An accurate and authentic journal of the siege of Quebec, 1759
Date: 2025-08-07T00:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Québec Campaign; Québec; 1759; Canada -- History -- Seven Years' War; 1755-1763 -- Campaigns

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Title: An accurate and authentic journal of the siege of Quebec, 1759

Author: Anonymous

Release date: August 7, 2025 [eBook #76642]

Language: English

Original publication: London: Lincoln, Rutland, and Stamford Mercury, 1759

Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/76642

Credits: This eBook was produced by: Iona Vaughan, Pat McCoy & the online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at https://www.pgdpcanada.net

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ACCURATE AND AUTHENTIC JOURNAL OF THE SIEGE OF QUEBEC, 1759 ***

AN

ACCURATE and AUTHENTIC

JOURNAL

OF THE

SIEGE of QUEBEC

1759.

By a Gentleman in an eminent Station
on the Spot.

LONDON:

Printed for J. Robinson, at the Golden

Lion in Ludgate-Street, MDCCLIX.

[Price One Shilling.]

The above is a reproduction of the title-page of a book lately met with in the library of a Shropshire Rector, by whose courtesy we are enabled to print the text of the work verbatim et literatim. There is also a copy of the book in the British Museum. In quaint and simple language the story is told how the Dominion of Canada, three thousand miles long and now within six days’ steaming of England, was won for the British Empire by a handful of brave men led by daring and sagacious Commanders.

——Lincoln, Rutland, and Stamford Mercury,

December 27th, 1912.

Printed by George Henry Burton, Markby Cottage, Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, at his private Press from the type as composed by the Stamford Mercury in re-publishing the “Journal” in serial form.

A SHORT DESCRIPTION
of
QUEBEC.

he city of Quebec is divided into the Upper and Lower Town; it stands upon the S.E. side of a very high and steep bank, which stretches out into the river from the north side of the river St. Lawrence. The Lower Town stands upon a flat between the river and hill, which is exceedingly steep; it is of no great breadth, but encircles the foot of the hill above a mile in length, from Point Diamond to the river St. Charles: here most of the principal merchants and tradesmen inhabit; the houses in the Upper Town are occupied by the clergy, officers of the army, and principal people of Canada.

Near Cape Diamond, which is the south part of the town, is the King’s yard; where there is now on the stocks a ship of sixty guns. Upon four batteries in the Lower Town are mounted forty pieces of cannon, forty-two and twenty-four pounders; and cover the passage up to Point Levi, up to the narrows: the communication between this and the Upper Town, is by an almost perpendicular passage, defended above by nine pieces of cannon, and is cut across by trenches, strengthened by breast-works; so that should we get possession of the Lower Town, our conquest of the Upper will be but little forwarded, as there are difficulties which it will not be easy to surmount.

Round the Upper Town are planted upwards of forty pieces of cannon, which flank the river: and above that, on the top of the hill, is the citadel, which commands both towns; the wall whereof are said to be twenty-five feet thick.

Notwithstanding this strength towards the river, if we could get possession of the hills to the westward of the town, which are at least as high as the citadel, we imagine it would hold out but a short time, but before we can carry this point, we have many difficulties to overcome: but we have brave officers, and men ready to face the greatest dangers. The shore to the eastward of the town, is well defended, both by art and nature, and if we should drive them from this post, we are then to force an army greatly superior to ours in number.

The palaces of the governor and bishop, cathedral, jesuits college, and several other churches and publick buildings, command a fine view of the river; most of the houses are built of stone, and stand to great advantage on the side of the hill; but are within reach of our batteries erected at Point Levi.

SIEGE OF QUEBEC.
1759.

June the 5th, 1759,

The fleet under the command of Vice-admiral Saunders, sail’d from Louisburg in high spirits for Quebec.

8th, Pas’d Cape Ray, and enter’d the gulph of St. Lawrence, without any impediment.

19th, Anchor’d at the Isle Bie, 70 leagues up the river, and about 60 below Quebec. Here the fleet was divided into three divisions, in order to make our passage up the river the easier.

20th, General Wolf with the transports, escorted by the frigates, left us, with orders to make all possible haste up the river; whilst we with the heavy ships followed as fast as we were able.

