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diff --git a/76642-h/76642-h.htm b/76642-h/76642-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7edc91c --- /dev/null +++ b/76642-h/76642-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1047 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> + <title>The Distributed Proofreaders Canada eBook of An Accurate and Authentic Journal of the Siege of Quebec 1759, by Anonymous</title> + <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg"/> + <meta name="cover" content="images/cover.jpg" /> + <meta name="DC.Title" content="An Accurate and Authentic Journal of the Siege of Quebec 1759"/> + <meta name="DC.Creator" content="Anonymous"/> + <meta name="DC.Language" content="en"/> + <meta name="DC.Created" content="1912"/> + <meta name="DC.Subject" content="history"/> + <meta name="DC.date.issued" content="1912"/> + <meta name="Tags" content="history, journal, monograph, Canadiana, Quebec"/> + <meta name="DC.Publisher" content="Distributed Proofreaders Canada"/> + <meta name="generator" content="fpgen 4.65"/> + <style type="text/css"> + body { margin-left:8%;margin-right:10%; } + .it { font-style:italic; } + .sc { font-variant:small-caps; } + p { text-indent:0; margin-top:0.5em; margin-bottom:0.5em; + text-align: justify; } + div.lgc { } + div.lgc p { text-align:center; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; } + h1 { + text-align:center; + font-weight:normal; + page-break-before: always; + font-size:1.2em; margin:2em auto 1em auto + } + + .sub-head { font-size: smaller; } + + .dropcap { + float:left; + clear: left; + margin:0 0.1em 0 0; + padding:0; + line-height: 1.0em; + font-size: 200%; + } + + + .lead-in { + font-variant: small-caps; + } + + hr.pbk { border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:100%; margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:2em } + .figcenter { + text-align:center; + margin:1em auto; + page-break-inside: avoid; + } + + div.blockquote { margin:1em 2em; text-align:justify; } + p.line { text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; } + .pindent { margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-indent:1.5em; } + .noindent { margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-indent:0; } + .hang { padding-left:1.5em; text-indent:-1.5em; } + + p {margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; text-indent:1.5em;} + h1 {font-family: serif; font-size:2em; text-align:center; + margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:1em; } + h1::before { + content: ""; + background: url("images/decoration.jpg") no-repeat; + width: 80%; + display: block; + width: 320px; height: 60px; + margin: 0px auto 0px auto; } + .sub-head {font-size:0.5em;} + hr.tbk { border:none; border-bottom:1px solid; + width:30%; margin-left:35%; margin-right:35%; + margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; visibility:hidden;} + .dropcap {font-size: 300%; margin:-0.1em 0.1em 0 0; } + .pageno {visibility:hidden; } + </style> + </head> + <body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76642 ***</div> +<div class='figcenter' style='width:60%'> +<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='book cover' id='iid-0000' style='width:80%;height:auto;'/> +</div> + +<hr class='pbk'/> + +<div class='lgc' style='margin-top:3em;margin-bottom:3em;'> <!-- rend=';' --> +<p class='line'><span style='font-size:smaller'>AN</span></p> +<p class='line'> </p> +<p class='line'><span style='font-size:smaller'>ACCURATE and AUTHENTIC</span></p> +<p class='line'> </p> +<p class='line'>JOURNAL</p> +<p class='line'> </p> +<p class='line'><span style='font-size:smaller'>OF THE</span></p> +<p class='line'> </p> +<p class='line' style='font-size:3em;'><span style="font-family:'fancy';">SIEGE of QUEBEC</span></p> +<p class='line'> </p> +<p class='line'>1759.</p> +<p class='line'> </p> +<p class='line'><span style='font-size:smaller'>By a Gentleman in an eminent Station</span></p> +<p class='line'><span style='font-size:smaller'>on the Spot.</span></p> +<p class='line'> </p> +<p class='line'> </p> +<p class='line'> </p> +<div class='figcenter' style='width:10%'> +<img src='images/deco.jpg' alt='drawing of a grape cluster and leaves' id='iid-0001' style='width:80%;height:auto;'/> +</div> +<p class='line'> </p> +<p class='line'> </p> +<p class='line'> </p> +<p class='line'><span style='font-size:smaller'><span class='it'>LONDON:</span></span></p> +<p class='line'> </p> +<p class='line'><span style='font-size:smaller'>Printed for <span class='sc'>J. Robinson</span>, at the Golden</span></p> +<p class='line'><span style='font-size:smaller'>Lion in Ludgate-Street,</span> <span style='font-size:x-small'>MDCCLIX.</span></p> +<p class='line'> </p> +<p class='line'><span style='font-size:smaller'>[Price One Shilling.]</span></p> +</div> <!-- end rend --> + +<hr class='pbk'/> + +<div class='blockquote'> + +<p class='hang'>The above is a reproduction of the title-page +of a book lately met with in the library of a +Shropshire Rector, by whose courtesy we are +enabled to print the text of the work <span class='it'>verbatim +et literatim</span>. There is also a copy of the +book in the British Museum. In quaint and +simple language the story is told how the +Dominion of Canada, three thousand miles +long and now within six days’ steaming of +England, was won for the British Empire by +a handful of brave men led by daring and +sagacious Commanders.