Introduction

In the winter of 1757, owing to a crop failure in Canada and the effects of the continued English blockade, it became necessary for the French to cut the rations for the soldiers and civilians. Additionally, the diminished rations had to be supplemented by rations of horsemeat. These circumstances engendered a great deal of resentment that nearly boiled over into mutiny but for the prudent actions of Montcalm, Levis, and other officers.

This incident reveals to us a rare glimpse of command and human resource management at work It is interesting in that it shows Levis using a number of different strategies in order to avoid an outright mutiny. These include communicating his wishes through highly regarded men, such as grenadiers, and lower ranking officers, speaking to the men in person, making demands and issuing threats, and the highly persuasive expedient of taking his own ration of horsemeat publicly and without complaint. What follows is an excerpt from the journal of Levis describing these events.

Horsemeat and Mutiny in Canada 1757: An Excerpt From Levis' Journal

Introduction
November, 1757
December, 1757
January, 1758

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