14 - Life of Washington, Volume 1 by John James Marshall

Dive into the remarkable life of George Washington, as depicted by his equally impressive biographer, Marshall. Influenced by the greatness of Washington himself, Marshall evolved into a figure of similar stature. Over a period of nearly 25 years, Marshall dedicated his deepest thoughts to capturing Washingtons life and accomplishments. Thanks to his intimate understanding of his subject, first-hand knowledge of events, and exceptional writing skills, Marshall has given us a true masterpiece.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter twelve of the Life of Washington, Volume one by
John Marshall. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
Chapter twelve Preparations for the Campaign of seventeen fifty eight.
Admiral Bescawen and General Amherst arrive at Halifax. Plan of

(00:23):
the campaign. Expedition against louis Bourg. It's Ticonderoga and Crown Point.
General Abercrombie propulsed under the walls of Ticonderoga, Fort Frontignac taken.
Expedition against Fort Ducaine. Preparations for the Campaign of seventeen
fifty nine. General Amherst succeeds General Abercrombie. Plan of the

(00:47):
campaign Daikonderoga, m Crown Point taken. Army goes into winter quarters.
French repulsed at Oswego, defeated at Niagara. Niagara taken. Expedition
against Quebec. Czech to the English Army. Battle on the
Plains of Abraham, Death of Wolfe and Montcalm. Quebec capitulates,

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garrisoned by the English under the command of General Murray.
Attempt to recover Quebec. Battle near Sillery. Quebec besieged by
Monsieur Levy, Siege raised Montreal capitulates war with the Southern Indians.
Battle near the town of Echo, Grant defeats them and
burns their towns. Treaty with the Cherokees, war with Spain.

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Success of the English peace seventeen fifty eight, the affairs
of Great Britain in North America wore a more gloomy
aspect at the close of the campaign of seventeen fifty
seven than at any former period. By the acquisition of
Fort William Henry, the French had obtained complete possession of
the Lakes Champlain and George. By the destruction of Oswego,

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they had acquired the dominion of those lakes which connect
the Saint Lawrence with the waters of the Mistassissippi, and
unite Canada to Louisiana. By means of Fort Duquine. They
maintained their ascendancy over the Indians and held undisturbed possession
of the country west of the Allegheny Mountains, while the
English settlers were driven to the Blue Ridge. The great

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object of the war in that quarter was gained, and
France held the country for which hostilities had been commenced
with inferior numbers. The French had been victorious in every campaign,
and had uniformly gained ground on the English colonies. Nor
were they less successful elsewhere. The flame of war which
was kindled in America had communicated itself to Europe and Asia.

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In every quarter of the world where hostilities had been
carried on, the British arms were attended with defeat and disgrace.
But this inglorious scene was about to be succeeded by
one of unrivaled brilliancy. From the point of extreme depression
to which their affairs had sunk, the brightest era of
British history was to commence. Far from being broken by misfortune,

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the spirit of the nation was high, and more of
indignation than dismay, was inspired by the ill success of
their arms. The public voice had at length made its
way to the throne and had forced on the unwilling
monarch a minister who has been justly deemed one of
the greatest men of the age in which he lived.
Mister Pitt had been long distinguished in the House of

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Commons for the boldness and the splendor of his eloquence.
His parliamentary talents and the independent grandeur of his character
had given him a great ascendency in that body. And
had made him the idol of the nation. In seventeen
fifty six he had been introduced into the cabinet, but
could not long retain his place. The public affection followed
him out of office, and the national disasters continuing, It

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was found impracticable to conduct the complicated machine of government
without his aid. In the summer of seventeen fifty seven,
an administration was formed which conciliated the great contending interests
in Parliament, and mister Pitt was placed at its head.
The controlling superiority of his character gave him the same
ascendancy in the Cabinet which he had obtained in the

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House of Commons, and he seemed to dictate the measures
of the nation. Only a short time was required to
show that qualities seldom united in the same person were
combined in him, and his talents for actions seemed to
eclipse even those he had displayed in debate. His plans,
partaking of the proud elevation of his own mind and

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the exalted opinion he entertained of his countrymen, were always grand,
and the means he employed for their execution were always
adequate to the object. Possessing the public confidence without limitation.
He commanded all the resources of the nation and drew
liberally from the public purse, but the money was always
faithfully and judiciously applied to the public service. Too great

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in his spirit, too lofty in his views, to become
the instrument of faction. When placed at the head of
the nation, he regarded only the interests of the nation,
and overlooking the country or the party which had given
birth to merit. He searched for merit only and employed
it wherever it was found. From the elevation of the
House of Brunswick to the British throne, a great portion
of the people under the denomination of Tories had been degraded, persecuted,

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and oppressed. Superior to this narrow and short sighted policy,
mister pitt sought to level these enfeebling and irritating distinctions,
and to engage every British subject in the cause of
his country. Thus commanding both the strength and the wealth
of the Kingdom. With perhaps greater talents, he possessed certainly
greater means than any of his predecessors. In no part

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of his Majesty's dominions was the new administration more popular
than in his American colonies deeply and peculiarly interested in
the events of the war. They looked for a change
of fortune from this change of men, and cheerfully made
every exertion of which they were capable for the ensuing campaign.
The circular letter of mister Pitt assured the several governors

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that to repair the losses and disappointment of the last
inactive campaign, the Cabinet was determined to send a formidable
force to operate by sea and land against the French
in America, and he called upon them to raise as
large bodies of men within their respective governments as the
number of inhabitants might allow. Arms, ammunition, tense provisions and
boats would, he said, be furnished by the Crown. And

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he required the colonies to clothe and pay their men,
assuring them at the same time that it should be
recommended to Parliament to make them compensation. Great preparations for
the campaign, the legislature of Massachusetts agreed to furnish seven
thousand men, Connecticut five thousand, and New Hampshire three thousand.
These troops greats were their numbers when compared with the

