History Browser

Iron carriages were introduced in the British artillery in 1810. They were to be placed ‘in such parts of fortifications as are least exposed to the enemy’s fire’ as it was feared they would shatter if hit by enemy artillery. The examples seen in this photograph are found at the Fortifications of Quebec National Historic Site.

Mortars were designed to shoot an exploding shell at a very high angle, 45 degrees or more. They were used in the siege and defence of fortifications. An explosive shell was fired up into the air and arced downwards to drop within the enemy defences. When the shell's fuse burned down, it exploded. These projectiles are the 'bombs bursting in air' mentioned in the American national anthem, where they were being fired from a British fleet attacking Baltimore.

These early 19th century British artillery pieces are mounted on platforms that allow guns to swing in a wide arc and thus follow a moving target such as a ship. These reconstucted carriages are found at the Coteau-du-Lac National Historic Site near Montreal, Quebec. The fortifications were built to defend the canal lock - the first built in North America.

Fort Lennox was built on Isle-au-Noix just north of the American border between 1819 to 1826. Its purpose was to block the way towards Montreal to any hostile force coming up the Richelieu River from Lake Champlain. (Parks Canada)

The 'percussion lock' was a technology adopted in the early 19th century to replace the earlier 'flint lock'. The lock was the mechanism that set off the gunpowder charge inside the weapon's barrel. Flint locks used a piece of flint scraping along a piece of steel to make sparks. They were strong and easy to make, but not especially reliable, and very vulnerable to damp. The percussion lock used a small copper cap containing fulminate of mercury, which exploded when hit by the lock's hammer. The result was a more reliable spark, but the new mechanism was quite expensive. After experimental trials, the percussion lock was adopted by the British army in 1839. At first, existing flintlock weapons were fitted with percussion locks. In 1842, the pattern of muzzle-loading smoothbore musket shown in this photograph was introduced. It remained the principle British infantry weapon until replaced by the 1853 pattern rifled musket. (Parks Canada)

The Victoria Voltigeurs were members of a volunteer unit of Métis raised on Vancouver Island in 1851. Their clothing and weapons were provided by the Hudson's Bay Company. The Voltigeurs acted as a combination of military unit and police force until 1858. Reconstruction by Ron Volstad. (Canadian Department of National Defence)

American Colt revolvers were purchased by the Canadian government to issue to the newly raised cavalry companies of the Canadian Volunteer Militia in 1856. These six-shot percussion weapons allowed their users to produce a hail close range fire, and replaced the sword as the cavalryman's best weapon at close range. The revolver shown in this photograph is what is known variously as the 'model 1851 Navy'. Colt's 'Navy' pistols were military weapons, larger than the 'Pocket' (or 'Baby Dragoon') pistols favoured by civilians. (Parks Canada)

Built between 1828 and 1856, the Quebec Citadel has remained largely the same ever since, as this 1950s picture shows. It is now the regimental HQ of the Royal 22e Régiment / Royal 22nd Regiment - the famous 'Van Doos'. (Library of the Canadian Department of National Defence)

The ‘cat of nine tails’ was a whip used to flog soldiers. This one was used in the British 83rd Regiment of Foot. The length of the wooden stick was 43cm (1' 5"), its tails 53cm (1' 9"), and it weighed 141,75 g. (5 ounces). (Library of the Canadian Department of National Defence)

Because it is situated on the island of Île-aux-Noix, Fort Lennox has changed very little from the time of its construction, which started in 1819. The fort was built in reaction to the construction of American Fort Montgomery, 15 kilometres to the south. This view shows Fort Lennox as it appeared in 1896. After its regular garrison was withdrawn in the late 1860s, the fort was used as a training camp, a school, and detention camp during both world wars. It is now restored to its appearance in the 1820s and 1830s as a National Historic Site. (Library and Archives Canada, C-036685)