ページの画像
PDF
ePub

supposed to have been killed during the engagement, and thrown overboard.

12. It is impossible to state the number of killed on board the enemy. It must, however, have been very great, as their vessels were literally cut to pieces; and the masts of their → two principal ships so shattered that the first gale blew them overboard. Commodore Barclay, the British commander, certainly did himself honor by a brave and obstinate resistance. He had seen much service, having been desperately wounded in the battle of Trafalgar, and afterwards losing an arm in another engagement with the French. In the present battle, he was twice carried below, on account of his wounds, and had the misfortune to have his remaining hand shot away. While below the second time, his officer came down and told him that they must strike, as the ships were cut to pieces, and the men could not be kept to their guns. Commodore Barclay was then carried on deck, and after taking a view of their situation, and finding all chance of success was over, reluctantly gave orders to strike.

SURRENDER OF QUEBEC.

1. QUEBEC stands on the north side of the St. Lawrence, and on the west of the St. Charles, which latter river empties into the former immediately below the town. Its fortifications are strong, and the city elegant and extensive. It consists of an upper and lower town; the lower town is built upon the strand, which stretches along the base of the lofty rock on which the upper is situated. This rock continues with a bold and steep front, far to the westward, parallel to and near the river St. Lawrence. On this side, therefore, the city might well be deemed inaccessible. On the other, it was protected by the river St. Charles, in which were several armed vessels and floating batteries, deriving additional security from a strong boom drawn across its mouth. The channel of this river is rough and broken, and its borders

Who commanded the British squadron ?-What injury did commodore Barclay receive in the engagement ?-What is the situation of Quebec ?

intersected with ravines. encamped a French army strongly intrenched, and amounting, according to all the English accounts, to ten thousand men. The encampment extended from the St. Charles eastward to the river Montmorency, and its rear was covered by an almost impenetrable wood.

On its left or eastern bank, was

2. To render this army still more formidable, it was commanded by a general, who, in the course of the present war, had given signal proofs of active courage, and consummate prudence. The same marquis de Montcalm, who, when strong enough to act offensively, had so rapidly carried Oswego and fort William Henry, and who, when reduced to the defensive, had driven Abercrombie with so much slaughter from the walls of Ticonderoga, was now at the head of the army which covered Quebec, and was an antagonist in all respects worthy of Wolfe.-Although perceiving, in their full extent, the difficulties with which he was environed, the British general possessed a mind too ardent, and too replete with military enthusiasm, to yield to them. Unpromising as were his prospects, he did not hesitate respecting the part it became him to take. He could not submit to the disgrace of relinquishing an enterprise intrusted to him, while any human means for accomplishing his object remained unessayed.

3. A bold plan was formed, well adapted to the adventurous spirit of the English general, and the desperate situation of his affairs. This was to land the troops in the night a small distance above the city, on the northern bank of the river, and by scaling a precipice accessible only by a narrow path, and therefore but weakly guarded, to gain by the morning the heights back of the town, where it has been stated to have been but slightly fortified. The difficulties attending the execution of this scheme are represented to have been numerous. The stream was rapid, the shore shelving, the intended and only practicable landing place so narrow as to be easily missed in the dark, and the steep above, such as not to be ascended without difficulty even when unopposed. Under these circumstances, it was apparent, that a discovery and a vigorous opposition would not

Who commanded the French army?Who commanded the En glish? How did general Wolfe effect a landing?

only defeat the enterprise, but probably occasion the destruction of a great part of the troops engaged in it.

4. This bold resolution being taken, the admiral moved up the river, several leagues above the place where it was designed to land, and made demonstrations of an intention to debark a body of troops at different places. During the night, a strong detachment was put on board the flat bottomed boats and fell silently down with the tide to the place fixed on for the descent, which was made with equal secrecy and vigor, about a mile above cape Diamond, an hour before day break, Wolfe himself being the first man who leaped on shore. The highlanders and light infantry who composed the van, under the particular command of colonel Howe, were intended to secure a four-gun battery, which defended an intrenched path by which the heights were to be ascended; and, dislodging from thence a captain's guard, to cover the landing of the remaining troops.