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population of the country, were in the field early in May,
and the transports for carrying those of Massachusetts to Halifax
were ready to sail in fifteen days after they were engaged.
Near one third of the effective men of that province
are said to have been in military service, and the
taxes were so heavy that in the capital the amount
to do thirds of the income of real estate. In

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the mother country, too, the utmost activity was transfused into
every department. Her fleets blocked up in the French ports,
the men and stores designed for Canada and captured on
the seas most of those which had been able to
make their way into the ocean. Admiral Buscawen and General
Amherst arrived at the same time. A powerful armament equipped

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with unusual expeditions, sailed from her ports. Early in the spring.
Admiral Buscowen arrived at Halifax with a formidable fleet and
twelve thousand British troops under the command of General Amherst.
The Earl of Loudon had returned to England and the
command of the British and American forces in the colonies
had devolved on General Abercrombie. That officer found himself at

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the head of the most powerful army ever seen in
the New World. His whole numbers, comprehending troops of every
description had been computed by mister Belsham at fifty thousand men,
of whom twenty thousand were provincials. The objects of the
campaign were no longer defeated by delays. The preparations for
action were made during the winter, and military operations commenced.

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In the spring plan of the campaign, three expeditions were proposed.
The first was against Louisbourg, the second against Ticonderoga and
Crown Point, and the third against Fort Duquine. Expedition against Louisbourg.
The army destined against Louisbourg, consisting of fourteen thousand men,
was commanded by Major General Amherst, and the fleet, consisting

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of twenty eight ships of the line in eighteen frigates,
by Admiral Boscawen. On the twenty fourth of May, the
troops embarked at Halifax, and on the second of June
arrived before Louisbourg. The use made by Greek Britain of
her naval superiority was felt in no part of the
possessions of His Most Christian Majesty, more sensibly than in Louisbourg.
The garrison of that important place was composed of only

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two thousand, five hundred regulars, aided by six hundred militia.
The harbor was defended by five ships of the line,
one ship of fifty guns and five frigates, three of
which we sunk across the mouth of the basin. Soon
after investment of the place, one of the large ships
was set on fire by a bomb from a battery
on the lighthouse point in. Blown up, the flames were

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communicated to two others which shared the same fate. The
English aderal then sent a detachment of six under seamen
in boats into the harbor, under Captains la for See
and Balfour, to make an attempt on the two remaining
ships of the Line, which still kept possession of the basin.
This service was executed with great gallantry, one which was

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the ground, was destroyed and the other was turned off
in triumph. The harbor being in possession of the English,
and several practicable breaches made in the works, the place
was no longer deemed defensible and the government was under
the necessity of capitulating. The garrison became prisoners of war,
and Louisbourg, with its artillery provisions and military stores and
also island Royal Saint John's and their dependencies were surrendered

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to the English, who encountered no farther difficulty in taking
business of the whole island. This important acquisition was made
with the loss of between five and six hundred men
killed and wounded. The joy it diffused throughout the colony's
long familiar eyes to disaster was in proportion to their
former disappointments against Taekwonderoga. The expedition against Taekonderoga and Crown

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Point was conducted by General Abercrombie in person. His army,
consisting of near sixteen thousand effectives, of whom nine thousand
were provincials, was attended by a formidable train of artillery,
and possessed every requisite to insure success. On the fifth
of July he embarked on Lake George and reached the
landing place early the next morning, a disembarkation being effected

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without opposition. The troops were immediately formed into four columns,
the British and the center of the provincials on the flanks,
in which order they marched towards the advanced Guard of
the French, composed of one battalion posted in a log Camp, which,
on the approach of the English, made a precipitate retreat.
Abercrombie continued his march towards Ticonderoga, with the intention of

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investing that place, But the woods being thick in the
guides unskillful, his columns were thrown into confusion and in
some measure entangled with each other. In this situation, Lord Howe,
at the head of the right center column, fell in
without part of the advanced guard of the French, which,
in retreating from Lake George, was likewise lost in the wood.
He immediately attacked and dispersed them, killing several and taking

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one hundred and forty eight prisoners, among whom were five officers.
This small advantage was purchased at a dear rate, though
only two officers on the side of the Brivitige were killed.
One of these was Lord how himself, who fell on
the first fire. This gallant young nobleman had endeared himself
to the whole army. The British and provincials alike lamented
his death, and the Assembly of Massachusetts passed a vote

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for the erection of a superb senetaph to his memory
in the Collegiate Church of Westminster among the heroes and
patriots of Great Britain. Without further opposition, the English Army
took possession of the post at the sawmills, within two
miles of ticonder Rugga. This fortuit, which commands the communication
between the two lakes, is encompassed on three sides by
water and secured in front by a morass. The ordinary garrison,

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amounting to four thousand men, were stationed under the cannon
of the place and covered by a breastwork, the approach
to which had been rendered extremely difficult by trees felled
in front with their branches at work, many of which
were sharpened so as to answer the purpose of Cheveau
de Friese. This body of troops was rendered still more
formidable by its general than by its position. It was

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commanded by the Marquis de Montcalm. Having learned from his
prisoners the strength of the army under the walls of
takwonder Rouga, and that a reinforcement of three thousand was
daily expected, General Apocrombie thought it advisable to storm the
place before this reinforcement should arrive, being informed by an
engineer directed to reconnorter the works, that they were unfinished
and were practicable. He resolved without waiting for his artillery

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to storm the lines, and the dispositions for an assault
were instantly made. The light infantry and the right wing
of the provincials were ordered to form a line out
of cannon shot of the entrenchments, with their right extending
to Lake George and their left to Lake Champlain. The
regulars who were to storm the works were formed in
the rear of this line. The piquets were to begin