</p> + +<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:0em;'>——<span class='it'>Lincoln, Rutland, and Stamford Mercury</span>,</p> + +<p>December 27th, 1912.</p> + +</div> +<div class='blockquote'> + +<p>Printed by George Henry Burton, Markby +Cottage, Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, at +his private Press from the type as composed by +the <span class='it'>Stamford Mercury</span> in re-publishing the +“Journal” in serial form.</p> + +</div> + +<div><h1>A SHORT DESCRIPTION<br/>of<br/>QUEBEC.</h1></div> + +<p class='noindent'><span class='lead-in'><img class='dropcap' src='images/capt.jpg' style='float:left;width:8%;' alt='T'/>he</span> city of Quebec is divided into +the Upper and Lower Town; it +stands upon the S.E. side of a +very high and steep bank, which +stretches out into the river from +the north side of the river St. +Lawrence. The Lower Town +stands upon a flat between the +river and hill, which is exceedingly steep; +it is of no great breadth, but encircles +the foot of the hill above a mile in +length, from Point Diamond to the river St. +Charles: here most of the principal merchants +and tradesmen inhabit; the houses in the Upper +Town are occupied by the clergy, officers of the +army, and principal people of Canada.</p> + +<p>Near Cape Diamond, which is the south part +of the town, is the King’s yard; where there +is now on the stocks a ship of sixty guns. Upon +four batteries in the Lower Town are mounted +forty pieces of cannon, forty-two and twenty-four +pounders; and cover the passage up to +Point Levi, up to the narrows: the communication +between this and the Upper Town, is by +an almost perpendicular passage, defended +above by nine pieces of cannon, and is cut across +by trenches, strengthened by breast-works; so +that should we get possession of the Lower +Town, our conquest of the Upper will be but +little forwarded, as there are difficulties which +it will not be easy to surmount.</p> + +<p>Round the Upper Town are planted upwards +of forty pieces of cannon, which flank the river: +and above that, on the top of the hill, is the +citadel, which commands both towns; the wall +whereof are said to be twenty-five feet thick.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding this strength towards the +river, if we could get possession of the hills to +the westward of the town, which are at least +as high as the citadel, we imagine it would hold +out but a short time, but before we can carry +this point, we have many difficulties to overcome: +but we have brave officers, and men +ready to face the greatest dangers. The shore +to the eastward of the town, is well defended, +both by art and nature, and if we should drive +them from this post, we are then to force an +army greatly superior to ours in number.</p> + +<p>The palaces of the governor and bishop, +cathedral, jesuits college, and several other +churches and publick buildings, command a fine +view of the river; most of the houses are built +of stone, and stand to great advantage on the +side of the hill; but are within reach of our +batteries erected at Point Levi.</p> + +<div><h1>SIEGE OF QUEBEC.<br/> <span class='sub-head'>1759.</span></h1></div> + +<p class='line' style='text-align:center;'><span class='sc'>June</span> the 5th, 1759,</p> + +<p class='noindent'><span class='dropcap'>T</span>he fleet under the command of Vice-admiral +Saunders, sail’d from Louisburg +in high spirits for Quebec.</p> + +<p>8th, Pas’d Cape Ray, and enter’d the gulph +of St. Lawrence, without any impediment.</p> + +<p>19th, Anchor’d at the Isle Bie, 70 leagues up +the river, and about 60 below Quebec. Here the +fleet was divided into three divisions, in order +to make our passage up the river the easier.</p> + +<p>20th, General Wolf with the transports, escorted +by the frigates, left us, with orders to +make all possible haste up the river; whilst we +with the heavy ships followed as fast as we were +able.</p> + +<p>25th, Anchor’d with the fleet at the isle of +Coudre, 20 leagues from Quebec. The admiral +shifted his flag into the <span class='it'>Stirling Castle</span>, and +with the <span class='it'>Alcide</span>, <span class='it'>Pembroke</span>, <span class='it'>Centurion</span>, and +<span class='it'>Sutherland</span>, sailed up the river, as the <span class='it'>Devonshire</span>, +frigates, &c. had already done. We +found Admiral Durell riding here, with his +fleet. They arrived about the middle of May.</p> + +<p>28th, Anchor’d with the fleet between the isle +of Orleans, and the south shore. In the evening +the troops landed without opposition:—This +island is about eight leagues in length, and +about five miles from north to south, where +broadest, and divided the river into two channels; +that for large ships lying on the south-side +is about two miles in breadth, the west-end +is about three miles from Quebec, and very +near two from each shore.</p> + +<p>30th, We anchor’d with the men of war, +bombs, &c. off the west-end of Orleans, between +it and Point Levi, on the south shore. Here +the river alters its course to S.S.W. whereas it +runs from east to west, up between the island +and the main. About a mile and a half above +Point Levi, and opposite to the city of Quebec, +the river is not a mile broad.