USA > Connecticut > A complete history of Connecticut, civil and ecclesiastical, from the emigration of its first planters, from England, in the year 1630, to the year 1764; and to the close of the Indian wars > Part 43
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Battle of Quebec, No sooner was marquis de Montcalm informed that the English had gained the heights of Abraham, than he march- Sept. 13th, ed, with his whole force, from the Beauport side, to give them battle. He filled the bushes in his front with his In- dians and his best marksmen, amounting to not less than fifteen hundred men. His regular's formed his left ; his right was composed of the troops of the colony, support- ed by two regular battalions. The rest of the Canadians and Indians he extended on his right, with a view to out flank the English. General Wolfe, instantly penetrating his design, detached brigadier Townsend, with the regi- ment of Amherst, which was afterwards reinforced with two battalions of royal Americans. He formed the left in the manner which military men term en potens, presenting; a double front. The right of the army was covered by the Louisburg grenadiers. Atway's were afterwards brought to their right. On their left were Brag's, Kennedy's, and Astruther's regiments, and Lascelle's Highlanders. Col. Howe's light infantry protected the rear and the left. Webb's was drawn up as a reserve, in eight subdivisions, with large intervals. ' Such were the dispositions on both sides, as at once evinced the penetration and judgment of the respective generals. The French had two pieces of cannon ; the English had time to bring up one only. About nine o'clock, the enemy, in good order, advanced to the charge. Their attack was brisk and animated. Their irregulars kept up a galling though irregular fire upon the whole line of the English, though it was in some measure checked by their advanced posts. This they endured with patience, reserving their fire until the main body of the enemy had advanced within forty yards, when they poured in upon them a terrible discharge, which took effect in its whole extent. The fire was kept up with the same vigor in which it commenced, till the enemy every where gave way.
* Wright's History of the war, vol. i. p. 210.
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As general Wolfe stood conspicuous in the front of the line, Book II. he was aimed at by the marksmen. He received a shot in his wrist, which he wrapped in his handkerchief, and con- 1759. tinued giving his orders with coolness ; but just as the for- tune of the day began to declare itself, advancing at the head of Brag's and the Louisburg grenadiers, he received a ball in his breast, and fell in the arms of victory .* Im- mediately fell general Monckton, and both were conveyed out of the line. In this critical state of the action the com- mand devolved on general Townsend. He had the good fortune to preserve the spirit of the troops, and push the advantages gained, to a complete victory. Every corps, in this crisis, scemed to exert itself with a view to the hon- or of its own particular character. While the grenadiers, on the right, pushed on with their bayonets, general Murray, with his corps, with a heavy and destructive fire, broke the centre of the enemy, and the Highlanders falling impetuously on with their broad swords, hewed them down with terrible slaughter. The troops pursued them to the very walls of the town, killed them upon the glacis and in the ditch : and had not the city been so near, the whole French army must have been destroyed.t
No sooner had the English won the field, than a fresh enemy appeared, threatening another engagement, and put all again to hazard. Monsieur Bourgainville, who had been drawn up the river by the movements of the Eng- lish, with a corps of two thousand men, from Cape Rouge, appeared in their rear. But, as the main French army had been defeated,, and as general Townsend was able to establish his rear, and to advance against him with a supe- rior force, he was obliged, after some feeble attempts, to retire.
This memorable battle was fought with great loss on both sides. In a very short time, six generals, and about two thousand men, were killed or wounded. The loss of the English was five, and that of the enemy was fifteen hundred men. General Wolfe, amiable in his person, and one of the greatest military geniuses of his age, was a capital loss to the nation, which damped the joy of this sig- nal victory. When struggling with grievous wounds, he seemed only solicitous for the success of the action, and the good of his country. When unable to stand, he beg- ged his attendants to support him, that he might once more ·view the field ; but his eyes were so dimmed by the ap- proach of death that he could not see ; he therefore eagerly
* Rider's Hist. vol. xlv. p. 104.
+ Admiral Saunders' letter to the right hon. Mr. Secretary Pitt.
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Book II. asked an officer what he saw ? He answered, the enemy run ; they are totally defeated. Then, said the hero, "I 1759. thank God, I am contented ;" and almost instantly expir- ed.
