To supplement the established forces of the Crown, both Upper and Lower Canada had the ability to call out Militia forces as needed. Similar in many ways to their American counterparts, there were a number of significant differences between not only the American and Canadian militia, but between the militia forces of Upper and Lower Canada.  Lower Canada Lower Canada had a history of militia service dating back to the days of French control_ With a structure modified by the British government, in early 1812 some 60,000 militia aged 16 to 60 could be in theory called to the field as part of the Sedentary Militia. Under British law, the militia could serve a my ,here in British North America, so the problems often found by American commanders over geographic limits on the deployment of militia did not exist in Canada. The Sedentary Militia were organized by geographical areas, with each area broken down into districts_ Some districts made up a single battalion, while the more populated areas would form amore than one battalion. The breakdown of Sedentary Militia in 1812 was as follows: Quebec: 16 Battalions Trois Rivieres: 12 Battalions Montreal: 23 Battalions Sedentary Militia battalions were to have an organization of Battalion Staff 1 colonel # 1 lieutenant colonel 1 or 2 majors 1 adjutant 1 quartermaster* 1 paymaster* 1 surgeon # 1 chaplain # Four to ten companies $ each with 1 captain 1 lieutenant 1 ensign 4 sergeants 4 corporals 2 musicians 50-80 privates * These posts were often filled by company officers in the smaller battalions #t Districts that only had one battalion of militia had a colonel assigned as well as a lieutenant colonel. If more than one battalion was raised in a district, the colonel would serve with the 1st Battalion. $ In theory ten companies were sought, but a lack of manpower in less settled areas often resulted in fewer companies being raised there. It was thought that fewer companies at full strength were better that more companies at reduced strength. The Sedentary Militia was only to be called out in the event of an American attack on Canada, as it consisted of all of the Canadian manpower in Lower Canada. When an American invasion threatened in the fall of 1813, two "Select Sedentary Militia" Battalions numbered the 7th and 8th, were called out, but disbanded as soon as the invasion was repulsed. To provide a trained force to back up the Crown forces in Canada. it was decided to form several battalions of "Select Embodied Militia". The Select Embodied Militia were to serve no more than three months in time of peace, but could be kept in service for up to two years in time of war. Four battalions were raised in the spring of 1812. with an fifth battalion being raised in the fall of 1812, and a sixth in the spring of 1813 as a garrison battalion at Quebec. Battalions were to be raised from volunteers if possible, but a draft was to be made on bachelors 18 to 30 years of age as needed to fill up the ranks. (Canadian newspapers of the day noticed an increase in the marriage rate as the draft was carried out.) The 1st to 5th battalions started out with an establishment of 500 men each, which was raised to 800 after the start of the war in June of 1812, so their establishment had the following: Battalion Staff 1 lieutenant colonel 1 major 1 adjutant 1 quartermaster 1 pay master 1 surgeon 1 surgeon's mate 1 sergeant major 1 quartermaster sergeant 2 principal musicians Eight "center" companies. each with 1 captain 1 lieutenant 1 ensign 4 sergeants 4-6 corporals 2 musicians 50-70 privates Two Flank* companies. each with 1 captain 2 lieutenants 4 sergeants 4-6 corporals 2 musicians 70-80 privates * Each battalion had two "flank companies" in place of the grenadier and light companies found in the standard line battalions. These tended to be kept at a larger strength than the line companies and were trained as light infantry. It should be pointed out that the Select Embodied Militia of Lower Canada were anything but militia. By the time they are engaged in battle, they are the equal of the Fencibles in all but name. In early 1813 two Battalions of Militia Light Infantry were formed, with the Flank Companies of the 2nd and 5th Battalions going to the 1st Battalion, and the Flank Companies of the 1st and 4th Battalions, as well as one Flank Company of the 3rd Battalion, forming the 2nd Militia Light Infants Battalion. An additional two company force known as the `-Frontier Light Infantry" was drafted out of the six militia battalions of the Eastern Townships of the Trois Rivieres division. At the end of 1813 the two Militia Light Infantry battalions were disbanded, and the flank companies returned to their parent formations. The "Frontier Light Infantry" was attached to the Voltigeurs as their 9th and 10th Companies. One last change in the establishment of the Select Militia occurred in early 1814. The 5th Battalion was converted into a unit of light infantry and renamed as the "Canadian Chassuers". It appears to have been reduced from ten companies to six companies to increase company size, and spent the remainder of the war brigaded with the Canadian Voltigeurs. In addition to the militia units listed above, the Militia System of Lower Canada produced a number of other badly needed needed units. Three small troops of light horse were raised in 1812/ 12/13. The Compagnie des Guides, The Canadian Light Dragoons. and the Dorchester Provincial Light Dragoons. None of these units mustered more than a troop, but they furnished badly needed scouts. Couriers and escorts. A small Corps of Royal Militia Artillery, and the Corps of Provincial Royal Artillery_ Drivers were raised to reinforce the Royal Artillery in Lower Canada. One last unit of the Militia of Lower Canada needs to be mentioned. To provide transport services up the St. Lawrence, the Corps of Canadian Voyagers was formed from the employees of the Northwest Fur Company. Though a successful transport service, it was felt to lack the military structure needed in wartime. It was disbanded in 1813 and replaced by the Provincial Commissariat Voyagers - which was also referred to by the previous units organization name. The new organization had the following establishment: Provincial Commissariat Voyagers 1 captain 10 lieutenants 10 