25th, Anchor’d with the fleet at the isle of Coudre, 20 leagues from Quebec. The admiral shifted his flag into the Stirling Castle, and with the Alcide, Pembroke, Centurion, and Sutherland, sailed up the river, as the Devonshire, frigates, &c. had already done. We found Admiral Durell riding here, with his fleet. They arrived about the middle of May.

28th, Anchor’d with the fleet between the isle of Orleans, and the south shore. In the evening the troops landed without opposition:—This island is about eight leagues in length, and about five miles from north to south, where broadest, and divided the river into two channels; that for large ships lying on the south-side is about two miles in breadth, the west-end is about three miles from Quebec, and very near two from each shore.

30th, We anchor’d with the men of war, bombs, &c. off the west-end of Orleans, between it and Point Levi, on the south shore. Here the river alters its course to S.S.W. whereas it runs from east to west, up between the island and the main. About a mile and a half above Point Levi, and opposite to the city of Quebec, the river is not a mile broad.—In the evening a brigade under General Monckton landed at Point Levi, and took post there, with very little loss; but the next day a body of Canadians and Indians incommoded our troops at Point Levi, the ground being woody; but their commander being kill’d, they dispers’d, with little loss on our side. At night the enemy taking the advantage of a fresh westerly wind and ebb-tide, sent down seven large fire stages upon us; but by the bravery of the boats crews, who boarded and towed them off with huzza’s, the whole fleet escaped, though many ships were in great danger. By prisoners we are inform’d, that the greatest part of the Canadian force was drawn to Quebec for the defence of it, and encamped between that city and the falls of Montmorency, about seventeen thousand strong: that their regulars amounted to between three and four thousand; the rest were Canadians and Indians, the greatest part train’d to arms. The banks on the north-shore are high and steep; from the mouth of the river St. Charles, which runs into the country, under the works of the town to the falls of Montmorency, at the distance of six or seven miles, they have a breast-work on the bank, and are entrenching behind it. The west side of the river that falls at Montmorency, is defended in the same manner, quite up to the mountain; and they trust more to these defences than to their town, and are in no manner of apprehension from us.—Note, Great part of this intelligence is obvious, as we have a view of five distinct camps, capable of holding many more troops than their accounts mention; and we can observe them very busy in fortifying their posts quite to the falls. We find, that the banks, abreast of Quebec, on the south side, command the greatest part of the city, and that by batteries from thence we may lay it in ashes. From this place we have a fine view of the city and its defence towards the river.

July 4th, A flag of truce was sent by the general to the town, to acquaint the governor of our design of attacking it on the part of his Britannick majesty; and also to inform him, that he was order’d by his master to carry on the war in this country with the utmost lenity; that he expects the troops under his command will follow his example, and that the inhuman practice of scalping, either by Indians or others, may be put a stop to, as he shall answer the consequence of its being severely revenged: at the same time we set at liberty twenty-five women, that were taken by us in the river. Monsieur Le Marquis de Vandreuil, who commands in the town, return’d a very polite answer, and desir’d the admiral might be acquainted, that as two gentlemen had been taken off the isle Coudre by his people, belonging to Admiral Durell, the greatest care should be taken of them, and that as soon as he thought proper to remove our fleet and army he would return them: they made no scruple of informing our officer, that they were well acquainted with our force, and were surprised we should attempt the conquest of this country with such a handful of men.

5th, The batteries were begun, and the ordnance landed, all the ships sent their boats, to row guard above us, as we are apprehensive of the enemy sending down fire-stages, which we learn are preparing in great numbers above the town. What ships they have are above the town, but how far up, we are not able to discover.

7th, Our barge, sounding between the north-side of Orleans and the main, was chac’d by several cannoes ashore upon the island, and was taken with one of the people, being wounded, the rest escaped to our camp.

8th, The Porcupine sloop, and an arm’d Brig, fell down between the island and the north-shore, a little below the falls; two small batteries fir’d upon them going down, but did no damage. At midnight General Wolf, with two brigades from Orleans, landed below the falls, without opposition, the enemy keeping within their posts, to the west of the small river of Montmorency; of which the narrow part is deep, and very rapid, and falls into the river St. Lawrence from a precipice, of 200 feet high; the banks of the river above the fall are very high and steep, especially on the western side, and are entrench’d and defended by breast-works, in the same manner as the banks of the river St. Lawrence, from the falls to Quebec. Admiral Holmes, with the Captain, Dublin, Vanguard, Medway, and Shrewsbury, came up, and anchor’d off the west-end of Orleans; and Admiral Durell, and the rest of the three-deck ships, &c. remainder of the fleet, lie off the east-end of the island.

