The Voyageurs' most important contribution to the War of 1812 was the supply of the western posts; the strategic result was that the British Army retained control of Fort Mackinac, a central point for supplying the British Indian allies in the Northwest Territory.
The Corps of Canadian Voyageurs was raised in September 1812 by the British Army as a military water transportation corps. Its mission was to maintain the supply lines between Montreal and the western posts. The corps was disbanded in March 1813, and its mission was taken over by the Canadian branch of the British Commissariat Department, a department of HM Treasury, as the Provincial Commissariat Voyageurs. This corps was disbanded in March 1815.[1]
The Corps of Voyageurs was organized on the initiative of the North West Company, and its bourgeois and engagés became the officers and men of the corps.[2] The Provincial Commissariat Voyageurs had one lieutenant-colonel, one major, one captain, ten lieutenants, ten conductors (sergeants acting as guides), and about 400 private men.[3]
The army wanted to put the corps into uniform, but that was impractical due to its duties. Instead of a uniform the men of the corps wore the dress of the ordinary civilian voyageurs.
Weapons
The army-issued swords, pikes and pistols were impractical, and they were thrown away or sold and the men used their own frontier weapons: they were issued with Brown Bess muskets, axes and knives.[2]
Discipline
The corps was known for its lack of discipline, at least in comparison with the iron discipline required by the British Army. However, it fulfilled an absolutely essential function, in the "wilderness war".[2]
The historical re-enactment group of the Canadian Corps of Voyageurs was organized in 1975 by John Robertson, then armourer at Old Fort William. After forty years as a re-enactment group, as of 2018[update] it was still a strong volunteer group (over 45 members) with Fort William Historic Park, Thunder Bay, Ontario. It is a family-orientated historical re-enactment group that portrays early 1800s military, voyageur militia and family life. The Corps provides guards of honour in charity events, providing heritage colour and firing salutes for visiting VIPs. The Corps provide safety training to new and old members to be confident in the proper use, care and maintenance of firearms and equipment. Members are encouraged to take an active role and participate in the group activities and camp life. Not only is the Corps a historical re-enactment group, it is also a social group interested in the past and informing the public about Canadian history.[6]
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