No. XI. GENERAL TOWNSHEND'S LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE, GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF THE THIRTEENTH OF SEP. TEMBER, 1759. Camp before Quebec, Sept. 20th, 1759. I have the honour to acquaint you with the success of his Majesty's arms on the 13th instant, in an action with the French, on the heights to the westward of this Town; it being determined to carry the operations above the Town, the Posts at Pointe Levi and l'Isle d'Orleans being secured, the General marched with the remainder of the Forces from Point Levi the 5th and 6th, and embarked them in transports, which had passed the town for that purpose. On the 7th, 8th, and 9th, a movement of the ships was made by Admiral Holmes, in order to amuse the enemy, now posted along the north shore; but the transports being exceedingly crowded, and the weather very bad, the General thought proper to canton half his troops on the south shore, where they were refreshed, and reimbarked upon the 12th, at one in the morning. The light Infantry commanded by Colonel Howe, the regiments of Bragg, Kennedy, Lascelles, and Anstruther, with a detachment of Highlanders and the American grenadiers, the whole being under the command of Brigadiers Monckton and Murray, were put into flat bottomed boats: and, after some movement of the ships made by Admiral Holmes, to draw the attention of the enemy above, the boats fell down with the tide, and landed on the north shore within a league of Cape Diamond, an hour before day break: the rapidity of the tide of ebb carried them a little below the intended place of attack, which obliged the light Infantry to scramble up a woody precipice, in order to secure the landing of the troops, by dislodging a Captain's Post, which defended the small entrenched path the troops were to ascend. After a little firing, the light Infantry gained the top of the precipice, and dispersed the Captain's Post; by which means the troops, with very little loss from a few Canadians and Indians in the wood, got up, and were immediately formed. The boats as they emptied were sent back for the second embarkation, which I immediately made. Brigadier Murray who had been detached with Anstruther's battalion to attack the four gun battery upon the left, was recalled by the General, who now saw the French crossing the river St. Charles. General Wolfe thereupon, began to form his 1ne, having his right covered by the Louisbourg grenadiers, on the right of these again he afterwards. brought Otway's; to the left of the grenadiers, were Bragg's, Kennedy's, Lascelles,' Highlanders, and Anstruther's; the right of this body was commanded by Brigadier Monckton, and the left by Brigadier Murray: his rear and left were protected by Colonel Howe's light Infantry, who was returned from the four gun battery beforementioned, which was soon abandoned to him. E General Montcalm having collected the whole of his force from the Beauport side, and advancing, shewed his intention to flank our left, where I was immediately ordered with General Amherst's Battalion, which I formed en potence. My numbers were soon after increased by the arrival of the two battalions of Royal Americans; and Webb's was drawn up by the General, as a reserve, in eight subdivisions, with large intervals. The enemy lined the bushes in their front with fifteen hundred Indians and Canadians, and I dare say, had placed most of their best marksmen there, who kept up a very gal ling tho' irregular fire upon our whole line, who bore it with the greatest patience and good order, reserving their fire for the main body now advancing. This fire of the enemy was, however, checked by our posts in our front, which protected the forming our own line. The right of the enemy was composed of half of the Troops of the Colony, the Battalions of La Sarre, Languedoc, and the remainder of their Canadians and Indians. Their centre was a column, and formed by the battalions of Bearn and Guienne. Their left was composed of the remainder of the Troops of the Colony, and the battalion of Royal Roussillon. This was, as near as I can guess, their line of battle. They brought up two pieces of small artillery against us, and we had been able to bring up but one gun, which being admirably well served, galled their column exceedingly. My attention to the left, will not permit me to be very exact with regard to every circumstance which passed in the centre, much less to the right, but it is most certain, that the enemy formed in good order, and that their attack was very brisk and animated on that side. Our troops reserved their fire, till within forty yards, which was so well continued, that the enemy every where gave way. It was then our General fell, at the head of Bragg's and the Louisbourg Grenadiers, advancing with their bayonets. About the same time, Brigadier General Monckton received his wound at the head of Lascelles. In the front of the opposite battalions, fell also Mr. Montcalm, and his second in command, who is since dead of his wounds on board one of the fleet. Part of the enemy made a second faint attack, part took to some thick coppice wood, and seemed to make a stand. It was at this moment, that each corps seemed in a manner to exert itself, with a view to its own