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Montcalm embarked at Brest with his staff。 War had not yet been
declared； but already Britain had captured some three hundred
French merchant ships； had taken prisoner nearly ten thousand
French sailors； and was sweeping from the sea the fleets of
France。
Owing to the fear of British cruisers； the voyage of Montcalm had
its excitements。 As usual； however； France was earlier in the
field than Britain； who had in April no force ready for America
which could intercept Montcalm。 The storms were heavy； and on
Easter Day； when Mass was celebrated； a sailor firm on his feet
had to hold the chalice for the officiating priest。 On board
there were daily prayers； and always the service ended with cries
of 〃God save the King！〃 Some of the officers on board were
destined to survive to a new era in France when there should be
no more a king。
Montcalm had with him a capable staff and a goodly number of
young officers； gay； debonair； thinking not of great political
designs about America but chiefly of their own future careers in
France； and facing death lightheartedly enough。 Next to Montcalm
in command was the Chevalier de Uvis； a member of a great French
family and himself destined to attain the high rank of Marshal of
France； and a capable though not a brilliant soldier； whose chief
gift was tact and the art of managing men。 Third in command was
the Chevalier de Bourlamaque； a quiet； reserved man； with no
striking social gifts and in consequence not likely at first to
make a good impression； though Montcalm； who was at the beginning
a little doubtful of his quality； came in the end to rely upon
him fully。 The most brilliant man in that company was the young
Colonel de Bougainville； Montcalm's chief aide…de…camp。 Though
only twenty…seven years old he was already famous in the world of
science and was destined to be still more famous as a great
navigator； to live through the whole period of the French
Revolution； and to die only on the eve of the fall of Napoleon。
In 1756 he was too young and clever to be always prudent in
speech。 It is from his quick eye and eager pen that we learn much
of the inner story of these last days of New France。 Montcalm
discusses frankly in his letters these and other officers； with
whom he was on the whole well pleased。 In his heart he could echo
the words of Bougainville as he watched the brilliant spectacle
of the embarkation at Brest： 〃What a nation is ours！ Happy is he
who leads and is worthy of it。〃
It was in this spirit of confidence that Montcalm faced the
struggle in America。 For him sad days were to come and his sunny；
vivacious； southern temperament caused him to suffer keenly。 At
first； however； all was full of brilliant promise。 So eager was
he that； when his ships lay becalmed in the St。 Lawrence some
thirty miles below Quebec； he landed and drove to the city。 It is
the most beautiful country in the world； he writes； highly
cultivated； with many houses； the peasants living more like the
lesser gentry of France than like peasants； and speaking
excellent French。 He found the hospitality in Quebec such that a
Parisian would be surprised at the profusion of good things of
every kind。 The city was； he thought； like the best type of the
cities of France。 The Canadian climate was health…giving； the sky
clear； the summer not unlike that of Languedoc； but the winter
trying； since the severe weather caused the inhabitants to remain
too much indoors。 He described the Canadian ladies as witty；
lively； devout； those of Quebec amusing themselves at play；
sometimes for high stakes； those of Montreal； with conversation
and dancing。 He confessed that one of them proved a little too
fascinating for his own peace of mind。 The intolerable thing was
the need to meet and pay court to the Indians whom the Governor；
the Marquis de Vaudreuil； regarded as valuable allies。 These
savages； brutal； changeable； exacting； Montcalm from the first
despised。 It filled him with disgust to see them swarming in the
streets of Montreal； sometimes carrying bows and arrows； their
coarse features worse disfigured by war…paint and a gaudy
headdress of feathers； their heads shaven； with the exception of
one long scalp…lock； their gleaming bodies nearly naked or draped
with dirty buffalo or beaver skins。 What allies for a refined
grand seigneur of France！ It was a costly burden to feed them。
Sometimes they made howling demands for brandy and for bouillon；
by which they meant human blood。 Many of them were cannibals。
Once Montcalm had to give some of them； at his own cost； a feast
of three oxen roasted whole。 To his disgust； they gorged
themselves and danced round the room shouting their savage
war…cries。
The Governor of Canada； Pierre de Rigaud； Marquis de Vaudreuil；
belonged to one of the most ancient families of France； related
to that of Levis。 He had been born in Canada where his father was
Governor for the long period of twenty…two years； from 1703 to
1725； and in his outlook and prejudices he was wholly of New
France； with a passionate devotion to its people； and a deep
resentment at any airs of superiority assumed by those who came
from old France。 A certain admiration is due to Vaudreuil for his
championship of the Canadians and even of the savages of the land
of his birth against officers of his own rank and caste who came
from France。 There was in Canada the eternal cleavage in outlook
and manners between the Old World and the New； which is found in
equal strength in New England； and which was one of the chief
factors in causing the American Revolution。 Vaudreuil； born at
Quebec in 1698； had climbed the official ladder step by step
until； in 1742； he had been made Governor of Louisiana； a post he
held for three years。 He succeeded the Marquis Duquesne as
Governor of Canada in the year before Montcalm arrived。 He meant
well but he was a vain man； always a leading figure in the small
society about him； and obsessed by a fussy self…importance。 He
was not clever enough to see through flattery。 The Intendant
Bigot； next to the Governor the most important man in Canada； an
able and corrupt rascal； knew how to manage the Governor and to
impose his own will upon the weaker man。 Vaudreuil and his wife
between them had a swarm of needy relatives in Canada； and these
and other Canadians who sought favors from the Governor helped to
sharpen his antagonism to the officers from France。 Vaudreuil
believed himself a military genius。 It was he and not Montcalm
who had the supreme military command； and he regarded as an
unnecessary intruder this general officer sent out from France。
Now that Montcalm was come； Vaudreuil showed a malignant
alertness； born of jealousy； to snub and check him。 Outward
courtesies were； of course； maintained。 Vaudreuil could be bland
and Montcalm restrained； in spite of his southern temperament；
but their dispatches show the bitterness in their relations。 The
court of France encouraged not merely the leaders but even
officers in subordinate posts to communicate to it their views。 A
voluble correspondence about affairs in Canada has been
preserved。 Vaudreuil himself must have tried the patience of the
French ministers for he wrote at prodigious length； exalting his
own achievements to the point of being ludicrous。 At the same
time he belittled everything done by Montcalm； complained that he
was ruining the French cause in America； hinted that he was in
league with corrupt elements in Canada； and in the end even went
so far as to request his recall in order that the more pliant
Levis might be put in his place。 The letters of Montcalm are more
reserved。 Unlike Vaudreuil； he never stooped to falsehood。 He
knew that he was under the orders of the Governor and he accepted
the situation。 When operations were on hand； Vaudreuil would give
Montcalm instructions so ambiguous that if he failed he would be
sure to get the discredit； while； if he succeeded； to Vaudreuil
would belong the glory。
War is； at best； a cruel business。 In Europe its predatory
barbarity was passing away and there the lives of prisoners and
of women and children were now being respected。 Montcalm had been
reared under this more civilized code； and he and his officers
were shocked by what Vaudreuil regarded as normal and proper
warfare。 In 1756 the French had a horde of about two thousand
savages； who had flocked to Montreal from points as far distant
as the great plains of the West。 They numbered more than thirty
separate tribes or nations； as in their pride they called
themselves； and each nation had to be humored and treated as an
equal； for they were not in the service of France but were her
allies。 They expected to be consulted before plans of campaign
were completed。 The defeat of Braddock in 1755 had made them turn
to the prosperous cause of France。 Vaudreuil gave them what they
hardly requiredencouragement to wage war in