—In the evening +a brigade under General Monckton landed at +Point Levi, and took post there, with very little +loss; but the next day a body of Canadians and +Indians incommoded our troops at Point Levi, +the ground being woody; but their commander +being kill’d, they dispers’d, with little loss on +our side. At night the enemy taking the advantage +of a fresh westerly wind and ebb-tide, +sent down seven large fire stages upon us; but +by the bravery of the boats crews, who boarded +and towed them off with huzza’s, the whole fleet +escaped, though many ships were in great danger. +By prisoners we are inform’d, that the +greatest part of the Canadian force was drawn +to Quebec for the defence of it, and encamped +between that city and the falls of Montmorency, +about seventeen thousand strong: that their +regulars amounted to between three and four +thousand; the rest were Canadians and Indians, +the greatest part train’d to arms. The banks +on the north-shore are high and steep; from +the mouth of the river St. Charles, which runs +into the country, under the works of the town +to the falls of Montmorency, at the distance +of six or seven miles, they have a breast-work +on the bank, and are entrenching behind it. +The west side of the river that falls at Montmorency, +is defended in the same manner, quite +up to the mountain; and they trust more to +these defences than to their town, and are in +no manner of apprehension from us.—<span class='it'>Note</span>, +Great part of this intelligence is obvious, as we +have a view of five distinct camps, capable of +holding many more troops than their accounts +mention; and we can observe them very busy +in fortifying their posts quite to the falls. We +find, that the banks, abreast of Quebec, on the +south side, command the greatest part of the +city, and that by batteries from thence we may +lay it in ashes. From this place we have a +fine view of the city and its defence towards +the river.</p> + +<p><span class='it'>July</span> 4th, A flag of truce was sent by the +general to the town, to acquaint the governor +of our design of attacking it on the part of his +Britannick majesty; and also to inform him, +that he was order’d by his master to carry on +the war in this country with the utmost lenity; +that he expects the troops under his command +will follow his example, and that the inhuman +practice of scalping, either by Indians or others, +may be put a stop to, as he shall answer the +consequence of its being severely revenged: at +the same time we set at liberty twenty-five +women, that were taken by us in the river. +Monsieur Le Marquis de Vandreuil, who commands +in the town, return’d a very polite +answer, and desir’d the admiral might be +acquainted, that as two gentlemen had been +taken off the isle Coudre by his people, belonging +to Admiral Durell, the greatest care should +be taken of them, and that as soon as he thought +proper to remove our fleet and army he would +return them: they made no scruple of informing +our officer, that they were well acquainted +with our force, and were surprised we should +attempt the conquest of this country with such +a handful of men.</p> + +<p>5th, The batteries were begun, and the ordnance +landed, all the ships sent their boats, to +row guard above us, as we are apprehensive of +the enemy sending down fire-stages, which we +learn are preparing in great numbers above the +town. What ships they have are above the +town, but how far up, we are not able to discover.</p> + +<p>7th, Our barge, sounding between the north-side +of Orleans and the main, was chac’d by +several cannoes ashore upon the island, and was +taken with one of the people, being wounded, +the rest escaped to our camp.</p> + +<p>8th, The <span class='it'>Porcupine</span> sloop, and an arm’d +Brig, fell down between the island and the +north-shore, a little below the falls; two small +batteries fir’d upon them going down, but did +no damage. At midnight General Wolf, with +two brigades from Orleans, landed below the +falls, without opposition, the enemy keeping +within their posts, to the west of the small +river of Montmorency; of which the narrow +part is deep, and very rapid, and falls into the +river St. Lawrence from a precipice, of 200 +feet high; the banks of the river above the +fall are very high and steep, especially on the +western side, and are entrench’d and defended +by breast-works, in the same manner as the +banks of the river St. Lawrence, from the falls +to Quebec. Admiral Holmes, with the <span class='it'>Captain</span>, +<span class='it'>Dublin</span>, <span class='it'>Vanguard</span>, <span class='it'>Medway</span>, and <span class='it'>Shrewsbury</span>, +came up, and anchor’d off the west-end +of Orleans; and Admiral Durell, and the rest +of the three-deck ships, &c. remainder of the +fleet, lie off the east-end of the island.</p> + +<p>10th, Our bombs threw several shells into +the French camp near Beauport, which they +return’d with shot from their batteries, that is +large boats with a gun each, of 12 to 24 +pounders, of these they have about twenty, in +different parts of the river, who keep so close +under their own breast, that we can get no +opportunity of cutting them off.—In the evening +the <span class='it'>Captain</span> dropt as close in shore as the +depth of the water would allow, and fir’d +several broad-sides at their camp, which they +were oblig’d to move a little farther back; but +as they are entrenched close to their breast-works +on the bank, cannot drive them from +thence. At night the enemy, having got a +mortar down to their camp, threw several +shells very near the <span class='it'>Captain</span> and the Bombs, +upon which they weigh’d and drop’d out of +their reach.