peculiar character. The Grenadiers, Braggs, Kennedy's and Lascelles, pressed on with bayonets. Brigadier Murray advancing briskly with the troops under his command, completed the route on this side, when the Highlanders, supported by Anstruther's, took to their broad swords, and drove them into the town, and part to the works at their Bridge on the River St. Charles. The action on our left and rear was not so severe. The houses into which the Light Infantry was thrown, were well defended, being supported by Colonel Howe, who taking post with two companies, behind a small coppice, and frequently sallying upon the flanks of the enemy, during their attack, drove them often into heaps; against the front of which body, I advanced platoons of Amherst's Regiment, which totally prevented the right wing from executing their first, in tention. Before this, one of the Royal American Battalions had been detached to preserve our communication with our boats; and the other being sent to occupy the ground which Brigadier Murray's movement had left open. I remained with Amherst's to support this disposition, and to keep back the enemy's night, and a body of their Savages, which waited still more towards our rear, opposite to the posts of our Light Infantry, waiting for an opportunity to fall upon our rear. This was the situation of things, when I was told in the action, that I commanded. I immediately repaired to the centre, and finding the pursuit had put part of the troops in disorder, I formed them as soon as possible. Scarce was this effected, when Mr. Bougainville, with his corps from Cape Rouge, of two thousand men, appeared in our rear. I advanced two pieces of artillery and two battalions towards him, upon which he retired. You will not, I flatter myself, blame me for not quitting such advantageous ground, and risquing the fate of so decisive a day, by seeking a fresh enemy, posted perhaps, in the very kind of ground he could wish for, viz. woods and swamps. We took a great number of French officers upon the field of battle, and one piece of cannon; their loss is computed to be about fifteen hundred, which fell chiefly on their regu lars. I have been employed from the day of action to that of the capitulation, in redoubting our Camp beyond insult: in making a road up the precipice for our cannon; in getting up the artillery, preparing the Batteries, and cutting off their communication with their country. The 17th, at noon, before we had any Batteries erected, or could have any for two or three days, a flag of truce came out with proposals of Capitulation, which I sent back again to the Town, allowing them four hours to capitulate, or no further Treaty. The Admiral had, at this time, brought up his large ships as intending to attack the Town. The French officer returned at night with the terms of Capitulation; which, with the Admiral were considered, agreed to, and signed, at eight in the morning, the 18th instant. The terms we granted, will, I flatter myself, be approved of by His Majesty, considering the enemy assembling in our rear, and, what is far more formidable, the very wet and cold season, which threatened our troops with sickness, and the fleet with some accident. It had made our road so bad, that we could not bring up a gun for some time: add to this, the advantage of entering the Town with the walls in a defensible state, and being able to put a garrison there strong enough to prevent all surprize. These, I hope, will be deemed sufficient considerations for granting them the terms i have the honor to transmit to you. The inhabitants of the Country come into us fast, bringing their arms, and taking the oaths of fidelity, until a General Peace determine their situation. By deserters we learn, that the enemy are re-assembling what troops they can behind Cape Rouge; that Monsieur de Levi is come down from the Montreal side to command them: some say he has brought two battalions with him; if so, this blow has already assisted Gene ral Amherst. By other deserters we learn, that Mr. de Bougainville with eight hundred men and provisions, was on his march to fling himself into the town, the 18th, the very morning it capitulated. On which day we had not completed the investiture of the place, as they had broken down their bridge of boats and had detachments in very strong works on the other side of the river St. Charles. I should not do justice to the Admirals and the naval service, if I neglected the occasion of acknowledging how much we are indebted for our success, to the constant assistance and support received from them, and the perfect harmony and correspondence which has prevailad throughout all our operations, in the uncommon difficulties which the nature of this country, in particular, presents to military operations of a great extent, and which no army can itself solely supply. The immense labour in artillery, stores and provisions; the long watchings and attendance in boats; the drawing up our Artillery by the seamen, even in the heat of action; it is my duty, short as my command has been, to acknowledge for that time, how great a share the Navy has had in this successful Campaign. No. XII. LIST OF THE KILLED, WOUNDED AND MISSING OF GENERAL WOLFE's ARMY, FROM 27th JUNE, TO 13th SEPTEMBER, 1759. |