BELLETRE
French and Indian War French Marines
Gear and Equipment
Le Ceinturon (belt)
Belts were typically made of cow hide and featured a brass buckle and a double looped frog. The frog was made to hold both a bayonet and a sword. In the thick wilderness of North American the sword was typically replaced by a tomahawk.
The French Marines in the New World were equipment with much of the same equipment as their European conterparts but there were some variations due to need and availability. Initially leather gear was meant to be made out of calf skin but this was found to not be rugged enough for the Americas so cow hide was used instead. Swords were often swapped out for tomahawks and knives were carried in plenty. Some units encamped deep in the wilderness are believed to use more local, native equipment when their own supplies were low.
Cartridge Boxes
Le Gargoussier (Waist Box)
From the adoption of the paper cartridges up until the final French and Indian War the Marines were equiped with an 8 round cartridge box that attatched to the belt. The small amount of cartridges this box was able to carry suggested that the Marines were not meant for major battles or campaigns until the 1750s. These were typically made of red leather with a white anchor emblum until around the 1740s when the anchor was replaced by the King's arms.
La Giberne (Shoulder Box)
In the 1750s The Marines adopted a shoulder slung cartridge box that mirrored what the French Army had been carrying. The box was capable of carrying 30 cartridges along with what could be carried in a tin stored under the wood block. The leather was cowhide and was typically red leather with the King's arms featured on the leather flap. The powder flask was still required even with the increase of cartridges and was attatched to the shoulder box. The advent of this new suggests that the role of the French Marine expanded in the 1750s.
Le Fourniment (Powder Flask)
The powder flask was a common and standard item for French Marines. The flasks were made of either leather, leather and wood or horn. The leather did not keep out water as well as the horn but the horn was easily broken, allowing the powder the spill out. Powder flasks at this time were either single or double valved. The flask was worn using a strap over the shoulder or attatched to the 30 round Giberne cartridge box if it was worn.
Gord (Canteen)
The information regarding canteens is sparce. It is thought that Marines weren't issued canteens until they were preparing for campaigning which was around the late 1740s and 1750s. The canteen was most likely made of wood or tin mirroring common military canteen designs at the time.
Le Haversac (Haversack/Knapsack)
The information regarding canteens is sparce. It is thought that Marines weren't issued canteens until they were preparing for campaigning which was around the late 1740s and 1750s. The canteen was most likely made of wood or tin mirroring common military canteen designs at the time.