</p> + +<p>11th, The enemy made a very brisk fire from +the town, on our batteries, erecting on Point +Levi.</p> + +<p>12th, The communication between the fleet and +our camp below the falls being interrupted by +their battoes, we mounted two 24 pounders on +Orleans to protect the passage,—our troops at +Montmorency, which are about 3000, are encamped +close to the eastermost side of the +falls, as the enemy is to the westward, within +musquet-shot of each others centinels.</p> + +<p>13th, At night our batteries at Point Levi, +of six 32 pounders, and four mortars, were +opened on the town; at the same time the +bombs having dropt up play’d upon it also; +but the ebb tide making very strong down, +their anchors came home, and they were obliged +to drop down again.</p> + +<p>The enemy having opened a small battery to +the westward of the falls, fired briskly upon +our camp; but upon drawing some of our +cannon on the bank below the falls, soon +silenced them. This day the mortars were +landed from the bombs, in order to be mounted +on Point Levi; we keep an incessant fire from +thence on the town, which they return, but +with little effect.</p> + +<p>Our carcasses from the battery on Point +Levi set the Upper Town on fire, which burnt +with great fury for several hours, before it was +extinguished; we could observe the enemy very +industrious in fortifying their posts, having intrenchments +and redoubts cut across the country, +and at Beauport have a pass guarded by 20 +pieces of cannon. At the mouth of the river +St. Charles they have two hulks, with a teer +of guns each, to defend that passage up the +river, besides being commanded by great part +of the cannon from the town.</p> + +<p>Our firing continues to do great execution +upon the town; in the night the <span class='it'>Sutherland</span>, +<span class='it'>Squirrel</span>, two transports, and two sloops, having +500 men from the camp at Point Levi, ran +past the town, with a light breeze, favourable, +and tide of flood. The enemy kept a hot fire +at them, but did no damage: the <span class='it'>Diana</span> going +up ran a-ground upon Point Levi.</p> + +<p>20th, General Wolf and Admiral Holmes went +up by land to the fleet above the town.</p> + +<p>21st, The detachment above Quebec landed on +the north shore, at the village of Trembleau, +ten leagues above Quebec with little opposition; +they took 300 prisoners, mostly women, and +some booty, and re-embarked again with the +loss of a few men.</p> + +<p>22d, In the night the cathedral of Quebec, +the largest and most magnificent building of +the kind in this part of the world, was set on +fire and consumed by our carcasses, together +with a great number of the houses in the Upper +Town.</p> + +<p>23d, In the Morning before day-break the +<span class='it'>Lowestoff</span> and <span class='it'>Hunter</span> got under sail to run +above the town, but the wind taking them short +abreast of the town, were obliged to put back +under a very smart fire, but received no +damage. A flag of truce was sent to Quebec +with the women taken at Trembleau; notwithstanding +this, and a great many other instances +of our lenity shewn to the enemy, we find little +benefit accrue to us from them, they continue +to scalp every person who is unhappy enough +to fall into their hands.—A proclamation was +issued by General Wolf, and affixed to the +church doors throughout the country, acquainting +the inhabitants, that as the war carried on +here is not intended against them, but against +the forces and forts of his most Christian +Majesty, he therefore invites them and their +families to return to their respective habitations, +on or before the 10th of August, where +they shall be protected in their religion and +liberty, and have all the indulgence granted to +the subjects of his Britannick Majesty; but if +not, and they still persist in their resolution to +carry arms, he will then destroy, and ruin to +the utmost, all their possessions that shall fall +in his power.</p> + +<p>24th, At night several buildings in the Lower +Town set on fire and consumed by our shells.</p> + +<p>31st, In the morning two armed transports got +under way, and at high-water ran ashore, close +to the enemies batteries, a little above the falls +of Montmorency, and began a very smart fire +upon them, which they returned. At seven the +troops from Point Levi and Orleans embarked +in the boats, and at eight rendezvoused in two lines +between the island and the north shore. +The grenadiers, in the first line, supported by +200 Royal Americans, and Amhersts, and the +Highlanders in the second line, at the same +time the <span class='it'>Centurion</span> dropt as near as possible +to their batteries, and kept a continual fire +upon them, which they returned upon the boats +with eight pieces of cannon and two mortars; +which, notwithstanding our being within point-blank +shot for several hours, suffered very +little. The enemy’s troops in the mean time +filled their breast-works and trenches, and +behind them paraded with an army greatly +superior to ours in number. Notwithstanding +this, their batteries, the height of the bank, +steep and difficult of access, and many other +disadvantages, the greatest spirit and chearfulness +was discernable through our whole army, +and all waited with the utmost impatience for +the moment of attack. General Wolf row’d at +the head of us, and gave his orders with great +calmness, and so did the rest of our general +officers. Admiral Saunders was greatly