The Organization of New France

The Organization and Number of Troops in New France

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Compagnies franches de la Marine in Plaisance

The companies in Plaisance, on the other hand, were frequently incomplete. Reports show, for instance, that only nine soldiers were on duty in 1690, the rest having become fishermen or set to work for local inhabitants. Fortunately, new recruits arrived the next year, and the ranks were almost full thereafter. In 1698, 129 soldiers were on duty, whereas there were 150 in 1703, and 144 in 1708. Occasionally, the colonial garrison was reinforced with troops from the motherland. In 1709, four Compagnies franches de la Marine from Rochefort, totalling 200 men, were dispatched to Newfoundland. However, three returned to France the next year. In 1711, two companies from Acadia were transferred to Plaisance after the fall of Port-Royal, increasing the garrison to 250 men.