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the attack and to be sustained by the grenadiers, and
the grenadiers by the battalions. The whole were ordered to
march up briskly, to rush upon the enemy's fire, and
to reserve their own until they had passed the breastwork.
The troops marched to the assault with great intrepidity, but
their utmost efforts could make no impression on the works.
The impediments in front of the entrenchments retarded their advance

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and exposed them, while entangled among the bowels of the trees,
to a very galling fire. The breastwork itself was eight
or nine feet high and much stronger than had been represented,
so that the assailants who did not appear to have
been furnished with ladders, weren't unable to pass it. After
a contest of near four hours and several repeated attacks,
General Abercrombie ordered a retreat. General Abercroms repulsed under the

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walls of Taekwonderoga. The army retired to the camp from
which it had marched in the morning, and the next
day resumed his former position on the south side of
Lake George. In this rash attempt, killed and wounded of
the English amounted to near two thousand men, of whom
not quite four hundred were provincials. The French were covered
during the whole action, and their loss was inconsiderable. Entirely

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disconcerted by this unexpected and bloody repulse, General Abercrombie relinquished
his designs against Ticonderoga and Ground Point. Searching, however, for
the means of repairing the misfortune, if not the disgrace
sustained by his arms, he readily acceded to a proposition
made by Colonel Bradstreet for an expedition against Fort front
and Yaque. This fortress stands on the north side of Ontario,

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at the point where the Saint Lawrence issues from that lake,
and though the upposed of real importance had been left
in a great degree undefended. The detachment designed for this
service was commanded by Colonel Bradstreet, insisted of three thousand men,
of whom two hundred were British, and was furnished with
eight pieces of cannon and three mortars. Fort Frontignac taken,

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Colonel brad Street embarked on the Ontario at Oswego, and
on the twenty fifth of August landed within one mile
of the fort. In two days. His batteries were opened
at so short a distance that almost every shell took effect,
and the governor, finding the place absolutely untenable, surrendered at discretion.
The Indians, having deserted. The prisoners amounted only to one
hundred and ten men. A great quantity of military stores,

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together with nine armed vessels mounting from eight to eighteen guns,
also fell into the hands of the English. After destroying
the fort and bessels and such stores as could not
be brought off, Colonel brad Street returned to the army,
which undertook nothing farther during the campaign expedition against Fort Ducaine.
The demolition of Fort Frontagnac and of the stores which

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had been collected there contributed materially to the success of
the expedition against Fort Ducaine. The conduct of this enterprise
had been trusted to General Forbes, who marched from Philadelphia
about the beginning of July at the head of the
main body of the army destined for this surface, in
order to join Colonel Beauquet at Raystown. So much time

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was employed in preparing to move from this place that
the Virginia Regulars, commanded by Colonel Washington were not ordered
to join the British troops until the month of September.
It had been determined not to use the road made
by Braddock, but to cut a new one from Raystown
to Fort Ducaine. About the time this resolution was formed,
and before the army was put in motion, Major Grant

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was detached from the advance posed at Loyal Hannon with
eight hundred men to reconnoiter the fort and the adjacent country.
This gentleman invited an attack from the garrison, the result
of which was that up was a three hundred of
the detachment were killed and wounded, and Major Grant himself
was made a prisoner. Fort Ducaine evacuated early in October
General Forbes moved from Raystown, but the obstructions to his

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march were so great that he did not reach Fort
Ducaine until in November. The garrison, being deserted by the Indians,
in too weak to maintain the place against the formidable
army which was approaching, abandoned the fort the evening before
the arrival of the British and escaped down the Ohio
in boats. The English placed to garrison in it and
changed its name to Pittsburgh in complement to their popular minister.

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The acquisition of this post was of great importance to Pennsylvania,
Maryland and Virginia. Its possession oft given the French and
absolute control over the Indians of the Ohio, who were
accustomed to assemble at that place for the purpose of
making their destructive incursions into those colonies. Their route was
marked by fire and the scalping Knight, and neither Age
nor Sex could afford exemption from their ferocity. The expulsion

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of the French gave the English entire possession of the
country and produced a complete revolution in the disposition of
the Indians inhabiting it. Finding the current of success to
be running against their ancient friends, they were willing to
reconcile themselves to the most powerful and all the Indians
between the Lakes and the Ohio concluded a peace with
US English. Although the events of seventeen fifty eight did

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not equal the expectations which had been formed from the
force brought into the field, the advantages were decisive. The
whole country constituting the original cause of the war had
changed masters and was in possession of the English. The
acquisition of the island of Cape Breton opened the way
to Quebec, and their success in the west enabled them
to direct all their force against Canada. The colonists, encouraged

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by this revolution in their affairs, and embodomed by the conquests,
already made to hope for others still more extensive, prepared
vigorously on the application of mister Pitt for the farther
prosecution of the war. General Amherst succeeded General Abercrombie late
in the year seventeen fifty eight. General Abercrombie was succeeded
in the command of the army by Major General Amherst,

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who formed the bow plant of conquering Canada. In the
course of the ensuing campaign seventeen fifty nine. The decided
superiority of Great Britain at sea, and the great exertions
of France and other quarters of the world still prevented
the arrival of sets reinforcements as were necessary for the
preservation of his most Christian Majesty's possessions in North America.