exposed, +and the fleet had like to have lost in him a +gallant commander, a shell falling so near his +boat as to damage some of the oars and half +fill her with water; at noon the first line of +boats was ordered in abreast of the batteries, +but some of the boats grounding upon a bank +some distance from the shore, were ordered off +again; General Townsend, with all the troops +from Montmorency, except the light infantry, +were in readiness at the same time to march +across the strand and passing between the falls +and river to join us at our landing. Colonel +How, with the light infantry, were at the same +time to make a faint of passing Montmorency +river, some distance above the falls, to divert +the attention of the enemy. At four the first +line of boats was landed, and the grenadiers, +without waiting for form, or orders, rushed on +with the greatest impetuosity for the bank, +where they received from the enemy such an +incessant fire of musquetry, as must be far +easier to conceive than to describe; but firm +to their purpose, and nothing daunted, true +Englishmen, they endeavoured to surmount all +difficulties, and attempted to gain the steep +bank; and would, in all probability have fallen +a sacrifice to their bravery, if a violent and +sudden squall of wind and rain had not put a +stop to the enemy’s fire, and at the same time +made it impossible for those brave fellows to +proceed further, occasioned by the excessive +slipperiness of the ground. During this time +General Townsend with his brigade passed below +the falls, and advanced to join us, but the +General finding the difficulty of the attempt, +and unwilling to sacrifice such brave fellows +with so little probability of success, ordered +the retreat to be beat, and fortunately for us, +the lower part of the strand was out of musquet +shot. After getting the wounded into the +boats, General Wolf, with the remainder of the +grenadiers and highlanders, joined General +Townsend, and marched in good order along +the strand towards the falls, and embarked +Amherst’s in the boats, saluted all the time +by the infernal clamours of the Indians, and +the Vive le Roy of the French; though the +Poltroons, who were twice our numbers, dared +not come down to us, though often invited by +the hats waved at them from our general +officers and troops: at five we took the people +out of our armed transports and set fire to +them; the enemy kept a continual fire from +their batteries on our troops as they marched +along the strand, but providentially did little +execution; our grenadiers had possession of +one of their small batteries, but in the confusion +forgot to spike up the guns; the evening +was employed in transporting the troops +to their respective posts. Our loss this day was +sixty killed, and between 3 and 400 wounded, +all which we got off in the boats, except a +Captain of the Royal Americans, who we hear +is prisoner among the French, but mortally +wounded; the Indians, according to their barbarous +custom, stripped and scalped the dead, +and with difficulty this officer escaped, being +rescued by some French officers. What loss the +French have sustained we can only guess at, +but suppose it to be considerable, as a continual +fire was kept from our train at Montmorency, +and from the <span class='it'>Centurion</span> and two +armed ships: our whole body of troops at this +attack did not amount to 5000, while the enemy +acknowledge theirs to be 16000; but the advantage +of the ground, not their number, +fought against us; and it is the general +opinion, that half our troops in their situation +would have been a sufficient match for their +whole number.</p> + +<p><span class='it'>August</span> 1st, General Wolf, in public order, +thanked the Highlanders and Amherst’s for +their soldier-like behaviour, in landing and +forming themselves on the strand, and there +fixing themselves in order of battle, till they +receiv’d his orders; at the same time he greatly +blamed the rashness, and temerity of the grenadiers, +in advancing in that irregular manner, +without waiting for his orders, or till it was +possible for the rest of the troops to sustain +them; and that such immlitary [unmilitary] +proceedings intirely break his plan of operation, +and was the apparent cause of the repulse +they had received yesterday.</p> + +<p>7th, General Murray, with Amherst’s, and +part of the light infantry, marched up to the +ships above the town; and in the night twenty-two +flat-bottom boats past it undiscovered.</p> + +<p>8th, General Murray embarked with his +troops on board the ships that lay about five +leagues above Quebec, and Admiral Holmes +took the command of the ships, without hoisting +his flag: this body of troops consisted of +Amherst’s, three battalions of Royal Americans, +and a detachment of light infantry and +marines, amounting in the whole to 1300 effective +men.</p> + +<p>9th, The fleet above the town anchored at +Point Tremble ten leagues above the town, and +with all the troops (except 200 marines) attempted +to land at the village of Tremble, on +the north shore, but were repulsed with the +loss of forty killed, and about 100 wounded: +the enemy consisted of 4000, of which were two +battalions of regulars, and a party of horse.