Soldiers in the Karrer Regiment stationed at Louisbourg were easily distinguished from those in the Compagnies franches de la Marine. They wore blue pants and vests with white stockings, and red coats trimmed with blue.
Though many of the Karrer troops were of German background, they seem to have mixed with the soldiers of the Compagnies franches, particularly with those who were workers. There were language and religious differences since many were non-French Protestants, but the contacts made while working or drinking together seem to have helped overcome these problems. The term of enlistment for the Karrer soldiers was six years. This meant that they could look forward to going home, and few ever became part of the Louisbourg community. A few Swiss sergeants did stay on for an extended period and became very much involved with the civilian population. One Karrer officer, for example, married the sister of a Compagnies franches officer in 1725. Their son, by 1745 a junior officer in the Karrer Regiment, returned during the second French occupation of Louisbourg as an officer in the Compagnies franches.
Because their service was regulated by a contract between their colonel and the King of France, the members of the Karrer Regiment were granted certain privileges, most of which related to their rights of language and religious differences. The most important privilege was the right to military court martial by their own officers; this ensured they were tried in a language they understood. Disputes often arose at Louisbourg between the senior military officials and the Karrer officers over just how far the Swiss privileges extended. Though their complaints were sometimes valid, the Karrer officers do seem to have sought as much freedom from French authority as possible.
