Part 2

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.

22d, Admiral Holmes, with the Captains of the _Sutherland_ and _Squirrel_, 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.

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.

30th, The _Lowestoff_ and _Hunter_, 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.

_September_ 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.

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.

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.

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.

6th, In the morning Admiral Holmes made up with his fleet to St. Nicholas, six leagues above Quebec. _N.B._ This Morning the _Rodney_ cutter sail’d express for England.

7th, Landed 2200 of the troops at St. Nicholas, on the south shore, in order to refresh them, being extreamly crowded in the transports.

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.

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, _viz._ 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.

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.

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.

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.

Could the junction have taken place, we might bid defiance to united strength, of French, Indians, and Canadians.

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.

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.

Every thing is in motion, and a few hours will probably determine the fate of Canada.

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.

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.

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.—_Mem._ 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 _Stirling Castle_, in order to be sent to England for interment.

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.

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.

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.

FINIS.

TRANSCRIBER NOTES

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.

Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious printer errors occur.

[The end of _An Accurate and Authentic Journal of the Siege of Quebec 1759_, by Anonymous.]