This book describes the dramatic and colourful history of the provincial units which were raised in the 13 original American colonies. They were raised to protect themselves from the Indians as well as to fight alongside British regular troops during the climatic French/Indian War of 1754-1763 and against Pontiac's Rebellion which followed final victory over the French. Units raised include the Virginia Regiment (in which George Washington served), and the 'Ranger Companies' of forest guerrillas such as that led by the legendary Robert Rogers. These units were the seeds from which grew the future American army of the Revolutionary War.

Author Biography

Rene Chartrand was born in Montreal and educated in Canada, the United States and the Bahamas. A senior curator with Canada's National Historic Sites for nearly three decades, he is now a freelance writer and historical consultant. He has written numerous articles and books including almost 20 Osprey titles and the first two volumes of Canadian Military Heritage. He lives in Hull, Quebec, with his wife and two sons. Patrice Courcelle was born in northern France in 1950 and has been a professional illustrator for some 20 years. Entirely self-taught; he has illustrated many books and magazine articles for Continental publishers, and his work hangs in a number of public and private collections. His dramatic and lucid style has won him plenty of admiration in the field of military illustration. His other enthusiasms include music, from Clapton and the blues to Mahler, and cooking. Patrice lives a few miles from the battlefield of Waterloo with his wife and son.