Soldiers of the Compagnies franches de la Marine wore uniforms of blue and grey wool. The outer coat (justaucorps) was grey with blue trim and brass buttons. It was worn over a sleeved vest and pants (culottes) of blue wool, and a shirt (chemise) and cravat of white linen. The knee-length stockings were of heavy woolen yarn, and the tricorn hat was trimmed with gold braid. A cartridge box, worn at the waist, was decorated with the distinctive anchor of the Marine.
Woven by inmates of a prison in Marseilles, the uniform fabric was of surprisingly fine quality. But Louisbourg's harsh climate and the kinds of work the soldiers performed caused the uniforms to wear out quickly. Although new uniforms were supposed to be issued every two years, there were times when the men at the fortress had to make do for longer periods. Also, the regulations which forbade the men to wear their uniforms while performing construction work were frequently, if not entirely, ignored, and this lead to the rapid deterioration of the material. The damp, drafty barracks often forced the men to wear their uniforms to bed for warmth, the result being a wrinkled appearance. Under such conditions, it is likely that even the soldiers on guard duty, whose appearance was more closely regulated, had at best a rumpled look.
In this modern drawing by Michel PΘtard it is apparent from the blue and white braided cord (aiguilette) on the right shoulder that the soldier is a cadet. These were young men of at least sixteen years of age who were in training to become officers. Though usually sons or relatives of officers and, therefore, members of the upper class, they wore the same uniform and performed the same duties as any other soldier. Their pay, however, was higher than a soldier's, and part of each day was spent in class learning what they would need to know for a career as a military officer.