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Plan of the campaign to take advantage of this weakness,
the English proposed to enter Canada by three different routes
with three powerful armies, and to attack all the strongholds
by which that country was defended. He was determined that
one division of the army, to be commanded by Brigadier
General Wolfe, a young officer who had signalized himself in
the Siege of Louisbourg, should ascend the Saint Lawrence and

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lay siege to Quebec. A strong fleet was to escort
the troops destined for this enterprise and to cooperate with them.
Major General AMers was to lead the central and main
army against Taekwonderoga and Crown Point. After making himself master
of these places, he was to proceed over Lake Champlain
and by the way of Rachilieu to the Saint Lawrence
and down that river. So was defect a junction with

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General Wolf before the walls of Quebec. From their combined force,
the conquest of the capital of Canada was expected. The
Third Army was to be commanded by General Prideaux. Its
first destination was against Niagara. After the reduction of this place,
Prideaux was to embark on Lake Ontario and proceed down
the Saint Lawrence against Montreal. Should Montreal fall into his

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hands before the surrender of Quebec, he was to join
the Grand Army at that place. He could not be
expected that a plan so extensive and so complex should
succeed in all its parts, and it was greatly to
be apprehended that the failure of one part might defeat
the whole. But it suited the daring spirit, which eminently
distinguished the officers then commanding the British forces, and was

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entered upon with zeal and activity. As the other two expeditions,
especially that against Quebec, were supposed to depend greatly on
the celerity with which the movements of the main army
should be made. General Amhers began his preparations in the
commencement of winter for the enterprise he was to undertake
early in the spring, he transferred his headquarters from New
York to Albany, where his troops were assembled by the

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last of May, notwithstanding his continued exertions, though summer was
far advanced. Before he could cross Lake George, thea Conderoga abandoned,
nor did he reach Ticonderoga until the twenty second of July.
The lines drawn around that place were immediately abandoned, and
the English took possession of them. The French troops in
this quarter, being unequal to the defense of the posts

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they held. Their objects seems to have been to embarrass
and delay the invading army, but not to hazard any
considerable diminution of strength. By persevering in the defensive places
until the retreat of the garrison should become impracticable. The
hope was entertained that by retreating from post to posts
and making a show of intending to defend each, the
advance of the English might be retarded until the season

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for action on the lake should pass away, while the
French would be gradually strengthened by concentration and thus enabled
to maintain some point which would arrest the progress of
AMers down the Saint Lawrence in pursuance of this plan.
As soon as the English had completed their arrangements for
taking possession of Lake Champlain, the Garrison of Ticonderoga retreated
to Crown Point and Crown Point. Early in the month

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of August, Amherst advanced to Crown Point, which was abandoned
on his approach, and the garrison retired to isle Au
Nois at the northern extremity of Lake Champlain. French had
collected between three and four thousand men at this place
in an entrench camp defended by artillery and protected by
several armed vessels on the lake. After making great exertions

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to obtain a naval superiority, General Amherst embarked his army
on Lake Champlain, but as succession of storms compelling him
to abandon the farther prosecution of the enterprise, he returned
to Crown Point, where the troops were put into winter quarters.
In the beginning of July, General Prideaux embarked on Lake
Ontario with the army destined against Agra. Immediately after his

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departure from Oswego, that place, which was defended by twelve
hundred men under the command of Colonel Alderman, was vigorously
attacked by a body of French and Indians, who were
repulsed with some loss. In the meantime, Prudeaux proceeded towards
Niagara and landed without opposition about three miles from the fort.
The place was invested in form and the siege was

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carried on by regular approaches. In its progress, General Prudeau
was killed by the bursting of a cohorn, and the
command involved on General Johnson. Great efforts were made to
relieve this important place. A considerable body of troops drawn
from the neighboring garrisons, aided by some Indian auxiliaries, advanced
on the English army with the determination to risk a

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battle in order to raise the siege. Early in the
morning of the twenty fourth, the approach of this party
was announced and a strong detachment marched out. The action
which immediately commenced was not of long duration. The French
were forsaken by their Savage allies, and victory soon declared
in favor of the English. Niagara capitulates. This battle decided

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the fate of Niagara. The works of the besiegers had
been pushed within one hundred yards of the walls, and
a farther, attempt to defend the place being hopeless, a
capitulation was signed by which the garrison amount to rather
more than six hundred men became prisoners of war. Although
important advantages were gained by the British arms in Upper Canada,
it has neither a division of the army in that

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quarter succeeded so completely as to cooperate with General Wolfe.
Serious fears were entertained for the fate of that officer,
the enterprise conducted by him being of the greatest hazard
and of the deepest interest. Its success was to decide
whether the whole campaign would terminate in a manner favorable
to the future conquest of Canada. Expedition against Quebec. As

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soon as the waters were sufficiently freed from ice to
be navigable, wolf embarked eight thousand men be formidable train
of artillery at louis Bourg under convoy of Admiral Saunders
and Homes. Late in June. He anchored about halfway up
the island of Orleans, on which he landed without opposition.
From this position he could take a near inaccurate view

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of the obstacles to be surmounted before he could hope
for success in his enterprise. These were so great that
even his bold and sanguine temper PERCEI need more to
fear than to hope. And in a celebrated letter written
to mister Pitt and afterwards published, he declared that he
could not flatter himself with being able to reduce the place.
Quebec stands on the north side of the Saint Lawrence

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and on the west of the Saint Charles, which rivers
unite immediately below the town. It consists of an upper
and a lower town. The latter is built upon the strand,
which stretches along the base of the lofty rock on
which the former is situated. This rock continues with a
bold and steep front far to the westward, parallel to
and near the River Saint Lawrence. On this side, therefore,

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the city might well be deemed inaccessible. On the other
it was protected by the River Saint Charles, in which
were several armed vessels and floating batteries, deriving additional security
from a strong boon drawn across its mouth. The channel
of this river is rough and broken, and its borders
intersected with ravines. On its left or eastern bank was
encamped a French army strongly entrenched, and a mounting according

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to the English counts to ten thousand men, extended from
Saint Charles eastward to the Morle Sea, and its rear
was covered by an almost impenetrable wood. To render this
army still more formative, it was commanded by a general
who had given signal proofs of active courage and consummate prudence,
the Marquis de Montcalm, who when strong enough to act defensively,