10th, Our bombs threw several shells into the French camp near Beauport, which they return’d with shot from their batteries, that is large boats with a gun each, of 12 to 24 pounders, of these they have about twenty, in different parts of the river, who keep so close under their own breast, that we can get no opportunity of cutting them off.—In the evening the Captain dropt as close in shore as the depth of the water would allow, and fir’d several broad-sides at their camp, which they were oblig’d to move a little farther back; but as they are entrenched close to their breast-works on the bank, cannot drive them from thence. At night the enemy, having got a mortar down to their camp, threw several shells very near the Captain and the Bombs, upon which they weigh’d and drop’d out of their reach.

11th, The enemy made a very brisk fire from the town, on our batteries, erecting on Point Levi.

12th, The communication between the fleet and our camp below the falls being interrupted by their battoes, we mounted two 24 pounders on Orleans to protect the passage,—our troops at Montmorency, which are about 3000, are encamped close to the eastermost side of the falls, as the enemy is to the westward, within musquet-shot of each others centinels.

13th, At night our batteries at Point Levi, of six 32 pounders, and four mortars, were opened on the town; at the same time the bombs having dropt up play’d upon it also; but the ebb tide making very strong down, their anchors came home, and they were obliged to drop down again.

The enemy having opened a small battery to the westward of the falls, fired briskly upon our camp; but upon drawing some of our cannon on the bank below the falls, soon silenced them. This day the mortars were landed from the bombs, in order to be mounted on Point Levi; we keep an incessant fire from thence on the town, which they return, but with little effect.

Our carcasses from the battery on Point Levi set the Upper Town on fire, which burnt with great fury for several hours, before it was extinguished; we could observe the enemy very industrious in fortifying their posts, having intrenchments and redoubts cut across the country, and at Beauport have a pass guarded by 20 pieces of cannon. At the mouth of the river St. Charles they have two hulks, with a teer of guns each, to defend that passage up the river, besides being commanded by great part of the cannon from the town.

Our firing continues to do great execution upon the town; in the night the Sutherland, Squirrel, two transports, and two sloops, having 500 men from the camp at Point Levi, ran past the town, with a light breeze, favourable, and tide of flood. The enemy kept a hot fire at them, but did no damage: the Diana going up ran a-ground upon Point Levi.

20th, General Wolf and Admiral Holmes went up by land to the fleet above the town.

21st, The detachment above Quebec landed on the north shore, at the village of Trembleau, ten leagues above Quebec with little opposition; they took 300 prisoners, mostly women, and some booty, and re-embarked again with the loss of a few men.

22d, In the night the cathedral of Quebec, the largest and most magnificent building of the kind in this part of the world, was set on fire and consumed by our carcasses, together with a great number of the houses in the Upper Town.

23d, In the Morning before day-break the Lowestoff and Hunter got under sail to run above the town, but the wind taking them short abreast of the town, were obliged to put back under a very smart fire, but received no damage. A flag of truce was sent to Quebec with the women taken at Trembleau; notwithstanding this, and a great many other instances of our lenity shewn to the enemy, we find little benefit accrue to us from them, they continue to scalp every person who is unhappy enough to fall into their hands.—A proclamation was issued by General Wolf, and affixed to the church doors throughout the country, acquainting the inhabitants, that as the war carried on here is not intended against them, but against the forces and forts of his most Christian Majesty, he therefore invites them and their families to return to their respective habitations, on or before the 10th of August, where they shall be protected in their religion and liberty, and have all the indulgence granted to the subjects of his Britannick Majesty; but if not, and they still persist in their resolution to carry arms, he will then destroy, and ruin to the utmost, all their possessions that shall fall in his power.

24th, At night several buildings in the Lower Town set on fire and consumed by our shells.

