"BIF Canadian Indians and Quebec militia, 1860's?" Topic

Hi. I am putting figures together for a British Intervention Force what-if game involving an American invasion of Canada. For this I am thinking of including Indian allies and Quebec sedentary militia, Quebecois "minutemen' in essence. Would both these groups have worn traditional field clothing, which was worn for a long time historically, or by the 1860's would they have adopted the mode of dress of their Anglo neighbours?
Thanks

You can look at native American soldiers in the American Civil War for possibilities. They run the gamut of civilian clothes to Western uniforms, while still trying to maintain tribal or cultural identity.

Scroll down to color plate.

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Osprey has several books on the subject. Here is one of them

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Non uniformed at that time.
Maybe try Old Glory Boers. Most are in civilian attire.

Not sure if there would even have been any ability to distinguish between the sedentary militia and the Indians in dress for that period.

Mostly as noted in civilian clothing

Some images from the Riel Rebellion may be relevant – the Metis would likely be dressed as noted in the photos

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The Old Glory Boers would work – also, for the Fall/Winter some of the Pulp Figs as well

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Not to nit pick, but why on earth would a post civil war America, in the wake of its bloodiest war and in need of rebuilding the South want to invade Canada? Where would there be the will to even do so?

Could take place during the war. Britain and US did come close to war over the Trent Affair. Just a non-historical nudge could make this into a good what if gaming period.

Starting a war between the United States and Britain to liberate Ireland was the Irish Fenian Brotherhoods, who attacked Canada in 1866, greatest hope. Nobody said it was realistic but they did have clandestine support from Anglophobic American politicians at various levels of government. As a result of the Pig War of 1859 there were conspiracy theories that some American officers were trying to provoke a war with Britain to unite North and South against a common enemy. So threats against Canada occurred before, during and after the American Civil War and reoccur to this day.

You could well ask why the United States, with all it's problems, is threating Canada now? You can't assume that political figures are rational actors.

As noted between 1866 and 1871 the Fenians – many of them Civil War vets – made a series of raids into Canada, repulsed by the local militia as well as British regulars – as glengarry6 notes, never let common sense get in the way of irrational policy

Threats, sure, but I find the probability of all out war to be pretty thin. However, what ifs are what ifs and I don't mean to imply you shouldn't do whatever you want- I just think short of the UK declaring war on the US (taking away the choice) that the US public would have had very little stomach for an overt conflict.

Tgerritsen

I'm sure the Venezuelans thought war was unlikely too.

Never confuse modern politics with history. The US in the 1860s is almost unrecognizable compared to today.

Since the Dakota crossed from their American land to Canadian land, I would use them.
Weapons are more ACW than Boer era so I would use Confederates in flip hats for militia.

Good thought

I don't understand why you are saying/writing that the French Canadian Militia of that time was not uniformed, that was not what I read in René Chartrand's book about the Canadian Military Heritage Patrimoine Militaire Canadien 1754-1871…?

If what you have in mind are Quebecois or Ontarian farmers, recruited as irregulars, I agree that confederate soldiers in slouch hats would work best. Go for sack coats, frock coats and overshirts. The less "regulation" in appearance, the better.

There were also uniformed Canadian militia units, similar to pre ACW American militia units.