The marquis Montcalm was carried from the field mor- tally wounded, into the city, and lived just long enough to recommend his wounded and captivated countrymen to the mercy of the English general. It must be allowed, that he was an officer of distinguished ability, and that, from the commencement of the war, he had rendered the most es- sential services to his country. In the last scenes of his life, he well supported his character, having made the best dispositions human skill and prudence could suggest, both before and during the engagement. In every preceding enterprise, he had been successful. It is not certain that he would not have been in the defence of Quebec, had he been left to his own opinion. It is said that he was not for hazarding a general action ; but that his opinion was overruled by Monsieur Ramsay, governor of Quebec.
General Monckton, who was shot through his breast, and had the ball extracted from under his shoulder blade, re- covered ; but the second in command in the French army, was left wounded on the field of battle, and died the next day, on board the fleet. The third and fourth in com- mand were killed.
Immediately after the battle, admiral Saunders sent up all the boats in the fleet, with artillery, ammunition, and whatever should be necessary for general Townsend, in besieging and attacking the city. But, as the enemy were still more numerous than the English, it was judged expe- dient to fortify the camp, before they attempted complete- ly to invest the town. A considerable time was spent in this manner, and in clearing the road, getting the cannon up the precipice, and in making the dispositions necessary to cut off the communication between the city and the coun- try.
On the seventeenth, the admiral went up with his whole force, disposed in order to attack the lower, as soon as the general should be ready to attack the upper town. As the place was now invested, and every thing put on the ap- pearance of a vigorous siege, or an immediate attack, by The city of land and water, the enemy demanded a capitulation. On Quebec Sept. 18th. the eighteenth, the city of Quebec was surrendered, on surrenders, terms honorable to the garrison, and advantageous to the inhabitants. The garrison was allowed to march out with the honors of war; and the inhabitants were secured in their persons and effects, in the exercise of their religion,
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and the enjoyment of all their civil rights, until a general Book II. pacification should determine their future condition.
Various circumstances united their influence in procur- ing these favorable terms for the enemy. The season was so far advanced as to become cold and stormy, unhealthy for the troops, and dangerous for the fleet. The number of men was so small, that it was hardly sufficient complete- ly to invest the city. The enemy continued to assemble in force in the rear of the British army; and though the lower town was in a manner destroyed, and the upper one much damaged, yet the walls were in a state of defence : and it was judged a considerable advantage to take pos- session of the city in that condition. Another circum- stance, which, at that time, rendered the capitulation more singularly fortunate and providential was, that Monsieur Levi had arrived from Montreal, with two battalions, to reinforce the enemy, who were rallying behind cape Rouge. Monsieur Bourgainville, at the same time, was advancing with a convoy of provisions, at the head of eight hundred men, with a view of throwing himself into the town, the ve- ry morning on which it was surrendered.
A garrison of five thousand regulars, with some light troops, were left in the city, under the command of general Murray. The garrison was plentifully supplied with pro- visions, ammunition, and warlike stores. The fleet soon sailed for England ; and about a thousand French officers, soldiers and seamen, were embarked on board a number of English vessels and sent to France.
Thus, after a severe campaign, of nearly three months, fell the capital of the French settlements in America. Considered in all its circumstances, perhaps there never was an enterprise, attended with so many difficulties, man- aged with more gallant perseverance, nor accomplished with more ability and vigor. A city strong in its situa- tion, and strong in fortifications, was to be attacked ; an army greatly superior in numbers to the besiegers, posted under its walls, in an almost impregnable situation, 'under a cautious and experienced commander, was to be defeat- ed ; a theatre of more than five leagues was to be filled, and operations of this extent to be carried on ; and all this was to be accomplished by an army of only about eight thousand men. In overcoming the obstacles of nature, as well as of art, general Wolfe shewed himself to be supe- rior to every difficulty. All the dispositions of that dar- ing, but judicious attempt, which divided the force of the enemy, drew Montcalm from his entrenchments, and final- ly effected the capture of Quebec, were so many masterly strokes in the art of war.
1759.
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BOOK II. The perfect harmony and united zeal and exertions of the whole fleet and army, had a capital influence in this 1759. grand event. In it all good men will discern a divine su- perintendency. How conspicuous was this, in combining so many favorable circumstances as were necessary for gaining the heights of Abraham ? And in preventing those numerous incidents, by which it might have been defeated, and against which no human foresight could have made effectual provision ?