</p> + +<p>14th, General Murray with his troops landed +on the south shore, opposite Point Tremble, +with the loss of 12 killed and 23 wounded: our +troops encamped and took a considerable +number of cattle, killed 8 of the enemy, and +took a few prisoners: by one of them we were +informed, that a general officer commanded at +Point Tremble when we made the attack; that +it was his express orders to his troops not to +fire till ours were half on shore, but fear got +the better of their discretion, and saved the +best part of our troops.</p> + +<p>15th, Six marines were surpriz’d and carried +off from our camp at St. Anthony’s. General +Murray sent out parties from thence to destroy +all the houses in that district; parties were +detach’d likewise from our camps at Montmorency +and Point Orleans, to destroy all the +buildings (churches excepted) and their corn: +one of these detachments from Montmorency +fell in with a party of Canadians, headed by +a priest twenty of which they took prisoners, +and killed several. In return for many acts +of cruelty, the priest and the rest of the +prisoners were put to death, and scalp’d by our +rangers.</p> + +<p>20th, The troops (marines excepted) embark’d +from St. Anthony’s in the night, under General +Murray, and row’d up under cover of it, to the +village of Chambeau: at the same time, a feint +was made to land at Point Tremble, in order +to deceive the enemy.</p> + +<p>21st, At break of day our troops landed at +Chambeau, 18 leagues above Quebec, on the +north shore, without any opposition: they destroy’d +a grand magazine of the enemy’s +regulars, the effects of the people of Quebec, a +great quantity of powder, some plate and +specie, which was all destroy’d by fire. At noon, +having compleated their design, embark’d without +loss, just as a great body of the enemy +appear’d in sight. We learn’d here, that the +six marines, taken the 15th, were scalp’d by +the Indians. In the evening we burnt an +arm’d sloop of the enemy’s, and then landed +again at the camp of St. Anthony. From Chambeau +we saw the enemy’s frigates very plain, +lying about two leagues above us; but the +channel being very intricate and dangerous, +the merchant ships lay some leagues above the +frigates.</p> + +<p>22d, Admiral Holmes, with the Captains of +the <span class='it'>Sutherland</span> and <span class='it'>Squirrel</span>, went to examine +the river to Chambeau, which they found impracticable +to ships without a full tide, a fresh +easterly wind, and good pilots. The two first +of these seldom happen at this time of the +year; and the last we cannot procure, as this +upper navigation is little known: the French +ships when they went up, had their guns and +stores out, but lie now in deep water with +their guns in.</p> + +<p>28th, The troops at St. Anthony embark’d in +the flat-bottom boats, and pass’d the town +without being observ’d: the ships above the +town were left at anchor off Point Tremble. +This day began to embark the train from +Montmorency.</p> + +<p>30th, The <span class='it'>Lowestoff</span> and <span class='it'>Hunter</span>, with two +transports and three sloops, pass’d the town +in the night, under a very severe fire from +thence. In the morning part of the troops +from Montmorency were remov’d to Orleans, +being still employ’d in bringing the train from +thence: our maroding parties continue to burn +and destroy all the effects of the enemy they +can meet with.</p> + +<p><span class='it'>September</span> 1st, In the evening the Seahorse +and some transports pass’d the town, which +saluted them with a pretty warm fire in their +passage. Embark’d from Montmorency the +rest of the train.</p> + +<p>2d, In the forenoon embark’d all our troops +from the camp at Montmorency, without loss +of a man, though the enemy fir’d very smartly +on our boats from their batteries at Beauport, +and from thence to the falls, but without success: +at noon landed our troops at Point Levi.</p> + +<p>4th, In the night 32 flat-bottom boats pass’d +the town without being observ’d by the enemy, +and join’d the fleet under Admiral Holmes, +who lay about four leagues above Quebec.</p> + +<p>5th, About 3,500 of the troops march’d up +from Point Levi, and in the evening embark’d +on board Admiral Holmes’s fleet. This +body of troops consisted of Amherst’s, Bragg’s, +Anstruther’s, Otway’s, Kennedy’s, Frazier’s, +Royal Americans, and the light infantry, with +the grenadiers of the whole, and were commanded +by all the general officers.</p> + +<p>6th, In the morning Admiral Holmes made +up with his fleet to St. Nicholas, six leagues +above Quebec. <span class='it'>N.B.</span> This Morning the <span class='it'>Rodney</span> +cutter sail’d express for England.</p> + +<p>7th, Landed 2200 of the troops at St. Nicholas, +on the south shore, in order to refresh them, +being extreamly crowded in the transports.</p> + +<p>12th, Re-embark’d the troops from St. +Nicholas, without the loss of a man; and as +the inhabitants of St. Nicholas had not attempted +to disturb our troops, either at landing +or when on shore, their houses and effects +were left untouch’d.