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had so rapidly carried Oswego and war William Henry, and
who when reduced to the defensive, had driven Abercrombie with
such slaughter from the walls of taekwonder Rugu was now
at the head of the army which covered Quebec, and
was an antagonist in all respects worthy of wolf. The
British general perceived these difficulties in their full extent, but
his ardent mind, glowing with military enthusiasm, sawed only how

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to subdue them. He took possession of Point Levy, on
the southern side of the Saint Lawrence, where he erected
several heavy batteries which opened on the town, but were
at too great a distance to make any considerable impression
on the works, nor could his ships be employed in
this service. The elevation of the principal fortifications placed beyond
the reach of the guns of the fleet, and the

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river was so commanded by the batteries on shore as
to render a station near the town ineligible. The English general,
sensible of the impracticability of reducing Quebec unless he should
be enabled to erect his batteries on the north side
of the Saint Lawrence, determined to use his utmost endeavors
to bring Montcom to an engagement. After several unavailing attempts

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to draw that able officer from his advantageous position, Wolf
resolved to pass the Moral Sea and to attack him
in his entrenchments. In consequence of this resolution, thirteen companies
of British grenadiers and part of the second Battalion of
Royal Americans were landed near the mouth of the Moral
Sea under cover of the canon of the ships, while

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two divisions under Generals Townsend and Murray prepared to cross
that river high up. The original plan was to make
the first attack on a detached redoubt close to the
water's edge, apparently unprotected by the fire from the entrenchments,
in the hope that mountcom might be induced to support
this work and thereby enable Wolf to bring on a
general engagement. On the approach of the British troops, this

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redoubt was evacuated. Observing some confusion in the French camp,
Wolf determined to avail himself of the supposed impression of
the moment and to storm the lines with his view.
He directed the grenadiers and Royal Americans to form on
the breach, where they were to wait until the whole
army could be arranged to sustain them. Orders were at
the same time despatch to towns in Murray to be

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in readiness for fording the river. The grenadiers and Royal Americans,
disregarding their orders, rushed forward with impetuous valor on the
entrenchments of the enemy. They were received with so steady
and well supported a fire that they were thrown into
confusion and compelled to retreat. The English army repulsed the general,
advancing in person with the remaining brigades. The fugitives formed

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again in the rear of the army, but the plan
of the attack was effectually disconcerted, and the English commander
gave orders for repassing the river and returning to the
island of Orleans. Convinced by this disaster of the impracticability
of approaching Quebec on the side of the Mount Moral seat,
Wolf again turned his whole attention to the Saint Lawrence
to destroy some ships of war lying in the river,

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and at the same time to distract the attention of
Montcalm by descents at different places. Twelve hundred men were
embarked in transports under the command of General Murray, who
made two vigorous but unsuccessful attempts to land on the
northern shore. In the third he was more fortunate in
a sudden descent on Chambeau. He burnt a valuable magazine
filled with military stores, but was still unable to accomplish

(29:32):
the main object of the expedition. The ships were secured
in such a manner as not to be approached by
the fleet or army. Murray was recalled and on his
return brought with him the intelligence that Niagra was taken,
that Takonderoga and Crown Point had been abandoned, and that
General Amherst was making preparations to attack the eel ou Noir.
This intelligence though joyfully received, promised no immediate assistance, and

(29:56):
the season for action was rapidly rating away. Nor was
it easy for war to avoid contrasting the success of
the British arms under other auspices with the ill fortune
attending his own. A Council of War having determined that
all their future efforts should be directed towards effecting a
landing above the town, the troops were withdrawn from the
islands of Orleans and embarked on board the fleet. Some

(30:18):
of them were landed at Point Levee, and the residue
carried higher up the river. Montcom could not view this
movement without alarm. That part of Quebec, which faces the country,
had not been well fortified, and he was apprehensive that
a landing might be effected up the river and the
town approached on its weak side. At the same time,
he could not safely relinquish his position, because the facility

(30:39):
of transportation which the Command of the Water gave the
English would enable them to seize the ground he then
occupied should his army be moved above the town. Thus embarrassed,
he detached Monsieur de Bougamt Bill with fifteen hundred men
to watch the motions of the English, and to prevent
their landing. In this state of things, Wolf formed the
boat and hazardous plan of land in the night a

(31:01):
small distance above the city, on the northern bank of
the river, and by scaling a precipice accessible only by
a narrow path and therefore but weakly guarded, to gain
the heights in the rear of the town. This resolution
being taken, their moved up the river several leagues above
the place where the landing was to be attempted, and
made demonstrations of an intention to disembark a body of
troops at different places during the night of strong detachment

(31:24):
in flat bottom boats fell silently down with the tide
to the place fixed on for the descent. This was
made an hour before daybreak, about a mile above Cape Diamond,
Wolf being the first man who leaped on shore. The
Highlanders and light infantry who composed the van, under the
particular command of Colonel Howe, had been directed to secure
a fore gun battery defending an entranspath by which the

(31:46):
heights were to be ascended, and to cover the landing
of the remaining troops. The violence of the current forced
them rather below the point of disembarkation, a circumstance which
increased their difficulties. However, scrambling up the precipice, they gained
the heights and quickly dispersed the guard. The whole army
followed up this narrow pass, and, having encountered only a
scattering fire from some Canadians and Indians, gained the summit

(32:09):
by the breakup day, when the several corps were formed
under their respective leaders. The intelligence that the English had
gained the Heights of Abraham was soon conveyed to montcom
who comprehended at once the full force of the advantage
obtained by his adversary, and prepared for the engagement which
could no longer be avoided. Leaving his camp at mont Moralcy,
he crossed the Saint Charles for the purpose of attacking

(32:30):
the English army. This movement was made in the view
of Wolfe, who immediately formed his order of battle. His
right wing was commanded by General Monkton, and his left
by General Murray. The right flank was covered by the
louis Bourg grenadiers, and the rear and left by the
light infantry. Of how the reserve consisted of Webb's regiment
drawn up in eight subdivisions, with large intervals between them.

