troops, five thousand disciplined militia, and five hundred savages. At ten, MONTCALM's line of battle was formed, at least six deep, having their flanks covered by a thick wood on each side-along the bushes in front he had thrown about fifteen hundred Canadians and Indians, whose fire was as galling as it was incessant, until the battle became general.

The official despatches of General TOWNSHEND give full details of this memorable conflict, and of the subsequent surrender of QUEBEC. To them we shall subjoin several authentic and interesting particulars, which have been collected in order to illustrate and throw into the clearest light the glory of this achievement, rendered for ever illustrious by the fall of the two leaders.

Letter from the Honorable Brigadier General MONCKTON to the Right Honorable Mr. Secretary PITT, dated, Camp at Pointe Lévi, September 15, 1759.

SIR,

I have the pleasure to acquaint you, that, on the 13th instant, His Majesty's troops gained a very signal victory over the French, a little above the town of Quebec. General Wolfe, exerting himself on the right of our line, received a wound pretty early, of which he died soon after, and I had myself the great misfortune of receiving one in my right breast by a ball, that went through part of my lungs (and which has been cut out under the blade bone of my shoulder,) just as the French were giving way, which obliged me to quit the field. I have therefore, Sir, desired General Townshend, who now commands the troops before the town, (and of which I am in hopes he will be soon in possession,) to acquaint you with the particulars of that day, and of the operations carrying on.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ROB. MONCKTON.

P. S.-His Majesty's troops behaved with the greatest steadiness and bravery.

As the Surgeons tell me there is no danger in my wound, I am in hopes that I shall be soon able to join the army before the town.

Letter from the Honorable Brigadier General TOWNSHEND to the Right Honorable Mr. Secretary PITT, dated, Camp before Quebec, Sept. 20, 1759.

SIR,

I have the honour to acquaint you with the success of His Majesty's Arms, on the 13th instant, in an action with the French, on the heights to the westward of this town.

It being determined to carry the operations above the town, the posts at Pointe Lévi and l'Isle d' Orleans being secured, the General marched, with the remainder of the force, from Pointe Lévi the 5th and 6th, and embarked them in transports, which had passed the town for that purpose. On the 7th, 8th and 9th, a movement of the ships was made up, by Admiral Holmes, in order to amuse the enemy now posted along the north shore; but the transports being extremely crowded, and the weather very bad, the General thought proper to cantoon half his troops on the south shore; where they were refreshed, and re-imbarked upon the 12th at one in the morning. The light infantry, commanded by Colonel Howe, the regiments of Bragg, Kennedy, Lascelles, and Anstruther, with a detachment of Highlanders, and American Grenadiers, the whole being under the command of Brigadiers Monckton and Murray, were put into the flat-bottomed boats, and after some movement of the ships made by Admiral Holmes, to draw the attention of the enemy above, the boats fell down with the tide, and landed on the north shore, within a league of Cape Diamond, an hour before day break. The rapidity of the tide of ebb carried them a little below the intended place of attack, which obliged the light infantry to scramble up a woody precipice, in order to secure the landing the troops, by dislodging a Captain's post, which defended the small intrenched path the troops were to ascend. After a little firing, the light infantry gained the top of the precipice, and dispersed the Captain's post; by which means, the troops, with a very little loss from a few Canadians and Indians in the wood, got up, and were immediately formed. The boats, as they emptied, were sent back for the second embarkation, which I immediately made. Brigadier Murray, who had been detached with Anstruther's battalion to attack the four gun battery upon the left, was recalled by the General, who now saw the French army crossing the River St. Charles. General Wolfe thereupon began to form his line, having his

right covered by the Louisbourg grenadiers; on the right of these again he afterwards brought Qtway's; to the left of the grenadiers were Bragg's, Kennedy's, Lascelles's, Highlanders, and Anstruther's; the right of this body was commanded by Brigadier Monckton, and the left by Brigadier Murray; his rear and left were protected by Colonel Howe's light infantry, who was returned from the four gun battery before mentioned, which was soon abandoned to him. General Montcalm having collected the whole of his force from the Beauport side, and advancing, shewed his intention to flank our left, where I was immediately ordered with General Amherst's battalion, which I formed en potence. My numbers were soon after increased by the arrival of the two battalions of Royal Americans; and Webb's was drawn up by the General, as a reserve, in eight subdivisions with large intervals. The enemy lined the bushes in their front, with 1500 Indians and Canadians, and I dare say had placed most of their best marksmen there, who kept up a very galling, though irregular, fire upon our whole line, who bore it with the greatest patience, and good order, reserving their fire for the main body, now advancing. This fire of the enemy was, however, checked by our posts in our front, which protected the forming our own line. The right of the enemy was composed of half the troops of the Colony, the battalions of La Sarre, Languedoc, and the remainder of their Canadians and Indians. Their centre was a column, and formed by the battalions of Bearn and Guienne. Their left was composed of the remaining troops of the colony, and the battalion of Royal Rousillon. This was, as near as I can guess, their line of battle. They brought up two pieces of small artillery against us, and we had been able to bring up but one gun; which being admirably well served, galled their column exceedingly. My attention to the left will not permit me to be very exact with regard to every circumstance which passed in the centre, much less to the right; but it is most certain that the enemy formed in good order, and that their attack was very brisk and animated on that side. Our troops reserved their fire, till within forty yards, which was so well continued, that the enemy every where gave way. It was then our General fell at the head of Bragg's, and the Louisbourg grenadiers, advancing with their bayonets. About the same time, Brigadier General Monckton received his wound at the head of Lascelles's. In the front of the opposite battalions fell also Montcalm; and his second in command is since dead of his wounds on board of our fleet. Part of the enemy made a second faint attack. Part took to