When the news of the reduction of Quebec arrived in England, it is hardly possible to describe the various and mixed emotions, which instantly pervaded the nation. But two days before, the ministry had received the dis- patches of general Wolfe, after the check at Montmorenci. As the general appeared then to doubt of success, the pub- lic judged they had reason to despair. But in the midst of this general despondency, a second express arriving, at once announced the victory and capture of Quebec, and the death of general Wolfe. News so joyful, immediately on a state of general dejection, has an unusual effect. That mixture of pity and grief which attended the public joy and congratulations, was singular, and peculiarly affecting.
Major Rogers, who was sent out with a scouting party on the 8th of August, fell in with a large number of French and Indians near Wood Creek, A smart engagement im- mediately ensued. Major Putnam, afterwards general Put- nam, was taken prisoner, with some others, and carried to Canada, where he was kept about three months. In this action, Peter Wooster, of Derby, an ensign in colonel Na- than Whiting's regiment, had six balls shot through him, had his elbow, wrist and hand broken in pieces with the hatchet, and received seven other blows from it ; was scalp- ed and stripped, and left as a dead man in the place where he fell ; and yet he afterwards revived, and was recovered to a comfortable state. The assembly, upon his applica- tion, representing that, by reason of the wounds which he had received, he was in a great measure incapacitated for labor, granted him forty pounds lawful money for his assistance.
While those great events had taken place in Canada, general Amherst was making all possible exertions on the lakes ; but it was the 11th of October before he had com- pleted the shipping necessary to command the lake, and could be ready to attack the enemy. On this day, having the whole army embarked in batteaux, in excellent order, covered with his shipping, he advanced down the lake to. attack the enemy. But the next day the weather became
General Amherst advances.
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so tempestuous that he was obliged to take shelter in a bay Book II. on the western shore, and to disembark the troops. While they remained on shore, captain Loring, with the squadron, 1759. sailed down the lake, and drove three of the French ships French into a bay, where two of them were sunk in deep water, ships des- and abandoned by their crews. The third was run aground, troyed. and was also deserted. This captain Loring repaired and brought off. The French were now despoiled of all their shipping on the lake, except one schooner. General Am- herst, after lying wind bound some days, re-embarked his troops and proceeded down the lake : but the storm, which had for some time abated, beginning again with greater violence, and the wind blowing with such fury that the waves ran mountain high, he was obliged to return again to the same bay, where he had sought safety before, and re-land his army. The general being convinced that the season for action was elapsed, and that it was unsafe to ven- ture the army on the lake in batteaux, returned to Crown Point. The remainder of the season was employed in raising the new fortress at Crown Point, with three small out forts for its defence ; in forming roads for communica- tion between Ticonderoga and the governments of Massa- chusetts and New-Hampshire ; and in making such dispo- sitions for quartering the troops, as, during the winter, should secure the country from all damage and insult by the enemy.
Thus closed the ever memorable campaign of 1759 : a campaign, the success of which made ample amends for the inactivity and disappointments of former years ; and will always do the highest honor, not only to the generals who commanded in the several enterprises, but to the nation in general.
By the reduction of Ticonderoga, Crown Point and Ni- agara, and especially of Quebec, the remaining part of Canada became invested on every side, and entirely cut off from every communication with France. The troops under monsieur Levi, at Montreal and Trois Rivieres, with those at the isle Aux Noix, could receive no recruits of men, provisions, or military stores. The way was open to advance upon them in the spring from the lakes Ontario and Champlain, and from Quebec, up the river St. Lawrence, and presented the most flattering prospect of the total re- duction of all Canada.
The nation was deeply sensible of the divine benefi- cence in the successes of the campaign, and thanksgivings were offered, both in Great-Britain and in America, unto Him who giveth the victory, and saveth by few as well as by many.
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BOOK II. 1760.
CHAPTER XX.