31st, In the morning two armed transports got under way, and at high-water ran ashore, close to the enemies batteries, a little above the falls of Montmorency, and began a very smart fire upon them, which they returned. At seven the troops from Point Levi and Orleans embarked in the boats, and at eight rendezvoused in two lines between the island and the north shore. The grenadiers, in the first line, supported by 200 Royal Americans, and Amhersts, and the Highlanders in the second line, at the same time the Centurion dropt as near as possible to their batteries, and kept a continual fire upon them, which they returned upon the boats with eight pieces of cannon and two mortars; which, notwithstanding our being within point-blank shot for several hours, suffered very little. The enemy’s troops in the mean time filled their breast-works and trenches, and behind them paraded with an army greatly superior to ours in number. Notwithstanding this, their batteries, the height of the bank, steep and difficult of access, and many other disadvantages, the greatest spirit and chearfulness was discernable through our whole army, and all waited with the utmost impatience for the moment of attack. General Wolf row’d at the head of us, and gave his orders with great calmness, and so did the rest of our general officers. Admiral Saunders was greatly exposed, and the fleet had like to have lost in him a gallant commander, a shell falling so near his boat as to damage some of the oars and half fill her with water; at noon the first line of boats was ordered in abreast of the batteries, but some of the boats grounding upon a bank some distance from the shore, were ordered off again; General Townsend, with all the troops from Montmorency, except the light infantry, were in readiness at the same time to march across the strand and passing between the falls and river to join us at our landing. Colonel How, with the light infantry, were at the same time to make a faint of passing Montmorency river, some distance above the falls, to divert the attention of the enemy. At four the first line of boats was landed, and the grenadiers, without waiting for form, or orders, rushed on with the greatest impetuosity for the bank, where they received from the enemy such an incessant fire of musquetry, as must be far easier to conceive than to describe; but firm to their purpose, and nothing daunted, true Englishmen, they endeavoured to surmount all difficulties, and attempted to gain the steep bank; and would, in all probability have fallen a sacrifice to their bravery, if a violent and sudden squall of wind and rain had not put a stop to the enemy’s fire, and at the same time made it impossible for those brave fellows to proceed further, occasioned by the excessive slipperiness of the ground. During this time General Townsend with his brigade passed below the falls, and advanced to join us, but the General finding the difficulty of the attempt, and unwilling to sacrifice such brave fellows with so little probability of success, ordered the retreat to be beat, and fortunately for us, the lower part of the strand was out of musquet shot. After getting the wounded into the boats, General Wolf, with the remainder of the grenadiers and highlanders, joined General Townsend, and marched in good order along the strand towards the falls, and embarked Amherst’s in the boats, saluted all the time by the infernal clamours of the Indians, and the Vive le Roy of the French; though the Poltroons, who were twice our numbers, dared not come down to us, though often invited by the hats waved at them from our general officers and troops: at five we took the people out of our armed transports and set fire to them; the enemy kept a continual fire from their batteries on our troops as they marched along the strand, but providentially did little execution; our grenadiers had possession of one of their small batteries, but in the confusion forgot to spike up the guns; the evening was employed in transporting the troops to their respective posts. Our loss this day was sixty killed, and between 3 and 400 wounded, all which we got off in the boats, except a Captain of the Royal Americans, who we hear is prisoner among the French, but mortally wounded; the Indians, according to their barbarous custom, stripped and scalped the dead, and with difficulty this officer escaped, being rescued by some French officers. What loss the French have sustained we can only guess at, but suppose it to be considerable, as a continual fire was kept from our train at Montmorency, and from the Centurion and two armed ships: our whole body of troops at this attack did not amount to 5000, while the enemy acknowledge theirs to be 16000; but the advantage of the ground, not their number, fought against us; and it is the general opinion, that half our troops in their situation would have been a sufficient match for their whole number.

August 1st, General Wolf, in public order, thanked the Highlanders and Amherst’s for their soldier-like behaviour, in landing and forming themselves on the strand, and there fixing themselves in order of battle, till they receiv’d his orders; at the same time he greatly blamed the rashness, and temerity of the grenadiers, in advancing in that irregular manner, without waiting for his orders, or till it was possible for the rest of the troops to sustain them; and that such immlitary [unmilitary] proceedings intirely break his plan of operation, and was the apparent cause of the repulse they had received yesterday.

7th, General Murray, with Amherst’s, and part of the light infantry, marched up to the ships above the town; and in the night twenty-two flat-bottom boats past it undiscovered.

8th, General Murray embarked with his troops on board the ships that lay about five leagues above Quebec, and Admiral Holmes took the command of the ships, without hoisting his flag: this body of troops consisted of Amherst’s, three battalions of Royal Americans, and a detachment of light infantry and marines, amounting in the whole to 1300 effective men.