(32:53):
Montcalm had formed his two wings of European and colonial
troops and nearly equal numbers. A column of Europeans composed
to center, and two small field pieces were brought up
to play on the English line. In this order, he
marched to the attack, advancing in his front about fifteen
hundred militia and Indians, who kept in an irregular and
galling fire under cover of the bushes. The movements of

(33:14):
the French indicating an intention to flank his left. General
Wolf ordered the battalion of Amherst and the two battalions
of Royal Americans to that part of his line, where
they were formed all potens under General Townshend, presenting a
double front. Disregarding the fire of the militia and Indians,
he ordered his troops to reserve themselves for the column

(33:34):
advancing in the rear of these irregulars. Battle on the
plains of Abraham. Montcalm had taken post on the left
of the French army and Wolf on the right of
the British, so that the two generals met each other
at the head of their respective troops, and there the
battle was most severe, for the French advanced briskly to
the charge and commenced the action with great animation. The
English reserved their fire until the enemy were within forty

(33:56):
yards of them, when they gave it with immense effect.
The action was kept up for some time with great spirit.
Death of Wolfe. Wolf, advancing at the head of his
grenadiers with charged bayonets, received a mortal wound, and soon
afterwards expired. Undismayed by the loss of their general, the
English continued their exertions under Monkton, on whom the command devolved.

(34:17):
He also received a ball through his body, and General
Townshend took command of the British army and of Mountcom
About the same time Montcom received a mortal wound, and
General Senna Zergis, the second command, also felled. The left
wing and center of the French began to give way, and,
being pressed close by the British, were driven from the field.
On the left and rear of the English, the action

(34:38):
was less severe. The light infantry had been placed in houses,
and Colonel Howe, the better to support them, had taken
pose still farther to the left behind a copse, as
the right of the French attacked the English left. He
sallied from this position upon their flanks and threw them
into disorder. In this critical moment, Towshend advanced several platoons
against their front and completely frustrated the attempt to turn

(34:59):
the m left flank victory of the English. In this
state of the action, Townshend was informed that the command
had devolved on him. Proceeding instantly to this center, he
found that part of the army thrown into some disorder
by the ardor of pursuit, and his immediate efforts were
employed in restoring the line. Scarcely was this effected. Why
Monsieur de Bougamville, who had been detached as high as

(35:21):
Cape Rouge to prevent the landing above, and who, on
hearing that the English had gained the plains of Abraham,
hastened to the assistance of Montcom, appeared in the rear
at the head of fifteen hundred men. Fortunately for the English,
the right wing of the French, as well as their
left and center, had been entirely broken and driven off
the field, two battalions and two pieces of archery being

(35:41):
advanced towards Bougambilla. He retired and Townsend did not think
it advisable to risk the important advantages already gained by
pursuing this fresh body of troops through a difficult country.
In this decisive battle, nearly equal numbers appeared to have
been engaged. The English, however, possessed this immense advantage. They
were all veterans, while not more than half the French

(36:03):
were of the same description. This circumstance would lead to
an opinion that some motive not well explained, must have
induced Moncombe to hazard and action. Before he was assured
of being joined by Bugambille, the French regulars were almost
entirely cut to pieces. The loss of the English was
not so considerable as the fierceness of the action would indicate.
The killed and wounded were less than six hundred men,

(36:25):
But among the former was the commander in chief. This
gallant officer, whose rare merit and lamented fate had presented
a rich theme for Panegyric to both the poet and historian,
received a ball in his wrist in the commencement of
the action, but wrapping a handkerchief around his arm, he
continued to encourage his troops. Soon afterwards, he received a
shot in the groin, which he also concealed, and was

(36:46):
advancing at the head of the grenadieus when a third
bullet pierced his breast. Though expiring, it was with reluctance
he permitted himself to be carried into the rear, where
he displayed in the agonies of death, the most anxious
solicitude concerning the fate of the day. Being told that
the enemy was visibly broke, he reclined his head from
extreme faintness on the arm of an officer standing near him,

(37:07):
but was soon roused with a distinct cry of they fly,
They fly? Who fly? Exclaimed the dying hero, on being
answered the French, then he said, I depart content, and
almost immediately expired. A death more glorious as mister Belchiam,
and attended with circumstances more picturesque and interesting, is nowhere
to be found in the annals of history. The less

(37:29):
fortunate but not less gallant Montcalm expired in the same day.
The same love of glory and the same fearlessness of death,
which so remarkably distinguished the British hero, were equally conspicuous
in his competitor for victory and for fame. He expressed
the highest satisfaction hearing that his wound was mortal, and
when told that he could survive only a few hours,
quickly replied, so much the better. I shall not then

(37:50):
live to see the surrender of Quebec. Quebec capitulates. The
first days after the action were employed by General townshend
And making preparations for the siege of Quebec, But before
his batteries were opened, the town capitulated on condition that
the inhabitants should, during the war be protected in the
three exercise of their religion and the full enjoyment of
their civil rights, leaving their future destinies to be decided

(38:13):
by the treaty of peace. Quebec was garrisoned by about
five thousand English under the command of General Murray, and
the fleet sailed from the Saint Lawrence. The English Minister,
aware of the importance of completing the work, thus, fortunately Begun,
was not of a temper to relax his exertions. His
letters to the governors of the several colonies contained declarations

(38:34):
of his intention to employ a strong military force for
the ensuing year, and exhortations to them to continue their
efforts for the annihilation of the French power in Canada.
These exhortations were accompanied with assurances that he would again
apply to Parliament to reimburse their future extraordinary expenses, and
were productive of the desired effect. The several assemblies voted