5. The violence of the current forced them rather below the point of debarcation, and this circumstance increased their difficulties. However, scrambling up the precipice, by the aid of the rugged projections of the rocks, and the branches of trees and plants growing on the cliffs, into which it was every where broken, they gained the heights, and very quickly dispersed the guard, which did not make the resistance to have been expected from the advantages of their situation. The whole army followed up this narrow pass, and having only encountered a scattering fire from some Canadians and Indians, from which very little loss was sustained, they gained the summit by the break of day, where the corps were formed under their respective leaders.

6. The intelligence that the English were in possession of the heights of Abraham was soon conveyed to Montcalm. Believing it to be impossible that an enterprise attended with so much difficulty could have been achieved, that officer supposed it to be only a feint, made with a small detachment, for the purpose of drawing him from his present strong and well chosen position. On being convinced of his error, he comprehended at once the full force of the advantage which had been gained, and the necessity it imposed on him of changing his plan of operations. Perceiving that a battle was no longer avoidable, and that the fate of Quebec depended on its issue, he prepared for it with prompt

ness and with courage. Leaving his strong camp at Montmorency, he crossed the river St. Charles for the purpose of attacking the English army.

7. This movement was made in the view of Wolfe, who without loss of time formed his order of battle. His right wing was commanded by general Monckton, and his left by general Murray. The right flank was covered by the Louisburg grenadiers, and the rear and left by the light infantry of Howe, who had now returned from the four-gun battery. The reserve consisted of Webb's regiment, drawn up in eight sub-divisions with large intervals between them.-Montcalm had formed his right and left wing about equally of European and colonial troops. His centre consisted of a column of Europeans; and two small field pieces were brought up to play on the English line. In this order he marched to the attack, advancing in his front about one thousand five hundred militia and Indians, who were sheltered by bushes, from whence they kept up on the English an irregular and galling fire.

8. The movement of the French indicating an intention to flank his left, general Wolfe ordered the battalion of Amherst, with the two battalions of royal Americans, to that part of his line, where they were formed en potence under general Townshend, presenting to the enemy a double front. Disregarding the irregular fire of the Canadian militia and Indians, he ordered his troops to reserve themselves for the main body of the enemy, advancing in the rear of those irregulars; but in the mean time, a field piece which had been brought up, played briskly and with effect on the French column. Montcalm had taken post on the left of the French army, and Wolfe on the right of the English, so that the two generals met each other, at the head of their respective troops, where the battle was most severe.

9. The French advanced briskly to the charge, and commenced the action with great animation. The English are stated to have reserved their fire until the enemy were within forty yards of them, when they gave it with immense effect. It was kept up for some time with great spirit, when Wolfe, advancing at the head of Bragg's and the Louisburg grenadiers with charged bayonets, received a mortal wound, of which he soon afterwards expired. Undismayed by the loss of their general, the English continued their exertions under

He also

Monckton, on whom the command now devolved. received a ball through his body, which is stated to have passed through his lungs, and general Townshend took command of the British army. About the same time, Montcalm, fighting in the front of his battalions, received a mortal wound; and general Senezergus, the second in command, also fell. The left wing and centre of the French began to give way, and being pressed close with the English bayonet and the highland broadsword, were driven, notwithstanding one attempt to rally and renew the attack, partly into Quebec, and partly over the St. Charles river.

10. On the left and rear of the English, the action was less severe, and the attack much less animated. The light infantry had been placed in the houses, and colonel Howe, the better to support them, had taken post with two companies still further to the left, behind a copse. As the right of the French attacked the English left, he sallied out from this position against their flanks, and threw them into disorder. In this critical moment, Townshend advanced several platoons of Amherst's regiment against their front, and completely frustrated the intention Montcalm had formed of turning the left flank. Townshend maintained his position, for the purpose of keeping in check the right wing of the French and a body of savages stationed opposite the light infantry, for the purpose of getting into and falling on their

rear.

11. In this state of the action, Townshend was informed that the command had devolved on him. Proceeding instantly to the centre, he found that part of the army thrown into some disorder by the ardor of pursuit, and his immediate efforts were employed in restoring the line. Scarcely was this effected, when Monsieur de Bougainville, who had been detached as high as cape Rouge to prevent a landing above, and who on hearing that the English had gained the plains of Abraham, hastened to the assistance of Montcalm, appeared in the rear at the head of one thousand five hundred men. Fortunately, the right wing of the enemy, as well as their left and centre, was now entirely broken, and had been driven off the field. Two battalions and two pieces of artillery being advanced towards Bougainville, he retired, and Townshend did not think it adviseable to risk the

« 前へ次へ »