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- 1759, 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 completely 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 possession of the city in that condition. Another circumstance, 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 very 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 provisions, 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, managed with more gallant perseverance, nor accomplished with more ability and vigor. A city strong in its situation, 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 defeated; 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 superior to every difficulty. All the dispositions of that daring, 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.

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 superintendency. 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?

Amherst

advances.

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 dispatches of general Wolfe, after the check at Montmorenci. As the general appeared then to doubt of success, the public 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 immediately ensued. Major Putnam, afterwards general Putnam, was taken prisoner, with some others, and carried to Capada, where he was kept about three months. In this action, Peter Wooster, of Derby, an ensign in colonel Nathan 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 scalped 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 application, 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 general Amherst was making all possible exertions on the lakes; but it was the 11th of October before he had completed 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

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 desand 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 Amherst, 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 venture 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 communication between Ticonderoga and the governments of Massachusetts and New-Hampshire; and in making such dispositions 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 Niagara, 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 reduction of all Canada.

The nation was deeply sensible of the divine beneficence 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.

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 destroyed, and the siege raised. Preparations for the campaign 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.

T had been supposed, the last year, that, by the reduc

was, 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 capital had given an opening, than, at that time, the most sagacious 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 many 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 imagined that no shipping would be necessary for the defence of the city, and, consequently, none were left. Lord Colville, 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

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

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- Murray. 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 advanced guard, with great numbers of cattle, and disarmed the inhabitants. By these means, the motions of the enemy 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 design 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- Preparahabitants 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 frigates 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