(38:56):
the same number of troops and amount of supplies as
had been furnished preceding year. In the meantime, the Governor
of New France and the General of the Army made
great exertions to retrieve their affairs and to avert the
ruin which threatened them. The remaining European troops were collected
about Montreal, where they were reinforced with six thousand militia
and a body of Indians. Monsieur de Levie, on whom

(39:19):
the command had devolved, determined to attempt the recovery of
Quebec before the opening of the Saint Lawrence, should enable
the English to reinforce the garrison and to afford it
the protection of their fleet. But the outposts being found
too strong to admit of his carrying the place by
acuta man, he was under the necessity of postponing the
execution of this design until the upper part of the

(39:39):
Saint Lawrence should open. And afford a transportation by water
for his artillery and military stores. Seventeen sixteen, the month
of April, these were embarked at Montreal under convoy of
six frigates, which sailing down the Saint Lawrence, while the
army marched by land, reached Point au Tromba in ten days.
To avoid the hardships and dangers of a siege in

(40:00):
a town too extensive to be defended by his sickly
garrison and inhabited by persons known to be hostile, Murray
took the bold resolution of hazarding a battle. Having formed
this determination, he led out his garrison to the heights
of Abraham Battle near Sillery, and attacked the French near Sillery.
He was received with unexpected firmness, and, perceiving that his

(40:21):
utmost efforts could make no impression, he called off his
army and retired into the city. In this fierce encounter,
the English loss amounted to near one thousand men, and
they represent that of the French to have been not
less considerable. Quebec besieged, Monsieur de Levy improved his victory
to the utmost. His trenches were opened before the town.
On the same evening. But such was the difficulty of

(40:42):
bringing up his heavy artillery that near a fortnight elapsed
before he could mount his batteries and bring his guns
to bear on the city. The batteries had been opened
but a few days when the garrison was relieved from
its perilous situation by the arrival of a British fleet.
Quebec being secured, Monsieur de la Ville raised the siege
and retired to Montreal. During these transactions, General Hamhurst was

(41:04):
taking measures for the annihilation of the remnant of French
power in Canada. He determined to employ the immense force
under his command for the accomplishment of this object, and
made arrangements during the winter to bring the armies from
Quebec Lake Champlain in Lake Ontario to act against Montreal.
Their preparations being completed, the Commander in Chief march at

(41:25):
the head of upwards of ten thousand British and provincials
from the frontiers of New York to Oswego, where he
was joined by Sir William Johnson with one thousand Indians.
He embarked his army at that place and proceeded down
the Saint Lawrence to Montreal. Murray, who had been directed
to advance up the river to the same point with
as many minutes could be spared from Quebec, appeared below
the town on the very day that Amherst approached it

(41:47):
from above. The two generals found no difficulty in disembarking
their troops, and the whole plan of cooperation had been
so wel concerted that in a short time they were
joined by Colonel Havilan with the detachment from Crown Point.
Montreal capitulates. The junction of these armies presenting before Montreal
a forced not to be resisted. The governor offered to capitulate.

(42:07):
In the month of September, Montreal and all other places
within the Government of Canada than remaining in the possession
of France were surrendered to his Britannic majesty. The troops
were to be transported to France, and the Canadians to
be protected in their property and the full enjoyment of
their religion. That colossal power which France had been long
erecting in America with vast labor and expense, which had

(42:29):
been the motive of one of the most extensive and
desolating wars of modern times, was thus entirely overthrown. The
causes of this interesting event are to be found in
the superior wealth and population of the colonies of England,
and in her immense naval strength and advantage in distant war,
not to be counterbalanced by the numbers that disciplined the courage,
and the military talents which may be combined in the

(42:51):
armies of an inferior maritime power. The death of Wolf
on the Plains of Abraham from the painting back Benjamin West,
in the capital of Ottawa, Canada, surrounded by his devoted officers,
General James wolf died in the hour of victory over
the French General Moncom in which the English captured Quebec
September thirteenth, seventeen fifty nine and decided the destiny of

(43:11):
North American civilization. General Wolfe lived to hear the cry
they run, and expired with the words now God be praised,
I will die in peace. In the canvas painted in
seventeen seventy one, West departed from the venerated custom of
clothing pictorial characters in Greek or Roman costume. Sure Joshua Reynolds,
who had endeavored to dissuade him, later said, I retract

(43:32):
my objections. I foresee that this picture will not only
become one of the most popular, but will occasion a
revolution in art. The joy diffused throughout the British dominions
by this splendid conquest was mingled with a proud sense
of superiority which did not estimate with exact justice the
relative means employed by the belligerents. And no part of
those dominions was this joy felt in a higher degree

(43:54):
or with more reason than in America. In that region,
the wars between France and England had assumed a form
happily unknown to other parts of the civilized world. Not
confined as in Europe, to men in arms, women and
children were its common victims. It had been carried by
the savage to the fireside of the peaceful peasant, where
the tomahawk and scalping knife were applied indiscriminately to every

(44:16):
age and to edi sex. The hope was now fondly
indulged that these scenes, at least in the northern and
Middle colonies, were closed forever. The colonies of South Carolina
and Georgia had been entirely exempted from the sharp conflicts
of the North. France, having been unable to draw Spain
into the war. Their neighbors in Florida remained quiet, and
the Indians on their immediate frontiers were in the English interest.