State of the garrison at Quebec. Designs of Monsieur Levi. His preparations for the siege of the city. Marches with his army from Montreal. Battle of Sillery. General Murray defeated, and Quebec is besieged. Lord Colville arrives with the British fleet: The French shipping de- stroyed, and the siege raised. Preparations for the cam- paign in 1760. Plan of it. Resolutions of the General Assembly of Connecticut, respecting it. Movements of general Amherst: He goes down the river St. Lawrence. Makes a junction with generals Murray and Haviland, at. Montreal. The city surrenders, and the whole country of Canada is conquered.
TTT had been supposed, the last year, that, by the reduce tion of Quebec, Canada was, in effect, conquered. But, experience soon taught the English, that more dangers awaited them, and that much more remained to be done, to complete the advantages to which the taking of the capi- tal had given an opening, than, at that time, the most saga- cious had been able to foresee. It very soon appeared that there was danger of losing that important acquisition, which had been made by such uncommon exertions of military prowess, and by such consummate generalship, in the face of so many dangers, and at the expense of so ma- ny lives.
As soon as possible after the reduction of Quebec, the English fleet retired, that they might not be damaged by the storms usual at that season, nor frozen up in the river. As in the winter the river would be frozen up, it was ima- gined that no shipping would be necessary for the defence of the city, and, consequently, none were left. Lord Col- ville, with a strong squadron, remained at Halifax, with orders to visit Quebec in the spring. General Amherst was at New-York, and had so cantoned his troops as, early in the spring, to recommence his operations, for the entire reduction of Canada. With this disposition, it was con- ceived, the English garrison at Quebec, and the American posts, would be safe and undisturbed.
Designs of But immediately after the departure of the English fleet, the enemy. Monsieur Levi conceived the idea of recovering Quebec. The army which he commanded was more numerous than the land force which had made the conquest. He had a number of frigates, by which he could entirely command
-
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the river. He established advanced posts at Point au Book II. Tremble, St. Augustine and Le Calvaire ; while the main body of his army quartered between Trois Rivieres and 1760. Jaques Quartier. As he had formed the design of taking Quebec in the winter, and carrying it by a coup de main, he provided snow shoes, scaling ladders, and whatever might be necessary for that purpose. He took possession of Point Levi, and there formed a magazine of provisions.
governor Murray,
General Murray, on his part, omitted no exertions nor Precau- precautions in his power, for the defence of the city, and tions of the annoyance of the enemy. During the winter, he re- paired more than five hundred houses, which had been damaged by the English shells and cannon. He built eight redoubts, raised foot banks along the ramparts, opened embrasures, and mounted cannon. He blocked up the avenues of the suburbs with a stockade, removed eleven months provisions into the highest parts of the city, and formed a magazine of four thousand fascines. He posted two hundred men at St. Foix and Lorette. A detachment marched to St. Augustine, and brought off the enemy's ad- vanced guard, with great numbers of cattle, and disarmed the inhabitants. By these means, the motions of the ene- my were constantly watched, and the avenues to the city secured. As soon as the river froze over, he detached a party to Point Levi, drove off the enemy, and took their magazine. He disarmed the inhabitants on the river, and obliged them to take the oath of allegiance. The English government, by these means, was maintained over nearly a dozen parishes ..
By these measures, the outposts were so well secured, and the avenues to the city so effectually guarded, that Monsieur Levi judged. it most prudent to give up his de- sign of attempting to take the city by surprise, and not to begin his operations till the spring should open, and he could form a regular siege. To be ready for this, no pains were spared. The French ships were rigged, gallies built, bombs and bullets cast, fascines and gabions prepared, and the militia disciplined and called to arms. From the in- Prepara- habitants of the country, M. Levi raised eight complete tions of the battalions. Of the colonists, he formed forty companies enemy. into regiments.
General Murray had certain intelligence, that the French general was determined to undertake the siege of Quebec, as soon as the river should be clear of ice, so that the frig- ates and other vessels could act. He knew that by these he would be able entirely to command the river.
In the mean time, the garrison had suffered so much by
C 3
1
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1760. State of the garri- son.
