an armed insurrection, had bills of credit printed for the veterans, while raising taxes considerably.  Unfortunately for the veterans, however, the bills lost value quickly and were soon worth only half their face value.   These rude awakenings, both military and financial, calmed bellicose spirits, and nothing so ambitious would again be undertaken against Canada without the assistance of regular army and naval forces from the mother country.           Additional Images           Click image to enlarge   Last Updated: 2004-06-20 Important Notices