RELATING TO THE OPERATIONS BEFORE QUEBEC IN 1759, KEPT BY COLONEL MALCOLM FRASER, Then Lieutenant of the 78th (Fraser's Highlanders) and serving in that Campaign. [Col. M. Fraser died in 1815, at the age of 82. The original of this manuscript is in the possession of the family of the late Hon. J. M. Fraser, who kindly allowed this copy to be made from it for the use of the Literary and Historical Society. Tuesday, 8th. May, 1759. Set sail from Sandy Hook for Louisburg with a fair wind, under convoy of the Nightingale, Captain Campbell, the fleet consisting of about twenty eight Sail; the greatest part of which is to take in the Troops from Nova Scotia, and the rest having Colonel Fraser's Regiment on board. Thursday, 17th. May. We came into the harbour of Louisbourg, having had a very agreeable and quick passage. We are ordered ashore every day while here, to exercise along with the rest of the Army. On the 29th. May, and some days before and after, the Harbour of Louisbourg was so full of shoals of Ice that no boats could go from the Ships to Shore. There is still some snow in the hollows, on shore. I suppose the Ice comes from the Gulf and river of St. Lawrence. I hear a Lieutenant, on board one of the Men of War, has shot himself, for fear I suppose, the French should do it. If he was wearied of life, he might soon get quit of it in a more honourable way. 1st. June, The Regiments are all arrived, and I hear we shall soon sail. Monday, 4th. June, the Fleet set sail. I take it to consist of about 150 sail, including ten of the line of battle, besides frigates, bomb ketches and fire ships; the rest are Transports and Store Ships-On the 8th. we got sight of the Island of Newfoundland; very high land, a great part whereof covered with snow-The 9th. we entered the Gulf of St. Lawrence-The 11th came in sight of land nigh the Bay of Gaspé. This night it blew a pretty hard gale at N. W. Regiments on the Expedition: 15th. Amherst's. 43rd. Kennedy's. 500 Men. 550 800 650 |