Book II. the extreme coldness of the winter, in that northern cli- mate, and for the want of vegetables and fresh provisions, that before the end of April, one thousand of them were dead, of the scurvy and other disorders.# The general, notwithstanding, detached parties, who surprised the ene- my's posts at St. Augustine, Maison, Brubec, and Le Cal- vairc. Nearly a hundred prisoners were taken .. After- wards, the light infantry were dispatched to take possession of Cape Rouge, and to fortify it, to prevent the enemy from landing at that post, and to be near at hand, to watch their motions, Besides, considering the city as only a strong cantonment, he projected a plan of defence, by ex- tending his lines, and entrenching his troops, on the heights of Abraham, at the distance of about a hundred and sixty rods from the city. These commanded its ramparts, and, by a small force, might have been defended against a for- midable enemy. Fascines, and every article necessary for the purpose, had been prepared. In April, the men began to work on the projected lines ; but the ground was so fro- zen, that it was found impracticable to carry the design into execution.
The enemy advance.
No sooner was the frost abated, so as to favour the de- signs of the enemy, than his provisions, ammunition, and heavy baggage, fell down the river St. Lawrence, under the convoy of six frigates, of from forty-four to twenty-six guns. The river was now wholly under his commande This was a circumstance of great importance, as to the success of his enterprise. The enemy landed at such pla - ces as suited his convenience. The British, abandoning their posts, one after another, retired into the city.
On the night of the twenty-sixth of April, the main army of the enemy landed at Point au Tremble. It consisted of five thousand regular troops, six thousand Canadians, and four or five hundred Indians .* The numbers were, after- wards, considerably increased.t On the intelligence of the enemy's approach, general Murray ordered all the bridge's over the river Caprouge to be broken down, and secured the landing places at Sillery and Toulon. The next day, perceiving it was the design of the French gene- ral to cut off his outposts, which had not yet been called in, he marched out in person, with two field-pieces ; and, taking possession of an advantageous situation, defeated ,the design. Having withdrawn his detachments, he rc- tired, with little loss, into the city.
# Rider's Hist. vol. xlvi. p. 163, 169, and governor Murray's letter to Mr. Secretary Pitt.
* Wright's Hist. vol. ii; p. 250, and Rider's, vol. xlvi. p. 169, 170.
t General Murray, in bis letter to the ministry, says he was besieged by 15,000 men.
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As the British troops had been in the habit of victory, Book II. and they had a fine train of artillery, general Murray de- termined rather to risk a general battle, than tamely to 1760. submit to the damages and hardships of a siege. Accord- ingly, on the twenty-eighth of April, he marched out, with a train of twenty field-pieces, and the whole number of his effective men, amounting to three thousand only. These formed on the heights in the best order. On reconnoiter- ing the enemy, he perceived that their van was taking pos- Battle of 1 Sillery, April 28th,
session of a rising ground in his front, and that the main army was marching in a single column, unformed. Judg- ing this to be the lucky moment, he advanced immediately to the attack, before they had formed their line. The Eng- lish charged the van of the enemy so furiously, both on their right and left, as soon drove them from the eminences, though they were well maintained. The van of the French gave way, and fell back on the main body, which was forming to support them. This checked the pursuit of the English. The light infantry were now ordered to regain the flanks of the enemy ; but they were so furiously char- ged in the attempt, that they were obliged to retire into the rear, in such a shattered condition, that they could not be brought up again during the action. Otway's regiment, from the body of reserve, was instantly ordered to advance and sustain the right wing. This was so well supported, that the repeated attempts of the enemy to penetrate it, were in vain. Meanwhile, the left brigade of the English dispossessed the enemy of two redoubts, and, for a long time, with prodigious resolution, sustained the whole ef- forts of his right. This was reinforced by the third bat- talion of the royal Americans, who were of the corps de re- serve, and also by Kennedy's, from the centre. The en- emy, however, were able, by a steady and furious fire, not only to support their centre, but to wheel round, and pour in such fresh and repeated force upon the flanks of the English, that, notwithstanding every exertion of military art and prowess, the enemy began to encompass them in a semicircle ; and, pouring in upon the left a fresh regiment, (that of de Rousillon,) after they were fought down, and re- duced to a handful in that quarter, they penetrated that wing of the English army, and threw it into confusion. The disorder was soon communicated to the right; and it appeared that there was the utmost danger that the army would be surrounded, and taken. As speedy a retreat as The Eng- possible became necessary. In this there were such diffi- lish are de- culties, as nothing but the magnanimity of the troops, and feated, the spirit and skill of their general and his officers, could
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