1756 - French deployment inside France
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Deployment in July 1756
Introduction
France had to deploy several line regiments as well as most of its militia to defend France against British amphibious expeditions. Furthermore, other troops had to be spared to occupy the islands of Minorca and Corsica in the Mediterranean.
The following breakdown has been compiled by Jean-Pierre Loriot and, for the moment, covers only Bretagne.
Description
Deployment in Bretagne
By July 1756, the French had many regiments and militia units stationed in Bretagne and at the mouth of the Loire River. The following table lists the deployment of these French troops.
| Maritime Region | Unit | Deployment |
|---|---|---|
| Saint-Malo | Navarre Infanterie (4 bns) | Saint-Servant |
| Penthièvre | Saintonge Infanterie (1 bn) | Lamballe |
| Tréguier-Léon | Nantes Militia (1 bn) | Saint-Brieuc (2 coys) Tréguier (1 coy) Guincamp (1 coy) Lannion (2 coys) Saint-Pol-de-Léon (1 coy) Lesneven (1 coy) |
| Brest | Brie Infanterie (1 bn) | Le Conquet (8 coys) Saint-Renan (3 coys) Saint-Mathieu (1 coy) Lochrist (2 coys) Aberildut (1 coy) |
| Berry Infanterie (2 bns) | Landernau (17 coys) Chateaulin (5 coys) Le Faou (5 coys) Crozon (5 coys) Camaret (2 coys) | |
| Cambrésis Infanterie (1 bn) | Quimper (575 men) Concarneau (30 men) Glénans (50 men) Audierne (15 men) | |
| Lorient | Penthièvre Infanterie (2 bns) | Quimperlé Hennebont |
| Boulonnais Infanterie (1 bn) | Port Louis | |
| Morbihan | Lorraine Infanterie (1 bn) | Auray |
| Lally Infanterie (1 bn) | Vannes | |
| Loire | Dinan Militia (1 bn) | Saint-Nazaire (2 coys) Billiers (1 coy) Le Croisic (6 coys) Saint-Gildas (1 coy) Various detachments (110 men) |
| Islands of Bretagne | Nantes Militia (detachment) | Bréhat Island |
| Bas-officiers Desglands (1 coy) | Iles aux Moines | |
| Bas-officiers Dumeny | Sept Iles | |
| Grenadiers Royaux (4 coys) | Ouessant Island | |
| La Sarre Infanterie (2 coys) | Groix Island | |
| Cambrésis Infanterie (1 coy) | Glénans Island | |
| Fontenay-le-Comte Militia (1 bn) | Belle-Isle | |
| Boulonnais Infanterie (3 coys) | Belle-Isle | |
| Comte de La Marche Infanterie (3 coys) | Belle-Isle | |
| Lorraine Infanterie (2 coys) | Houat Island | |
| Lorraine Infanterie (1 coy) | Houédic Island | |
| Dinan Militia (1 coy) | Ile du Met (present-day Dumet Island) |
From July to September, Emmanuel-Armand Vignot du Plessis Richelieu, Duc d'Aiguillon, governor of Bretagne assembled an important force at the camp of Saint-Malo:
- Navarre Infanterie (4 bns)
- Saintonge Infanterie (1 bn)
- Condé Infanterie (2 bns)
- Quercy Infanterie (1 bn)
- Clare Infanterie (1 bn)
- Berwick Infanterie (1 bn)
- Thianges Dragons (4 sqns)
- Aubigné Dragons (4 sqns)
References
Acknowledgements
Jean-Pierre Loriot for the orders of battles of the French troops
