=Source.=--_An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North
America, 1757-60_, by Captain John Knox. London, 1769.
Thursday, September 13, 1759. Before daybreak this morning we made
a descent upon the north shore, about half a quarter of a mile to
the eastward of Sillery; and the light troops were fortunately by
the rapidity of the current carried lower down between us and Cape
Diamond; we had in this debarkation thirty flat-bottomed boats
containing about sixteen hundred men. This was a great surprise
on the enemy, who, from the natural strength of the place, did
not suspect, and consequently were not prepared against, so bold
an attempt. The chain of sentries which they had posted along the
summit of the heights galled us a little and picked off several
men and some officers before our light infantry got up to dislodge
them. This grand enterprise was conducted and executed with great
good order and discretion; as fast as we landed, the boats put off
for reinforcements, and the troops formed with much regularity;
the General with Brigadiers Monckton and Murray were ashore with
the first division. We lost no time here, but clambered up one
of the steepest precipices that can be conceived, being almost a
perpendicular and of an incredible height. As soon as we gained
the summit, all was quiet and not a shot was heard owing to the
excellent conduct of the light infantry under Colonel Howe; it
was by this time clear daylight. Here we formed again, the river
and the south country in our rear, our right extending to the
town, our left to Sillery, and halted a few minutes. The General
then detached the light troops to our left to rout the enemy from
their battery and to disable their guns, except they could be
rendered serviceable to the party who were to remain there; and
this service was soon performed. We then faced to the right and
marched towards the town by files till we came to the plains of
Abraham, an even piece of ground which Mr. Wolfe had made choice
of while we stood forming upon the hill. Weather showery: about
six o'clock the enemy first made their appearance upon the heights
between us and the town; whereupon we halted and wheeled to the
right, thereby forming the line of battle.... The enemy had now
likewise formed the line of battle, and got some cannon to play
on us with round and canister shot; but what galled us most was
a body of Indians and other marksmen they had concealed in the
corn opposite to the front of our right wing and a coppice that
stood opposite to our centre inclining towards our left; but
the Colonel Hale, by Brigadier Monckton's orders, advanced some
platoons alternately from the forty-seventh regiment, which after
a few rounds obliged these skulkers to retire: we were now ordered
to lie down, and remained some time in this position. About eight
o'clock we had two pieces of short brass six-pounders playing on
the enemy, which threw them into some confusion, and obliged them
to alter their disposition, and Montcalm formed them into three
large columns; about nine the two armies moved a little nearer each
other. The light cavalry made a faint attempt upon our parties at
the battery of Sillery, but were soon beat off, and Monsieur de
Bougainville with his troops from Cape Rouge came down to attack
the flank of our second line, hoping to penetrate there; but by
a masterly disposition of Brigadier Townshend they were forced
to desist, and the third battalion of Royal Americans was then
detached to the first ground we had formed on after we gained the
heights, to preserve the communication with the beach and our
boats. About ten o'clock the enemy began to advance briskly in
three columns with loud shouts and recovered arms, two of them
inclining to the left of our army and the third towards our right,
firing obliquely at the two extremities of our line from the
distance of one hundred and thirty until they came within forty
yards; which our troops withstood with the greatest intrepidity
and firmness, still reserving their fire and paying the strictest
obedience to their officers; this uncommon steadiness, together
with the havoc which the grape-shot from our field-pieces made
among them, threw them into some disorder and was most critically
maintained by a well-timed, regular, and heavy discharge of our
small arms, such as they could no longer oppose; hereupon they gave
way and fled with precipitation, so that by the time the cloud of
smoke was vanished our men were again loaded, and profiting by
the advantage we had over them pursued them almost to the gates
of the town and the bridge over the little river, redoubling our
fire with great eagerness, making many officers and men prisoners.
The weather cleared up, with a comfortably warm sunshine; the
Highlanders chased them vigorously towards Charles's river, and
the fifty-eighth to the suburb close to John's gate, until they
were checked by the cannon from the two hulks; at the same time a
gun, which the town had brought to bear upon us with grape-shot,
galled the progress of the regiments to the right, who were
likewise pursuing with equal ardour, while Colonel Hunt Walsh by
a very judicious movement wheeled the battalions of Bragg and
Kennedy to the left, and flanked the coppice where a body of the
enemy made a stand, as if willing to renew the action; but a few
platoons from these corps completed our victory. Then it was that
Brigadier Townshend came up, called off the pursuers, ordered the
whole line to dress and recover their former ground. Our joy at
this success is inexpressibly damped by the loss we sustained of
one of the greatest heroes which this or any other age can boast
of,--GENERAL JAMES WOLFE, who received his mortal wound, as he was
exerting himself at the head of the grenadiers of Louisbourg....
The officers who are prisoners say that Quebec will surrender in a
few days: some deserters, who came out to us in the evening, agree
in that opinion, and inform us that the Sieur de Montcalm is dying
in great agony of a wound he received to-day in their retreat.
=Source.=--The Letter in the _Gentleman's Magazine_, December,
1759, already quoted (13).
[Wolfe was wounded three times.] He then went reeling aside, but
was soon supported by an officer, of whom he inquired if the enemy
were put to flight; and, being assured they were, and that our
troops were in pursuit, he smiled and said he died with pleasure on
the spot he ever wished to die on, and then closed his eyes. Thus
died this great young General, whose behaviour on this day will
ever be an honour to his country....
'Tis a noble summer's work, though many brave fellows have suffered
much by it; but all, both soldiers and sailors, to a man behaved
nobly. The French army consisted of about 5000 regulars, the rest
Canadians, some of very considerable fortune, many of whom fell
in the action, and the rest are reduced almost to beggary. The
prisoners all agree that this is the greatest stroke the French
ever felt from the English arms; and I readily believe it, as the
place is incredibly strong, and by its surrender we must make North
America our own.