conductors (sergeants) 400 voyagers (privates)  Upper Canada The militia of Upper Canada was organized in a manner similar to Lower Canada with the difference that the population was spread out over a greater area. In 1812 there existed 8 Military Districts which controlled the militia of the twenty counties. In the case of Lincoln (the Niagara area) and York. the Military Districts controlled a single county. In the case of sparsely settled areas such as the north coast of Lake Ontario (the Midland District), five different countries went into a single district. On paper there existed 32 separate infantry regiments/battalions of Sedentary Militia. The basic unit, the company, was to have no fewer than 20 nor more than 50 privates with three officers and non commissioned officers as needed. Regiments were to have no fewer than eight companies. nor more than ten and were to have a colonel, lieutenant colonel and major. If five to eight companies existed. the formation was considered as a battalion and allowed a lieutenant colonel and major. If fewer than fire companies existed in a county, then no battalion was authorized. One additional problem that existed with the Sedentary Militia in Upper Canada was the number of Americans who had crossed the border to live in Canada. In the eagerness to attract settlers, the land policy of Upper Canada at this time made it simpler to purchase land in Canada than across the border in the US. The long term goal was to give these new settlers a vested interest in land ownership to cause them to support the Crown in the event of war. However the outbreak of the war in 1812 caused the British officers to worry as to whether the plan had time to be effective. Sir Isaac Brock. serving in his joint role as commander of British forces in Upper Canada and acting Lieutenant Governor, offered an amended Militia Act in February of 1812. Brock planned to reorganize and reform the Sedentary Militia in a manner that reminds the historian of the reorganization of Massachusetts militia back in 1774 The authority to call out the militia was strengthened as were the punishments for those who failed to attend muster once summoned. All existing militia officers were required to take a new oath of allegiance to the Crown, as could NCO's and privates if wished by their company officers. Failure to take the oath would result in dismissal from the militia, and result in one being deemed as an "Alien". All militia officers were made subordinate to any regular officer of equal rank, with the additional qualification that militia colonels were made subordinate to established lieutenant colonels. Last and not least, each militia regiment was to form two flank companies. These flank companies were to number up to one third of the regiment strength, with the men drafted from those in the regiment under the age of 40. The militia law was amended to allow for a flank company strength of up to 100 privates. The flank companies were to drill six days a month and could be called out for up to six months service. In addition to the formation of the "flank companies", Brock encouraged the formation of specialized volunteer formations. Nine troops of light dragoons, two artillery companies, five rifle companies. one marine company (1st Essex) and a "car brigade" of drivers for artillery were formed. Not all of these units saw service, but they helped raise the military effectiveness of the Upper Canada militia. The outbreak of war caused the militia of Upper Canada to be called out in force. Flank companies found themselves called to the field for active service, with the remaining elements of the Sedentary Militia as needed. Companies in the eastern districts were called up for transport service along the St. Lawrence and the defense of Kingston. Those in the Niagara area manned the defense's there. while units in the west served at Detroit. The continued call up of the Sedentary Militia had an impact on the economic life of Upper Canada. Members called up removed needed manpower from the farms and required the additional importation of food into the province. Starting in 1813 in an attempt to lessen this. the use of the 'flank companies" was discontinued. Specific units of Provincial Corps and Incorporated Militia were ordered organized in the hopes of reducing the need for the Sedentary Militia. The Provincial Corps were made of the following small units: Provincial Royal Artillery Drivers Provincial Artificers (Also known as the Coloured Corps) Niagara Light Dragoons Michigan Fencibles* Western Rangers* (Caldwell's Rangers) * The last two were small infantry formations that operated in the far western areas of Upper Canada. The Incorporated Militia, also referred to as the Volunteer Incorporated Militia was an attempt to form a standing militia unit. Two troops of light dragoons, two troops of artillery, and thirteen companies of infantry were raised in 1813. By 1814 these were reduced to a single dragoon troop, single artillery company. and a regiment of ten infantry companies. Company strength was set at fifty privates with officers and nco's as per a line unit. The infantry regiment served in separate detachments in 1813 spread out through Upper Canada. In 1814 it was concentrated in the Niagara area, where it served as light infantry alongside the Glengarrv Light Infantry. By the end of the war it was viewed as an experienced unit equal to any fencible unit in service. The existence of Incorporated Militia did not keep the Sedentary Militia from being called up for the rest of the war in Upper Canada. It was estimated all members of the Sedentary Militia served at some time during the war. The majority did not see combat, but their use as transport workers and garrisons freed up badly needed troops who did. It is a note of some interest that the traditional United States view of the role of militia citizen soldier reached it zenith in Upper Canada during the War of 1812 among Canadians serving as citizen soldiers repelling the American invasion.. The Organization of th Anglo-Canadian Army of the War of 1812 Established Forces Militia Provincial Marine Back to MWAN #118 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2002 Hal Thinglum This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com