9th, The fleet above the town anchored at Point Tremble ten leagues above the town, and with all the troops (except 200 marines) attempted to land at the village of Tremble, on the north shore, but were repulsed with the loss of forty killed, and about 100 wounded: the enemy consisted of 4000, of which were two battalions of regulars, and a party of horse.

14th, General Murray with his troops landed on the south shore, opposite Point Tremble, with the loss of 12 killed and 23 wounded: our troops encamped and took a considerable number of cattle, killed 8 of the enemy, and took a few prisoners: by one of them we were informed, that a general officer commanded at Point Tremble when we made the attack; that it was his express orders to his troops not to fire till ours were half on shore, but fear got the better of their discretion, and saved the best part of our troops.

15th, Six marines were surpriz’d and carried off from our camp at St. Anthony’s. General Murray sent out parties from thence to destroy all the houses in that district; parties were detach’d likewise from our camps at Montmorency and Point Orleans, to destroy all the buildings (churches excepted) and their corn: one of these detachments from Montmorency fell in with a party of Canadians, headed by a priest twenty of which they took prisoners, and killed several. In return for many acts of cruelty, the priest and the rest of the prisoners were put to death, and scalp’d by our rangers.

20th, The troops (marines excepted) embark’d from St. Anthony’s in the night, under General Murray, and row’d up under cover of it, to the village of Chambeau: at the same time, a feint was made to land at Point Tremble, in order to deceive the enemy.

21st, At break of day our troops landed at Chambeau, 18 leagues above Quebec, on the north shore, without any opposition: they destroy’d a grand magazine of the enemy’s regulars, the effects of the people of Quebec, a great quantity of powder, some plate and specie, which was all destroy’d by fire. At noon, having compleated their design, embark’d without loss, just as a great body of the enemy appear’d in sight. We learn’d here, that the six marines, taken the 15th, were scalp’d by the Indians. In the evening we burnt an arm’d sloop of the enemy’s, and then landed again at the camp of St. Anthony. From Chambeau we saw the enemy’s frigates very plain, lying about two leagues above us; but the channel being very intricate and dangerous, the merchant ships lay some leagues above the frigates.

22d, Admiral Holmes, with the Captains of the Sutherland and Squirrel, went to examine the river to Chambeau, which they found impracticable to ships without a full tide, a fresh easterly wind, and good pilots. The two first of these seldom happen at this time of the year; and the last we cannot procure, as this upper navigation is little known: the French ships when they went up, had their guns and stores out, but lie now in deep water with their guns in.

28th, The troops at St. Anthony embark’d in the flat-bottom boats, and pass’d the town without being observ’d: the ships above the town were left at anchor off Point Tremble. This day began to embark the train from Montmorency.

30th, The Lowestoff and Hunter, with two transports and three sloops, pass’d the town in the night, under a very severe fire from thence. In the morning part of the troops from Montmorency were remov’d to Orleans, being still employ’d in bringing the train from thence: our maroding parties continue to burn and destroy all the effects of the enemy they can meet with.

September 1st, In the evening the Seahorse and some transports pass’d the town, which saluted them with a pretty warm fire in their passage. Embark’d from Montmorency the rest of the train.

2d, In the forenoon embark’d all our troops from the camp at Montmorency, without loss of a man, though the enemy fir’d very smartly on our boats from their batteries at Beauport, and from thence to the falls, but without success: at noon landed our troops at Point Levi.

4th, In the night 32 flat-bottom boats pass’d the town without being observ’d by the enemy, and join’d the fleet under Admiral Holmes, who lay about four leagues above Quebec.

5th, About 3,500 of the troops march’d up from Point Levi, and in the evening embark’d on board Admiral Holmes’s fleet. This body of troops consisted of Amherst’s, Bragg’s, Anstruther’s, Otway’s, Kennedy’s, Frazier’s, Royal Americans, and the light infantry, with the grenadiers of the whole, and were commanded by all the general officers.

6th, In the morning Admiral Holmes made up with his fleet to St. Nicholas, six leagues above Quebec. N.B. This Morning the Rodney cutter sail’d express for England.

7th, Landed 2200 of the troops at St. Nicholas, on the south shore, in order to refresh them, being extreamly crowded in the transports.

