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Researching the
Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site of Canada
Recherche sur la Forteresse-de-Louisbourg Lieu historique national du Canada
18TH CENTURY FRENCH DRUMMING
BY
MARGARET FORTIER
1977
Report H E 9
Fortress of Louisbourg
HONORS
Honors
The honors which were to be rendered to members of the royal family or high-ranking military officers were detailed in both ordinances and military manuals. The regulations were divided into two categories: the first dealing with the composition and behavior of the guard due such personages, and the second specifying the actions required of the guards before whom the dignitaries might pass.
There would have been few occasions in Louisbourg's history, at least prior to 1745, on which honors would have been in order since visits by those possessing sufficient rank to warrant them were rare. A new governor taking up his post was entitled to honors upon his arrival, but unless he was of high enough rank, his ordinary comings and goings would not have been heralded by a guard or drums. During the 1750s, both the governor, Comte de Raymond, a field maréchal, and the engineer, Louis Franquet, a brigadier general in the Corps du Génie, would have been accorded a guard with honors. [1] When commanders of lesser rank passed a Corps de Garde, the officers and soldiers of the guard would put themselves en haie without arms to demonstrate that they were at their appointed posts. [2]
Honors were also appropriate on certain religious occasions. When the Blessed Sacrament was being carried past a guard post, the officers and soldiers were to present arms without bayonets, place their right knee on the ground, remove their hats and place them either on their left knee or on the guard of their swords, and the drummer would beat Aux Champs. During processions in honor of the Blessed Virgin or the Saints, the officer of the guard "fait prendre les Armes pour la sûreté du Poste: on ne bat aux champs que dans le cas oû il y auroit un Détachement commandé pour cette cérémonie, & on n'y bat que lonsqu'il passe vis-à-vis le poste; les honneurs n'ont lieu pour qui que ce soit qui assiste à cette cérémonie." [3]
The following list details the composition of the guard which would have been accorded the various ranks. [4]
Rank Guard Colors Drums King Not indicated yes Beat Aux Champs Dauphin - when the king 50 men of Les Gardes yes Beat Aux Champs was not present Françaises with a captain, a lieutenant, an ensign, and a sub- lieutenant Enfants de France - when Same as for the Dauphin yes Beat Aux Champs the king was not present Princes of Blood 50 men commanded by a yes Beat Aux Champs captain with other officers Legitimized Princes of Same as for Princes of yes Beat Aux Champs France Blood Marshals of France Same as for Princes of yes Beat Aux Champs Blood Lieutenant Generals Same as for Princes of no Beat L'Appel commanding the army Blood Lieutenant Generals 30 men commanded by a no Beat L'Appel commanding under another lieutenant Lieutenant Generals 30 men commanded by a no Beat L'Appel commanding in the lieutenant provinces Maréchals de Camp 30 men commanded by a no Beat L'Appel commanding a body of lieutenant troops Maréchals de Camp 15 men commanded by a no Beat L'Appel commanding under another sergeant but do not remain with guard Maréchals de Camp 15 men commanded by a no Do not beat commanding in the sergeant provinces Brigadiers of the 15 men commanded by a no Beat L'Appel Infantry commanding a sergeant body of troops Officiers Généraux of the 30 men commanded by a no Beat L'Appel Corps du Génie charged lieutenant with visiting the fort- ifications or artillery Governors of Provinces 30 men commanded by a no Beat L'Appel who were officiers lieutenant Généraux Brigadier Generals 10 men commanded by a no Do not beat commanding in a corporal province |
Guards in camps or in fortified places were instructed "prendre les armes dès qu'elles voyent quatre ou cinq hommes venir à elles. Si après les avoir fait reconnoitre, i1 se trouve qu'il y ait quelqu'un à qui les honneurs sont dûs, ils le recevront suivant sa dignité ..."[5] No honors were to be rendered at night after La Retraite had been sounded, and in camps guards were warned not to give knowledge to the enemy of the passage of general officers by rendering honors to them which might be distinguished by the drum beats. [6]
Rank Occasion Duty of Guards Drums Princes of Blood Visit another prince, Take up arms Beat Aux Champs
Marshal of France or and put themselves
general officer for en haie
whom a guard has been
posted
Legitimized Princes Same as above Same as above Beat Aux Champs
Marshals of France Same as above Same as above Beat Aux Champs
Any of above Pass the guard at the Same as above Beat Aux Champs head of a camp, or in a fortified place passes gate or guard house Lieutenant Generals Same as above Same as above Beat Aux Champs commanding the army Lieutenant Generals Same as above Same as above Do not beat commanding under another Lieutenant Generals Same as above Same as above Do not beat commanding in the provinces , Maréchals de Camp Same as above Same as above Beat Aux Champs commanding a body of troops Maréchals de Camp Pass the guard at Take up arms Do not beat commanding under another the head of a camp, and put them- or in a fortified selves en haie place passes gate or guardhouse Governors of Provinces Passes gate of a Same as above Do not beat who are general place or before a officers guardhouse Admiral commanding the Passes ships Take up arms Beat Aux Champs
navy "dans les corps
de garde posés
sur les vaisseaux
ou plateformes
flotantes dans le
port"
Vice Admiral Same as above Same as above Beat Aux Champs commanding in absence of Admiral Lieutenant Generals Same as above Same as above Beat L'Appel commanding in the port Any of above Board a ship Take up arms Beat Aux Champs and put them selves en haie on the bridge Captain who commands Boards a ship Take up arms Beat L'Appel a squadron and put them selves en haie on the bridge |