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<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76642 ***</div>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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