—In the evening all the +troops were order’d to hold themselves in +readiness for landing, and an order of the +generals [General Wolf] read to them, to this +effect,—“That as a large body of the enemy +were march’d to oppose General Amherst, and +a great number of the Canadians had left the +enemy, and a general discontent prevail’d +throughout the whole, now was the time to +strike a stroke, which in all probability would +determine the fate of Canada: that he intended +to land in a place where the enemy +least expected him; that the ships with the +remainder of the troops, after the first disembarkation, +would follow the boats, so as to +second their landing immediately, and that the +troops at Point Levi would march up close to +the intended place of landing; so that our +whole force would be connected in a very short +time, and so soon as form’d, should endeavour +to bring the enemy to battle.” He then reminded +them of what they owed their country, +their families and themselves, and what such +a body of veterans were able to do against five +battalions of regulars, and a rude undisciplin’d +militia: conquest and glory awaited them, and +he expected every thing from their resolution +and conduct. At nine in the evening 1600 of +the troops were embark’d in the boats, commanded +by General Monckton, who was to +make the first landing at midnight: the boats +rendezvous’d in a line abreast of Admiral +Holmes, who lay about five leagues above +Quebec.</p> + +<p>13th, At one in the morning the boats that +had the troops in were order’d to row down +the river (it being then ebb-tide) in the same +order as the troops were to land, <span class='it'>viz.</span> the light +infantry first, then Bragg’s, Anstruther’s, Kennedy’s, +Lascelle’s, and a detachment of +Frazier’s; at two the frigates and transports, +with the rest of the troops follow’d them. In +rowing down the boats were discover’d by the +enemy, but they expecting some boats down +with provisions, under cover of the night, let +us pass without examination. At Four we +landed the troops about two miles from Quebec, +with small loss, none but the enemy’s centinels +being there.</p> + +<p>An attack is resolv’d on, and, let it be remember’d, +for the honour of England, that +though the enterprize is hazardous, exceeding +doubtful, and attended with the utmost danger +in every shape, not the least dejection or sign +of fear appears among the troops: on the contrary, +an uncommon eagerness in them to attack +the foe is plain in every countenance: +they are impatient to be lead on, and the +General officers but with great difficulty can +restrain their impetuosity; it should seem as +if their courage rose in proportion to the +labours they have to surmount; or perhaps +they are fir’d with the resolution of revenging +their companions who fell in the late attack, +and are determin’d to punish the infamous and +inhuman practice of scalping, if the place +should fall into our hands, which however, +seems greatly doubtful: it will in all probability +be owing to the resolution the men have +taken, of not being made prisoners, deter’d +from falling into the enemy’s hands, from the +infernal practice above-mention’d being so +often exercised upon those who are unhappy +enough to fall into their hands.</p> + +<p>From this disposition of the men, and the +conduct and prudence of a very good set of +officers, great things may be expected, especially +from the Gentleman who commands in +chief, who, in his military capacity, is perhaps +equalled by few, and exceeded by none; and +when riper years have matured a sound judgment, +the great talents he possesses in the art +of war will shew themselves to advantage; +yet, if I can read right, though no man doubts +his courage, he is not sanguine in his expections +of reducing the place, and can depend +on nothing but surprise, some bold and unexpected +stroke, or as the French call it, coup +de main; for this no troops in Europe are so +fit as ours for resolution, and a contempt of +death are characteristic of an English soldier.</p> + +<p>How many lives must be lost of the few +troops we have before we can hope to succeed; +had General Amherst been able to have joined +us, something might have been done: as it is, +he comes too late, for either the place will be +taken, or we must return to England before +he arrives: in the latter case he must sail as +well as we, and owing to the same cause, want +of numbers.</p> + +<p>Could the junction have taken place, we +might bid defiance to united strength, of +French, Indians, and Canadians.</p> + +<p>There can be but little hopes of taking the +place by assault, for though the Men of war +might be of infinite service in silencing the +batteries of the Lower Town, yet the greatest, +and indeed an almost insurmountable difficulty +would yet remain; for the few passages that +lead from the Upper to the lower town are +strongly intrenched, and our ships can by no +means reach the upper batteries.</p> + +<p>The country is extremely strong, and the +enemy have added much to its natural strength; +and have now, for the defence of the river, +floating batteries and boats, which in a great +measure frustrate our designs: several parties +of Indians are likewise troublesome to us, by +hovering round our advanced posts, and we +have hitherto found it impossible to elude their +vigilance.</p> + +<p>Every thing is in motion, and a few hours +will probably determine the fate of Canada.</p> + +<p>If the General should attempt to ascend the +rock, it is a work of much labour and difficulty, +if at all practicable; and should our troops +perform this difficult undertaking, I shall for +the future think little of Hanibal’s leading an +army over the Alps; the rock is almost steep, +and the summit seems to me inaccessible to +an army; this at least appears to be the +Opinion of the French, who place no centinel +there, and seem perfectly secure that it will +never be attempted.