some thick copse wood, and seemed to make a stand. It was at this moment that each corps seemed in a manner to exert itself, with a view to its own peculiar character. The grenadiers, Bragg's, and Lascelles's, pressed on with their bayonets. Brigadier Murray advancing with the troops under his command briskly, completed the route on this side; when the Highlanders, supported by Anstruther's, took to their broad swords, and drove part into the town, and part to the works at their bridge on the River St. Charles.

The action, on our left and rear, was not so severe. The houses, into which the light infantry were thrown, were well defended, being supported by Colonel Howe, who taking post with two companies behind a small copse, and frequently sallying upon the flanks of the enemy during their attack, drove them often into heaps, against the front of which body I advanced platoons of Amherst's regiment, which totally prevented the right wing from executing their first intention. Before this, one of the Royal American battalions had been detached to preserve our communication with our boats, and the other being sent to occupy the ground which Brigadier Murray's movement had left open, I remained with Amherst's to support this disposition, and to keep the enemy's right, and a body of their savages, which waited still more towards our rear opposite the posts of our light infantry, waiting for an opportunity to fall upon our rear.

This, Sir, was the situation of things, when I was told, in the action, that I commanded: I immediately repaired to the centre, and finding the pursuit had put part of the troops in disorder, I formed them as soon as possible. Scarce was this effected when M. De Bougainville, with his corps from Cape Rouge, of 2000 men, appeared in our rear. I advanced two pieces of artillery, and two battalions towards him; upon which he retired. You will not, J♫ flatter myself, blame me for not quitting such advantageous ground, and risking the fate of a decisive day, by seeking a fresh enemy, posted perhaps in the very kind of ground he could wish for, viz. woods and swamps. We took a great number of French officers upon the field of battle, and one piece of cannon. Their loss is computed to be about 1500 men, which feil chiefly upon their regulars. I have been employed, from the day of action, to that of the capitulation, in redoubting our camp beyond insult, in making a road up the precipice for our cannon, in getting up the artillery, preparing the batteries, and cutting off their communication with the country. The 17th, at noon, before we had any

battery erected, or could have any for two or three days, a flag of trace came out with proposals of capitulation, which I sent back again to the town, allowing them four hours to capitulate, or no farther treaty. The Admiral had, at this time, brought up his large ships as intending to attack the town. The French officer returned at night with terms of capitulation; which, with the Admiral, were considered, agreed to, and signed at eight in the morning, the 18th instant. The terms we granted, will, I flatter myself, be approved of by His Majesty, considering the enemy assembling in our rear, and, what is far more formidable, the very wet cold season, which threatened our troops with sickness, and the fleet with some accident; it had made our road so bad, we could not bring up a gun for some time; add to this, the advantage of entering the town, with the walls in a defensible state, and the being able to put a garrison there strong enough to prevent all surprise. These, I hope, will be deemed sufficient considerations for granting them the terms I have the honour to transmit to you. The inha bitants of the country come into us fast, bringing in their arms, and taking the oaths of fidelity, until a general peace determines their situation.

I have the honour to inclose, herewith, a list of the killed and wounded; a list of the prisoners as perfect as I have yet been able to get it; and a list of the artillery and stores in the town, as well as of those fallen into our hands at Beauport in consequence of the victory. By deserters we learn, that the enemy are re-assembling what troops they can, behind the Cape Rouge; that M. De Levy is come down from the Montreal side to command them; some say he has brought two battalions with him; if so, this blow has already assisted General Amherst. By other deserters we learn, that M. De Bougainville, with 800 men and provisions, was on his march to fling himself into the town on the 18th, the very morning it capitulated, on which day we had not completed the investiture of the place, as they had broke their bridge of boats, and had detachments in very strong works on the other side of the River St. Charles.

I should not do justice to the Admirals, and the naval service, if I neglected this occasion of acknowledging how much we are indebted for our success to the constant assistance and support received from them, and the perfect harmony and correspondence, which has prevailed throughout all our operations, in the uncommon difficulties, which the nature of this country, in particular, presents to the military operations of a great extent,