(44:37):
As the prospect of establishing peace in the north seemed
to brighten. This state of repose in the south sustained
a short interruption when the garrison of Fort Ducaine retired
down the Ohio into Louisiana. The French employed their address
in the Management of Indians to draw the Cherokees from
their alliance with Great Britain. Their negotiations with these savages
were favored by the irritations since given to their warrior

(45:00):
in Virginia, where they had been employed against the French
and the Indians in the French interests. Their ill humor
began to show itself in seventeen fifty nine. Upon its
first appearance, Governor Lyttleton prepared to march into their country
at the head of a respectable military force. Alarmed at
these hostile appearances, they dispatched thirty two of their chiefs
to Charleston for the purpose of deprecating the vengeance with

(45:22):
which their nation was threatened. Their Pacific representations did not
arrest the expedition. The governor not only persisted in the enterprise, but,
under the pretext of securing a safe return of the
Indian messengers, took them into the train of his army,
where they were in reality confined as prisoners. To add
to this indignity, they were, when arrived at the place
of destination, shut up together in a single hut. Notwithstanding

(45:46):
the irritation accited by this conduct, a treaty was concluded
in which it was agreed that the chiefs detained by
the governor should remain with him as hostages until an
equal number of those who had committed murder on the
frontiers should be delivered in exchange for them, and that
in the meantime the Indians should seize and deliver up
every white or red man coming into their country who
should endeavor to excite them to war against the English.

(46:08):
After making this accommodation, the government returned to Charleston, leaving
his hostage as prisoners in Fort. Prince George scarcely had
the army retired when the Cherokees began to contrive plans
for the relief of their chiefs. In an attempt to
execute these plans, they killed the captain of the fort
and wounded two officers. Orders were immediately given to put
the hostages in irons and indignity. So resented by these

(46:31):
fierce savages that the first persons who attempted to execute
the orders were stabbed. The soldiers, enraged at this resistance,
fell on the hostages and massacred them war with the
seven Indians inflamed to madness by this event, the whole
nation flew to arms, and, according to their established mode
of warfare, wreaked their fury on the inhabitants of the
country in indiscriminate murder. Mister Bull, on whom the government

(46:54):
of the province had devolved, represented the distresses of South
Carolina in such strong terms to General Amherst that Colonel
Montgomery was ordered into that colony with a detachment of
regular troops. He arrived in April, but as all the
forces would be required in the North in order to
complete the conquest of Canada, he was directed to strike
a sudden blow and to return to New York in
time for the expedition against Montreal. Utmost exertions were made

(47:18):
by the colony in aid of Colonel Montgomery, and he
entered to the Cherokee country with all the forces that
could be collected. Their lower towns were destroyed battle near Etcho,
but near the village of Echo, the first of their
middle settlements, in an almost impenetrable wood, he was met
by a large body of savages and a severe action ensued.
The English claimed the victory, but without much reason. They

(47:39):
were so roughly handled that Colonel Montgomery withdrew his army
and retired to Fort Prince George, at which place he
prepared to embark for New York. The consternation of the
province was the greater, as serious fears were entertained that
the Creeks and Choctaws might be induced by the French
to join the Cherokees. Colonel Montgomery was pressed in the
most earnest manner not to leave the propace, and was

(48:00):
with difficult to prevailed on to permit four companies to
remain while with the main body of his detachment. He
returned to New York seventeen sixty one. Meanwhile, the war
continued to raig. The Savages surrounded Fort Loudon, and the garrison,
amounting to four hundred men, was compelled by famine to
surrender on condition of being permitted to march into the settlements.
The Indians, who regard conventions no longer than they are useful,

(48:23):
attacked the garrison on its march, killed in number, and
made the residue prisoners. Carolina again applied to General Amherst
for assistants, who, having completed the conquests of Canada, had
leisures to attend to the southern colonies laid. In May,
a strong detachment commanded by Colonel Grant arrived at Fort
Prince George, and the colony raised a body of provincials
and to friend the Indians to join him. Early in June,

(48:47):
marched for the Cherokee towns, near the place where the
action had been fought the preceding year by Montgomery. The
Indians again assembled in force and gave battle and defense
of their country. The action commenced about eight in the
morning and was maintain the spirit until eleven, when the
Cherokees began to give way. They were pursued for two
or three hours, after which Grant march to the adjacent

(49:07):
village of Echo, which he reduced to ashes. Indians defeated.
All the towns of the Middle Settlement shared the same fate.
Their houses and cornfields were destroyed, and the whole country
laid waste. Reduced to extremity. They sued sincerely for peace,
and in the course of the summer the war was
terminated by a treaty. It was not in America only
that the bigger presiding in the councils of Britain shed

(49:29):
luster on the British armed. Splendid conquests were also made
in Asia and Africa, and in Europe. Per aids of
men and money enabled the greatest monarch of his age
to surmount difficulties which only Frederick and mister Pitt could
have dared to encounter. Seventeen sixty two, at length, Spain,
alarmed at the increase of British power in America and
apprehensive for the safety of his own dominions, determined to

(49:50):
take part against Great Britain, and early in the year
seventeen sixty two the two crowns declared war against each other.
It was prosecuted on the part of Great Britain with
signaled success, and in the course of the year Martinique, Granada,
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and all that care Be Islands
were arrested from France and the very important city of Havannah,
which in a great degree commands the Gulf of Mexico,

(50:12):
was taken from Spain. The course of conquests which no
force in possession of France and Spain seemed capable of checking,
while any of their distant possessions remained to be subdued,
was arrested by preliminary articles of peace signed at Paris.
By this treaty, his Christian Majesty seated to Britain all
the conquests made by that power on the continent of
North America, together with the river and port of Mobile,

(50:32):
and all the territory to which France was entitled on
the left bank of the Mississippi, reserving only the island
of New Orleans. And it was agreed that for the
future the confines between the dominions of the two crowns
in that court of the world should be irrevocably fixed
by a line drawn along the middle of the Mississippi
from its source as far as the River Iberville, and
thence by a line drawn along the middle of that

(50:53):
river and of the Lakes Maurepas and Port Chartran. Havana
was exchanged with Spain for the Floridas Byastep. Plushing these
great natural boundaries to the British Empire North America all
causes a future contest respecting that continent with any potent
date of Europe. We're supposed to be removed into Chapter twelve.