340

CAMPAIGN OF 1759.

bravely at Ticonderoga, and Putnam, in a gallant encounter with a vastly superior force, was taken prisoner. He nearly lost his life at the stake, but was taken into Canada, and afterwards exchanged.

The campaign of 1758, had terminated very honourably to the British troops. Of the three expeditions, two had entirely succeeded, and the leader of the third had made an important acquisition. Pitt had inspired the colonists with confidence, and to this must be attributed the beneficial results of the campaign. He now resolved to signalize the year 1759, by the complete conquest of Canada. Notwithstanding the exhausted state of the colonies, they seconded the exertions of their favourite minister with uncommon zeal. In the next campaign, it was proposed to attack, simultaneously, nearly all the strongholds of the French in Canada, by three powerful armies, which should enter the province by different routes. Major-General Amherst, who had reduced Louisbourg in the last year, succeeded Abercrombie in the command of the army in North America. Brigadier-General Wolfe, who had signalized himself at Louisbourg, was to command the first expedition, ascend the St. Lawrence, and lay siege to Quebec. He was to be convoyed by a strong fleet, which was to co-operate with his troops. The central and main army, under Amherst himself, was to dispossess the French of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and then proceed over Lake Champlain, and by the way of Richelieu river to the St. Lawrence, where a junction was to be effected with General Wolfe, before Quebec. Fort Niagara was to be reduced by the third expedition, under General Prideaux, composed of provincial troops and Indians; and after Prideaux had made himself master of that place, he was to embark on Lake Ontario, and proceed down the St. Lawrence against Montreal.

Although Amherst designed moving against Ticonderoga early in the spring, the summer was far advanced before he could cross Lake George, and it was not till the 2d of July that he reached that fortress. The enemy immediately abandoned the outer lines, and retired into the fort; and after

FORT TICONDEROGA TAKEN.

341

blowing up the magazine, retreated to Crown Point. Having repaired the fortifications, Amherst followed them; but they immediately quitted this place, and retired to the Isle aux Noix, at the northern extremity of Lake Champlain. Here they had thirty-five hundred men, with provisions, artillery, and four large armed vessels. After unsuccessfully attempting to conquer them, he retired to Crown Point, where he established his winter quarters.

Prideaux landed on the 6th of July, within three miles of Fort Niagara, which he besieged in due form. He was killed on the 20th, and the command devolved on Sir William Johnson. The French being sorely pressed, resolved to attempt to raise the siege by hazarding a battle. In less than an hour they were completely routed, and the fate of Niagara was sealed. On the next day, the 25th of July, a capitulation

342

EXPEDITION AGAINST QUEBEC.

was signed, and the garrison, consisting of six hundred and seven men, were embarked on the lake and carried to New York. The women and children were sent to Montreal.

General Wolfe, not being joined by the other expeditions, was obliged to rely upon his own exertions, which were fully equal for the occasion. Pitt was not mistaken when he gave the command of this most dangerous enterprise to the young and ardent Wolfe, and his three youthful associates, Monckton, Townsend, and Murray. Wolfe embarked at Louisbourg with eight thousand men and a train of artillery, and proceeded up the St. Lawrence to the Island of Orleans, a few miles below Quebec. From this place, he was enabled to take a clear view of his difficulties, which to any other mind than his own, would have appeared insuperable. Even he had more cause to fear than to hope. But with every obstacle fully in view, Wolfe, heroically observing that "a victorious army finds no difficulties," resolved to pass the Montmorency, and bring Montcalm to an engagement. They were at first successful; but the intrepid Montcalm soon rallied his troops, and aided by a dreadful thunder-storm, repulsed the enemy. Wolfe ordered his troops to recross the river, and returned to the Island of Orleans. In this attack he lost near five hundred men.

On the 3d of September, Wolfe abandoned Camp Orleans, and with the aid of the fleet, landed part of his army at Point Levi, and the remainder still higher up the river. He now determined, by the advice of his three able supporters, to gain the Heights of Abraham, in rear of the city. With incredible labour this was effected in the night, and by the break of day the whole army had reached the summit. When informed that the English had gained the Heights of Abraham, Montcalm could not at first credit the intelligence. When convinced of his error, he made instant preparations for a battle. The dispositions of the two armies made by two of the most able generals in America, could not fail of being masterly. Wolfe commanded the right of the English, and Montcalm the left of the French, and in this quarter the battle

raged most fiercely. At about nine in the morning of the 13th of September, the French advanced briskly to the charge, and the action soon became general. The English reserved their fire until the French were within forty yards, and then gave it with terrible effect. Wolfe was wounded in the wrist, in the commencement of the action, but he betrayed no symptom of pain, and wrapping a handkerchief round his arm, continued to encourage his men. He was soon after wounded in the body; but he still continued at the head of his troops. Whilst pressing on with his grenadiers, with fixed bayonets, a third ball pierced his breast. He was now carried to the rear, and

344

DEATH OF WOLFE.

the army, burning for revenge, continued the action under Monckton, who, being soon after wounded, gave the command to General Townsend. Murray now broke the centre of the French army, and the Highlanders, with their broadswords, completed their confusion, and falling on them with resistless. fury, drove part of them over the St. Charles, and the remainder into Quebec. On the 18th, the city capitulated to Townsend, and the French power in America was crushed. Montcalm received a mortal wound, and was carried into the city; and Senezurgus, the second in command of the French, also fell in the battle.

General Wolfe, who expired in the arms of victory, was only thirty-three years of age. He possessed those military talents, which, with the advantage of years and opportunity of action, “to moderate his ardour, expand his faculties, and give to his intuitive perception and scientific knowledge, the correctness of judgment perfected by experience," would have "placed him on a level with the most celebrated generals of any age or nation." After he had received his mortal wound, it was with reluctance that he suffered himself to be conveyed to the rear. Leaning on the shoulder of a lieutenant, who kneeled down to support him, he was seized with the agonies of death; but hearing the cry, "They fly! They fly!" he roused himself and asked "Who fly?" "The French," was the reply. "Then I depart content," said the dying hero, and almost instantly expired. A death more glorious, says Belsham, is nowhere to be found in history. Montcalm was every way worthy to be the opponent of Wolfe. He had the truest military genius of any officer whom the French had ever employed in America. When informed that his wound was mortal, he replied, "I am glad of it." On being told that he could survive but a few hours, "So much the better," he replied, "I shall not then live to see the surrender of Quebec."

Five thousand men, under the command of Murray, were placed as a garrison in the city, which, at the time of its capitulation, contained about ten thousand souls; and the British fleet sailed out of the St. Lawrence.