Editing French and Indian Wars (section)

===France===
{{main|Military of New France}}
The [[Compagnies Franches de la Marine]], the colonial marines, contained the core of the military forces of [[New France]]. It was only during the [[French and Indian War]] that units from the [[French Royal Army]] were transferred to Canada. The colonial militia was more important than its counterpart in British America.

====Marines====
{{main|Compagnies Franches de la Marine}}
The French colonies were administered through the secretary of state for the navy, and naval troops garrisoned New France. The French marines were organized into independent companies called ''Compagnies franches.'' During the French and Indian War, naval gunner-bombardier companies were also stationed in North America. The other ranks of the marines were enlisted in France, but the officer corps became increasingly Canadian through recruitment of officers' sons. All promotions were by merit; purchase of commissions was prohibited. The British rangers were an attempt to replicate the tactics of the French colonial marines. The [[Swiss regiment de Karrer]] also operated under the Royal French Navy. Its depot was in [[Rochefort (Charente-Maritime)|Rochefort]], but its companies served in North American and the Caribbean.<ref name="Stacey"/><ref name="Eccles"/><ref name="Chartrand">René Chartrand (1984). ''The French Soldier in Colonial America.'' Bloomfield, Ont.: Museum Restoration Service.</ref><ref name="Morton">Desmond Morton (1985). ''A Military History of Canada.'' Edmonton: Hurtig, pp. 18-23.</ref>

====French Army====
{{main|French Royal Army (1652–1830)}}
In 1754 six battalions from the regiments [[Régiment d'Artois|Artois]], [[Régiment de Béarn|Béarn]], [[Régiment de Bourgogne|Bourgogne]], [[Régiment de Guyenne|Guyenne]], [[Régiment de Languedoc|Languedoc]], and [[Régiment de la Reine|La Reine]] were transferred to New France. In 1757 two additional battalions arrived from [[Régiment Royal Roussillon|Royal Roussilon]] and [[Régiment La Sarre|La Sarre]], followed the next year by two battalions from [[Régiment de Berry|de Berry]]. An artillery company was also sent over the Atlantic.<ref name="Eccles">W. J. Eccles (1974). "The French forces in North America during the Seven Years' War." ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography.'' Toronto: University of Toronto Press, vol. 3: xv–xxiii.</ref>

====Colonial militia====
{{main|Colonial militia in Canada}}
The Canadian colonial militia enjoyed a substantially higher morale and battleworthiness than the British provincial troops and the militia of the British colonies. This was only true, however, when they were employed as home guard or as wilderness warriors. Besides a combat role, the Canadian militia also fulfilled important tasks behind the lines, such as transportation and road building.<ref name="Eccles"/><ref name="Morton"/>