Books by Rene (Author) Chartrand

Though the French and British colonies in North America began on a 'level playing field', French political conservatism and limited investment allowed the British colonies to forge ahead, pushing into territories that the French had explored deeply but failed to exploit. The subsequent survival of 'New France' can largely be attributed to an intelligent doctrine of raiding warfare developed by imaginative French officers through close contact with Indian tribes and Canadian settlers. The ground-breaking new research explored in this study indicates that, far from the ad hoc opportunism these raids seemed to represent, they were in fact the result of a deliberate plan to overcome numerical weakness by exploiting the potential of mixed parties of French soldiers, Canadian backwoodsmen and allied Indian warriors.Supported by contemporary accounts from period documents and newly explored historical records, this study explores the 'hit-and-run' raids which kept New Englanders tied to a defensive position and ensured the continued existence of the French colonies until their eventual cession in 1763.

France's colonial wars in sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia were very largely fought by an organization completely separate from both the home-defence Metropolitan Army and the Armée d'Afrique in Algeria. The Naval Troops (Troupes de la Marine) were volunteers, and earned a reputation for greater toughness and hardiness than the conscripted Metropolitan Army. Spread throughout the French Empire, Naval Troops in this period were characterized by very large infantry and artillery regiments based in France, mixed race regiments (Régiments Mixtes), and entire native regiments raised in West Africa, Madagascar and Indochina. The latter, the so-called 'Tirailleurs' were organized and led by officers and cadres from the Naval Troops, and wore very varied and colourful uniforms based on formalized versions of traditional local costumes.French Naval & Colonial Troops 1872-1914 uses rich and detailed full colour plates as well as thorough analysis to detail the story of these tough colonial units which bore the brunt of French colonial campaigns in Africa and Vietnam.

Though primarily fought in the field, the American Revolution saw fortifications play an important part in some of the key campaigns of the war. This book details all the types of fortification used throughout the conflict, the engineers on all sides who constructed and maintained them, and the actions fought around and over them.

The third and final volume covering the Spanish army during the Napoleanic Wars. It covers the years from 1812 to 1815 when, with massive British assistance, the Spanish once again reorganised and greatly expanded their armies.

The battle of Talavera in 1809 was one of the major battles of the Peninsular War and Arthur Wellesley's first victory in Spain itself, following which he was created Viscount Wellington of Talavera and Wellington.

Although somewhat overshadowed by Wellington's main campaign in the north, the Alcantara raid was an outstanding success. The primary objective of alarming and distracting the French forces in Spain was achieved. This book deals with this topic.

"Spanish Army in North America C.1700-1783".

The year 1755 saw the rivalry between Britain and France in North America escalate into open warfare as both sides sought to overcome the other's forts and trading posts. This book focuses on a daring feat of arms at the height of the French and Indian War.

"Tomahawk and Musket: French and Indian Raids in the Ohio Valley 1758".

This book provides an in-depth study of the construction and location of these fortifications, and examines what it was like to live and fight inside them, with the forts themselves illustrated by beautifully detailed artwork.

Based on a memoir by an officer named D'Artagnan, Dumas published "The Three Musketeers". The King's Musketeers were formed in 1622 and were populated by young men of noble birth, but often of poorer means. This title explores the history behind the legends created by Dumas.

When the French Revolution broke out in 1789, France possessed numerous colonies spread over three continents. To defend and keep the peace in these territories, a small army of colonial troops, distinct from the metropolitan line regiments or marines, had existed since the days of Louis XIV. This book examines the history and uniforms of the often-overlooked French armies in Saint-Domingue, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St Lucia, Tobago, Ile-de-France, La Réunion, Pondichéry, Guiana, Senegal and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. The text is backed by numerous illustrations offering a rare glimpse into dress and equipment of Napoleon's overseas army.

Two centuries ago, the West Indies were a booming set of islands where vast fortunes were made. By the late 1790s, the West Indies attracted four-fifths of British overseas capital investments and provided over one-eight of the government''s £31.5 million total net revenue to the Treasury. These figures explain the tremendous numbers of naval and military forces deployed to protect these valuable Caribbean territories during the French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802) and beyond. This fascinating volume by Réne Chartrand examines these forces, including a wealth of illustrations and photographs and eight full page colour plates by Paul Chappell.

This volume details the uniforms, organization and equipment of all those Canadian and British units that defended British North America during the tense years in the run up to war with the United States.

The French Revolution was resisted by many of the aristocracy in an attempt to restore the King. The forces raised by these exiled officers fought alongside the British Army on battlefields from Holland to the West Indies and are covered in detail in this volume, including weapons and uniforms.

General Abercromby's expedition against Ticonderoga embarked from its camp and within hours, Rangers ran into the French and Lord Howe, the darling of the army, was shot. Abercromby then assaulted Montcalm in retaliation, and battalion after battalion was sacrificed. This title tells the story.

This details the uniforms, organization and role of the French forces which fought as allies with the Americans in the War of Independence. This volume is part of the "Men-at-Arms" series.

A detailed study of foreign units in British service during the Napoleonic wars. It was in the Mediterranean that many of the units were formed including the Calabrian Free Legion and the Royal Corsican Rangers.