fifty miles of unbroken forest yet remaining to be traversed, it was decided by a council of war to relinquish the expedition until the following year. Fortunately, at this juncture three prisoners were brought in, from whom it was ascertained that the garrison, cut off from their usual supplies by the capture of Fort Frontenac, had been deserted by their Indian allies, upon whose fidelity the hope of a successful defence had mainly depended. Inspirited by these tidings, Forbes resolved to leave behind him the heavy baggage and artillery, and press forward at once. Washington, at his own solicitation, was thrown in advance to clear the way for the main army. But the obstacles were many and the progress slow; and it was not until the 25th of November that the troops took peaceable possession of the ruins of Fort Duquesne, the French having fired and abandoned it the day previous. The structure was immediately ordered to be renewed and strengthened, and having been supplied with a garrison of four hundred and fifty men, was named Fort Pitt, in honour of the minister whose energy and decision had so greatly contributed to the general success of the campaign.

1759.]

CAMPAIGN OF 1759.

221

CHAPTER XVII.

Campaign of 1759-Plan of conquest-Prideaux marches against Fort Niagara-Invests it-Is killed-Attempts of the French to raise the siege―Their defeat-Capitulation of the garrison-March of Amherst -Ticonderoga and Crown Point deserted-Wolfe sails for Quebec-Takes possession of the Isle of Orleans-Quebec-Its situation and defencesDefended by Montcalm-His encampment-Attempt to fire the British fleet frustrated-Occupation of Point LeviWolfe encamps on the east bank of the Montmorenci— Battle of Montmorenci-The English repulsed-Murray ordered up the St. Lawrence-The heights of AbrahamPlan of attack-Daring movement of Wolfe-Its success— Incredulity of Montcalm-Preparations for battle-The English victorious-Death of Wolfe-Montcalm mortally wounded—Capitulation of Quebec-De Levi attempts to recapture it-Capture of Montreal-Final conquest of Canada.

EMBOLDENED by the advantages already gained, Pitt now resolved upon the entire conquest of Canada. His call upon the colonies for additional levies for the campaign of 1759 was met with alacrity. New York voted her previous quota of two thousand six hundred and eighty men, and appropriated one hundred thousand pounds for their levy and equipment.

The plan of conquest embraced three expeditions, separately commanded. While Prideaux marched against the fort at Niagara, Amherst, who had succeeded Abercrombie as commander

in-chief, was to advance upon Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and, after reducing those places, was to proceed, by way of Lake Champlain and the Sorel River, to the assistance of Wolfe, who, supported by a powerful fleet under Admiral Saunders, had been ordered to attempt the reduction of Quebec.

The first blow was struck by Prideaux. Leaving a portion of his troops at Oswego to reconstruct a fort at that place, he embarked on Lake Ontario with about two thousand regulars and provincials, reinforced by several hundred Iroquois warriors led by Sir William Johnson; and landing on the 6th of July, without opposition, a few miles east of the peninsula upon which the ruins of Fort Niagara are yet to be seen, invested it in form.

Anxious to preserve a station of so much importance to the safety of the interior posts, detachments from the garrisons at Detroit, Le Boeuf, Venango, and Erie, to the number of twelve hundred men, accompanied by a strong body of Indian auxiliaries, hastened to the relief of the besieged.

Receiving early intelligence of the danger by which he was menaced, Prideaux made his arrangements to meet it. Being killed on the 15th of July by the bursting of a cohorn, the chief command devolved upon Sir William Johnson, who, faithfully following out the plans of his

1759.]

TICONDEROGA TAKEN.

223

predecessor, posted his troops between the fort and the cataract, so as to intercept the advance of the French. On the morning of the 24th of July the latter made their appearance, and the war-whoop of their Indian allies was the signal for battle. The contest was sustained with great firmness and determination for nearly an hour; but the Iroquois, gaining the flanks of the French, succeeded in throwing them into confusion, and the English charging at the same moment, a panic ensued which ended in the total rout of the relieving force, large numbers of whom, hotly pursued, were killed in the surrounding forests. The next day the garrison, six hundred and seven in number, capitulated; and communication with Erie, Le Boeuf, and Venango being thus cut off, those posts were abandoned soon after.

While the western army was investing Fort Niagara, Amherst marched for Ticonderoga. With eleven thousand regulars and provincials he descended Lake George in four columns of boats, and on the 22d of July disembarked his troops on the eastern shore of the outlet, nearly opposite to the point where Abercrombie had landed previously. The French being defeated the same evening in a skirmish at the Saw-mills, Bourlamarque, their commander, abandoned the lines from behind which Montcalm had repulsed his assailants with so much slaughter, leaving

behind him four hundred men to garrison the fortress. Cautiously advancing, Amherst took possession of the deserted works; but, before his batteries were completed, the garrison blew up their magazines, and on the 26th retreated to Crown Point. On the 31st, they evacuated the latter fort also, and fell back to Isle-aux-Noix, where, thirty-five hundred in number, well furnished with artillery, and having a naval superiority on the lake, they proceeded to entrench themselves. The repair of the abandoned forts, and the construction of vessels of sufficient strength to cope with those of the enemy, occupied the attention of Amherst until the 10th of October, when, not knowing that Quebec had already fallen, he set sail for the purpose of cooperating with Wolfe; but being baffled by adverse winds, he returned to Crown Point on the 21st, and disposed of his troops in winter quarters.

As soon as the harbour of Louisburg was free from floating ice, Wolfe, having under him Brigadiers Monckton, Townsend, and Murray, all three of whom were young men of station and affluence, had embarked his army of eight thousand men under convoy of a fleet of forty-four ships of the line, frigates, and armed vessels, commanded by Admiral Saunders, and, ascending the St. Lawrence, had landed his forces on