12th, Re-embark’d the troops from St. Nicholas, without the loss of a man; and as the inhabitants of St. Nicholas had not attempted to disturb our troops, either at landing or when on shore, their houses and effects were left untouch’d.—In the evening all the troops were order’d to hold themselves in readiness for landing, and an order of the generals [General Wolf] read to them, to this effect,—“That as a large body of the enemy were march’d to oppose General Amherst, and a great number of the Canadians had left the enemy, and a general discontent prevail’d throughout the whole, now was the time to strike a stroke, which in all probability would determine the fate of Canada: that he intended to land in a place where the enemy least expected him; that the ships with the remainder of the troops, after the first disembarkation, would follow the boats, so as to second their landing immediately, and that the troops at Point Levi would march up close to the intended place of landing; so that our whole force would be connected in a very short time, and so soon as form’d, should endeavour to bring the enemy to battle.” He then reminded them of what they owed their country, their families and themselves, and what such a body of veterans were able to do against five battalions of regulars, and a rude undisciplin’d militia: conquest and glory awaited them, and he expected every thing from their resolution and conduct. At nine in the evening 1600 of the troops were embark’d in the boats, commanded by General Monckton, who was to make the first landing at midnight: the boats rendezvous’d in a line abreast of Admiral Holmes, who lay about five leagues above Quebec.

13th, At one in the morning the boats that had the troops in were order’d to row down the river (it being then ebb-tide) in the same order as the troops were to land, viz. the light infantry first, then Bragg’s, Anstruther’s, Kennedy’s, Lascelle’s, and a detachment of Frazier’s; at two the frigates and transports, with the rest of the troops follow’d them. In rowing down the boats were discover’d by the enemy, but they expecting some boats down with provisions, under cover of the night, let us pass without examination. At Four we landed the troops about two miles from Quebec, with small loss, none but the enemy’s centinels being there.

An attack is resolv’d on, and, let it be remember’d, for the honour of England, that though the enterprize is hazardous, exceeding doubtful, and attended with the utmost danger in every shape, not the least dejection or sign of fear appears among the troops: on the contrary, an uncommon eagerness in them to attack the foe is plain in every countenance: they are impatient to be lead on, and the General officers but with great difficulty can restrain their impetuosity; it should seem as if their courage rose in proportion to the labours they have to surmount; or perhaps they are fir’d with the resolution of revenging their companions who fell in the late attack, and are determin’d to punish the infamous and inhuman practice of scalping, if the place should fall into our hands, which however, seems greatly doubtful: it will in all probability be owing to the resolution the men have taken, of not being made prisoners, deter’d from falling into the enemy’s hands, from the infernal practice above-mention’d being so often exercised upon those who are unhappy enough to fall into their hands.

From this disposition of the men, and the conduct and prudence of a very good set of officers, great things may be expected, especially from the Gentleman who commands in chief, who, in his military capacity, is perhaps equalled by few, and exceeded by none; and when riper years have matured a sound judgment, the great talents he possesses in the art of war will shew themselves to advantage; yet, if I can read right, though no man doubts his courage, he is not sanguine in his expections of reducing the place, and can depend on nothing but surprise, some bold and unexpected stroke, or as the French call it, coup de main; for this no troops in Europe are so fit as ours for resolution, and a contempt of death are characteristic of an English soldier.

How many lives must be lost of the few troops we have before we can hope to succeed; had General Amherst been able to have joined us, something might have been done: as it is, he comes too late, for either the place will be taken, or we must return to England before he arrives: in the latter case he must sail as well as we, and owing to the same cause, want of numbers.

Could the junction have taken place, we might bid defiance to united strength, of French, Indians, and Canadians.

There can be but little hopes of taking the place by assault, for though the Men of war might be of infinite service in silencing the batteries of the Lower Town, yet the greatest, and indeed an almost insurmountable difficulty would yet remain; for the few passages that lead from the Upper to the lower town are strongly intrenched, and our ships can by no means reach the upper batteries.

The country is extremely strong, and the enemy have added much to its natural strength; and have now, for the defence of the river, floating batteries and boats, which in a great measure frustrate our designs: several parties of Indians are likewise troublesome to us, by hovering round our advanced posts, and we have hitherto found it impossible to elude their vigilance.

Every thing is in motion, and a few hours will probably determine the fate of Canada.