——All difficulties have +been surmounted, and such a blow struck as +will amaze posterity: our brave General lead +on the troops to the hills above-mentioned, and +was the first man that began to clime it; the +men followed their leader with the utmost +alacrity, and at length ascended the summit: +as soon as they were formed the enemy advanced, +and sent a party to the bottom of the +hill to cut off our retreat, but they were themselves +cut off by the troops that remained +below. Those above being attacked by the +enemy, had reserved their fire till the French +advanced within forty yards of them, then +made a general discharge, which threw the +enemy into confusion; our people improved +the advantage, and with their bayonets pushed +them over the river St. Charles, and into the +town: this success was dearly purchased by +the loss of our brave General, who was +wounded in the beginning of the action, and +died soon after, but not before he had the +satisfaction of being told the day was ours. I +die contented then the hero cry’d, my life was +due to my country, happy if I have been the +means of adding conquest and glory to it: he +died with calmness, and closed a well-spent +life by an action which throws a lustre upon +the arms of Britain; like the old Theban, he +died and conquered: the affliction of the army +best speaks his merit; he was the sincere +friend, the gentleman, and the soldier: at a +time of life when many have but the command +of a company, he had raised himself by his +merit almost to the top of his profession: it +is to be hoped his grateful country will decree +those honours to his breathless corps, as living +he would undoubtedly have received.</p> + +<p>The enemy, after their first repulse, made +a stand at some distance, but were soon broke +by the bravery of our troops, and ran into the +town for shelter in the greatest confusion +imaginable; there was dreadful slaughter on +their side: the conflict was short but bloody, +upwards of 600 of our men being wounded, +though not above 40 killed outright: the disparity +in the number of killed and wounded +was, no doubt, owing to the enemy’s firing at +too great a distance, for their balls were almost +spent before they reached our men: +several of our people having received contusions +on parts where the blow must have been +mortal, had they reserved their fire a little +longer: thus ended the thirteenth day of September, +a day which will reflect honour on the +British arms for ever.</p> + +<p>14th, Monsieur Montcalm, the French commander +in chief, was brought on board our +fleet, but died soon after of his wounds: he +was a gallant officer, and deserved a better +fate. Two commanders in chief of the different +armies killed in one day, is an event, +that, if my memory serves, never happened +before; the next in command to Monsieur +Montcalm was also killed, and several other +officers of note: General Monckton dangerously +wounded on our side; Colonel Carlton has received +a ball in his head, which it is feared has +fractured his skull; Major Barry has lost his +nose.—<span class='it'>Mem.</span> The Highlanders did prodigious +execution in the pursuit with their broad +swords. General Wolf’s body was brought to +the fleet, and now lies in his coffin, on board +the <span class='it'>Stirling Castle</span>, in order to be sent to England +for interment.</p> + +<p>Our troops are entrenched on the back of the +citadel, and our men of war are preparing to +batter the town; it is expected it will be +stormed to-morrow, both by land and sea.</p> + +<p>17th, At noon a flag of truce from Quebec +was sent with terms of capitulation: and sent +back with answer, that four hours only would +be allowed; returned again at the expiration +of that time, with terms which were agreed to.</p> + +<p>At eight this morning the capitulation was +signed, the garrison have obtained better +terms than they probably would have done, +on account of the General having received information, +that a reinforce of 800 men, under +the command of Monsieur de Bougainville, was +in full march to reinforce the garrison; add to +this, that no time was to be lost on account of +the advanced season; the wet weather it was +apprehended might have caused sickness +amongst the troops, and storms endangered the +fleet; besides, had breaches been made in the +walls of the town, there might not have been +time sufficient to have repair’d them before +the arrival of the expected succours; these considerations +hastened the signing the capitulation: +the regulars and Canadians under arms +are prisoners of war, and are to be sent to +Old France, and they are now embarking for +that purpose.</p> + +<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:2em;font-size:1.5em;'>FINIS.</p> + +<hr class='pbk'/> + +<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:4em;margin-bottom:2em;font-size:1.2em;'>TRANSCRIBER NOTES</p> + +<div class='blockquote'> + +<p class='noindent'>Misspelled words have been retained as the author may not have +known the correct spelling. Printer errors have been corrected. +Where multiple spellings occur, majority use has been +employed.</p> + +<p class='line'> </p> + +<p class='noindent'>Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious +printer errors occur.</p> + +<p class='line'> </p> + +<p class='noindent'>[The end of <span class='it'>An Accurate and Authentic Journal of the Siege of Quebec 1759</span>, by Anonymous.]</p> + +</div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76642 ***</div> + </body> + <!-- created with fpgen.py 4.65 on 2025-08-06 17:19:33 GMT --> +</html> + |