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The fall of Quebec was a turning point in Canadian history, changing it from a French colony to a British colony. Had this battle gone the other way, English might be the second language, not French. The battle of Quebec was one of many battles during the Seven Year War. They called it the Maritime War. It was officially declared in May 1756. Britain and Prussia were on one side and France, Spain, and Austria on the other.
The war moved across the Atlantic Ocean from Europe because the French and the British were fighting over furs and land. Britain, while subsidizing and aiding Prussia, its only European ally, sought victory in America and sent what was for that century an overwhelming number of regular troops in order to stiffen the military of the American colonies. The French Colonists were very angry. The English were slowly moving over the Appalachian Mountains.
Thereby invading the French fur trappers land. In September 1758, General Jeffery Amherst attacked Louisburg, the frontier fortress of Canada. Major General James Wolfe was second in command. There was only two years difference between the too men. The Fort on Cape Breton Island was the key to the gateway of the St Lawrence River. (Britannica vol. 8) Whoever held the fort had the key to the heart of Canada. After the British captured the fort, Quebec was the next military target.
The following June, Major General James Wolfe led the British up the river. Helping Wolfe were Brigadiers General Robert Monkton, James Murray, and George Townsend. The flotilla had forty-nine men-of-war, fully one-quarter of the entire Royal Navy, two hundred transports, storage vessels and provision ships. (digitalhistory. org) The fleet was commanded by three admirals, Saunders, Holmes and Durrel. The chief navigator was Captain James Cook. He would later explore the Pacific Ocean.
Forty miles below Quebec at Isle aux Courses the river becomes narrow, making it extremely swift and treacherous. Submerged rocks, sandbars and shallows became a hazard for ships. The French navy feared this, so they placed pilots on the island to guide the ships through the channel safely. The colours of France were raised on the British ships as they passed through the dangerous point. When the pilots rowed out to help guide the ships, they were captured. These men were given the choice of helping the British or being hung.
They all agreed to help, but the English captions thought it would be best to sail through on their own. On Jun 26, the British fleet anchored just off the village of the St. Laurent on the southeast side of the Island of Orleans. The first men to be sent to the unknown land were forty New England Rangers under the command of Lt. Much. They met Canadians with little resistance. (Sieges Of Quebec 40) The Rangers were soon joined by the restless troops.
General Wolfe set up his main camp on the Montmorency River, across from Montcalm's trenches. Storms hit the British camp hard. Several ships were severely damaged. The French leader watched as this happened and thought that he could cause even more chaos. Late on June 28 th, the British spotted dark shapes on the water. As they shouted in alarm, a French captain lighted his fuse.
The others followed order. In just a few short minutes the shy was lit up with blazing ships. The English rushed out to the burning ships. They towed them to shore with hooks to burn out without causing any harm. They were certainly the grandest fireworks that can possibly be conceived Knox, Presbyterian Clergyman (the capture of Quebec 83) Wolfe sent Brigadier General Robert Monckton to capture Pointe-Levy (Cap Levy) on June 30 th.
He did so with much ease. (Digitalhistory) He set up his own camp and moved artillery into position. From the point, they could lay deadly fire upon Quebec, less than a mile away. The British cannon fired every single day. Bands of natives haunted the woods surrounding Monckton's camp. Sentries were knifed and scalped, patrols were ambushed and mutilated.
In order to blend in the British turned their red jackets inside out and dubbed the linings with clay. They had darkened the ends of their guns and only ventured out in small groups so they would make less noise. General Wolfe issued orders allowing his me to scalp the Indians and any French men who were dressed like the Indians. Quebec City is made up of two parts.
Upper and Lower Town. It was a natural fortress. The Lower consisted of homes, warehouses and docks along the riverside. On top of the cliffs was Upper.
It had the governors palace, hospital, cathedral and citadel. Steep narrow streets connected these parts of the city. Steep cliffs up to two hundred feet high stretch for miles on either side of the city. Rivers enclose Quebec. The Cap Rouge River between the cliffs and the wooded banks until it joined the St. Lawrence River west of the city.
The Charles River was to the east. The cliffs overlook a stretch of land called the Beauport Shore. It reaches the Montmorency. It is a swift river that runs through a steep gorge and cascades over an eighty-foot waterfall where it then joins the St.
Lawrence River. Montcalm had trenches dug along the cliffs from the St. Charles to the Montmorency River. To make the passage upriver impassable he placed cannons at key points along the cliffs and in the city.
The reason why Montcalm had now to fight a stubborn defense to protect Quebec instead of advancing on the American colonies was because he could get no assistance from France. (The Capture of Quebec 24) Colonel de Bougainville was stationed with a thousand men near Cape Rouge just in case the British managed to slip by the batteries and came ashore. (Digitalhistory) Montcalm would not have to fight to win, but by simply waiting it out until winter. Then Wolfe's immense number of fleets would be frozen in he St. Lawrence. Wolfe on the other hand had to trick the French general to come out of...
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