If the General should attempt to ascend the rock, it is a work of much labour and difficulty, if at all practicable; and should our troops perform this difficult undertaking, I shall for the future think little of Hanibal’s leading an army over the Alps; the rock is almost steep, and the summit seems to me inaccessible to an army; this at least appears to be the Opinion of the French, who place no centinel there, and seem perfectly secure that it will never be attempted.——All difficulties have been surmounted, and such a blow struck as will amaze posterity: our brave General lead on the troops to the hills above-mentioned, and was the first man that began to clime it; the men followed their leader with the utmost alacrity, and at length ascended the summit: as soon as they were formed the enemy advanced, and sent a party to the bottom of the hill to cut off our retreat, but they were themselves cut off by the troops that remained below. Those above being attacked by the enemy, had reserved their fire till the French advanced within forty yards of them, then made a general discharge, which threw the enemy into confusion; our people improved the advantage, and with their bayonets pushed them over the river St. Charles, and into the town: this success was dearly purchased by the loss of our brave General, who was wounded in the beginning of the action, and died soon after, but not before he had the satisfaction of being told the day was ours. I die contented then the hero cry’d, my life was due to my country, happy if I have been the means of adding conquest and glory to it: he died with calmness, and closed a well-spent life by an action which throws a lustre upon the arms of Britain; like the old Theban, he died and conquered: the affliction of the army best speaks his merit; he was the sincere friend, the gentleman, and the soldier: at a time of life when many have but the command of a company, he had raised himself by his merit almost to the top of his profession: it is to be hoped his grateful country will decree those honours to his breathless corps, as living he would undoubtedly have received.

The enemy, after their first repulse, made a stand at some distance, but were soon broke by the bravery of our troops, and ran into the town for shelter in the greatest confusion imaginable; there was dreadful slaughter on their side: the conflict was short but bloody, upwards of 600 of our men being wounded, though not above 40 killed outright: the disparity in the number of killed and wounded was, no doubt, owing to the enemy’s firing at too great a distance, for their balls were almost spent before they reached our men: several of our people having received contusions on parts where the blow must have been mortal, had they reserved their fire a little longer: thus ended the thirteenth day of September, a day which will reflect honour on the British arms for ever.

14th, Monsieur Montcalm, the French commander in chief, was brought on board our fleet, but died soon after of his wounds: he was a gallant officer, and deserved a better fate. Two commanders in chief of the different armies killed in one day, is an event, that, if my memory serves, never happened before; the next in command to Monsieur Montcalm was also killed, and several other officers of note: General Monckton dangerously wounded on our side; Colonel Carlton has received a ball in his head, which it is feared has fractured his skull; Major Barry has lost his nose.—Mem. The Highlanders did prodigious execution in the pursuit with their broad swords. General Wolf’s body was brought to the fleet, and now lies in his coffin, on board the Stirling Castle, in order to be sent to England for interment.

Our troops are entrenched on the back of the citadel, and our men of war are preparing to batter the town; it is expected it will be stormed to-morrow, both by land and sea.

17th, At noon a flag of truce from Quebec was sent with terms of capitulation: and sent back with answer, that four hours only would be allowed; returned again at the expiration of that time, with terms which were agreed to.

At eight this morning the capitulation was signed, the garrison have obtained better terms than they probably would have done, on account of the General having received information, that a reinforce of 800 men, under the command of Monsieur de Bougainville, was in full march to reinforce the garrison; add to this, that no time was to be lost on account of the advanced season; the wet weather it was apprehended might have caused sickness amongst the troops, and storms endangered the fleet; besides, had breaches been made in the walls of the town, there might not have been time sufficient to have repair’d them before the arrival of the expected succours; these considerations hastened the signing the capitulation: the regulars and Canadians under arms are prisoners of war, and are to be sent to Old France, and they are now embarking for that purpose.

FINIS.

TRANSCRIBER NOTES

Misspelled words have been retained as the author may not have known the correct spelling. Printer errors have been corrected. Where multiple spellings occur, majority use has been employed.

Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious printer errors occur.

[The end of An Accurate and Authentic Journal of the Siege of Quebec 1759, by Anonymous.]

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Table of Contents

- A SHORT DESCRIPTION of QUEBEC.

- SIEGE OF QUEBEC. 1759.

- THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG™ LICENSE