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cove on the river bank from which there was a path； much used by
the French for dragging up provisions； leading to the top of the
cliff at a point little more than a mile from the walls of the
city。 On the 6th of September the battalion of Guienne was sent
back to the Beauport lines by order of Vaudreuil。 Montcalm
countermanded the order； but was not obeyed； and Wolfe saw his
chance。 For days he threatened a landing； above and below Quebec；
now at one point； now at another； until the French were both
mystified and worn out with incessant alarms。 Then； early on the
morning of the 13th of September； came Wolfe's master…stroke。 His
men embarked in boats from the warships lying some miles above
Quebec； dropped silently down the river； close to the north
shore； made sentries believe that they were French boats carrying
provisions to the Foulon； landed at the appointed spot； climbed
up the cliff； and overpowered the sleeping guard。 A little after
daylight Wolfe had nearly five thousand soldiers； a 〃thin red
line；〃 busy preparing a strong position on the Plains of Abraham；
while the fleet was landing cannon； to be dragged up the steep
hill to bombard the fortress on its weakest side。
Montcalm had spent many anxious days。 He had been incessantly on
the move； examining for himself over and over again every point；
Cap Rouge； Beauport； Montmorency； reviewing the militia of which
he felt uncertain； inspecting the artillery； the commissariat；
everything that mattered。 At three o'clock in the morning of one
of these days he wrote to Bourlamaque； at Lake Champlain； noting
the dark night； the rain； his men awake and dressed in their
tents； everyone alert。 〃I am booted and my horses are saddled；
which is in truth my usual way of spending the night。 I have not
undressed since the twenty…third of June。〃 On the evening of the
12th of September the batteries at Point Levis kept up a furious
fire on Quebec。 There was much activity on board the British
war…ships lying below the town。 Boats filled with men rowed
towards Beauport as if to attempt a landing during the night。
Here the danger seemed to lie。 At midnight the British boats were
still hovering off the shore。 The French troops manned the
entrenched lines and Montcalm was continually anxious。 A heavy
convoy of provisions was to come down to the Foulon that night；
and orders had been given to the French posts on the north shore
above Quebec to make no noise。 The arrival of the convoy was
vital； for the army was pressed for food。 Montcalm was therefore
anxious for its fate when at break of day he heard firing from
the French cannon at Samos； above Quebec。 Had the provisions then
been taken by the English？ Near his camp all now seemed quiet。 He
gave orders for the troops to rest； drank some cups of tea with
his aide…de…camp Johnstone； a Scotch Jacobite； and at about
half…past six rode towards Quebec to the camp of Vaudreuil to
learn why the artillery was firing at Samos。 Immediately in front
of the Governor's house he learned the momentous news。 The
English were on the Plains of Abraham。 Soon he had the evidence
of his own eyes。 On the distant heights across the valley he
could see the redcoats。
No doubt Montcalm had often pondered this possibility and had
decided in such a case to attack at once before the enemy could
entrench and bring up cannon。 A rapid decision was now followed
by rapid action。 He had a moment's conversation with Vaudreuil。
The French regiments on the right at Vaudreuil's camp； lying
nearest to the city； were to march at once。 To Johnstone he said；
〃The affair is serious；〃 and then gave orders that all the French
left； except a few men to guard the ravine at Montmorency； should
follow quickly to the position between Quebec and the enemy； a
mile away。 Off to this point he himself galloped。 Already； by
orders of officers on the spot； regiments were gathering between
the walls of the city and the British。 The regiments on the
French right at Beauport were soon on the move towards the
battlefield； but two thousand of the best troops still lay
inactive beyond Beauport。 Johnstone declares that Vaudreuil
countermanded the order of Montcalm for these troops to come to
his support and ordered that not one of them should budge。 There
was haste everywhere。 By half…past nine Montcalm had some four
thousand men drawn up between the British and the walls of
Quebec。 He hoped that Bougainville； advancing from Cap Rouge；
would be able to assail the British rear： 〃Surely Bougainville
understands that I must attack。〃
The crisis was； over in fifteen minutes。 Montcalm attacked at
once。 His line was disorderly。 His center was composed of regular
troops； his wings of Canadians and Indians。 These fired
irregularly and lay down to reload； thus causing confusion。 The
French moved forward rapidly； the British were coming on more
slowly。 The French were only some forty yards away when there was
an answering fire from the thin red line； for Wolfe had ordered
his men to put two balls in their muskets and to hold their fire
for one dread volley。 Then the roar from Wolfe's center was like
that of a burst of artillery； and； when the smoke cleared； the
French battalions were seen breaking in disorder from the shock；
the front line cut down by the terrible fire。 A bayonet charge
from the redcoats followed。 Some five thousand trained British
regulars bore down； working great slaughter on four thousand
French； many of them colonials who had never before fought in the
open。 The rout of the French was complete。 Some fled to safety
behind the walls of Quebec； others down the Cote Ste。 Genevieve
and across the St。 Charles River； where they stopped pursuit by
cutting the bridge。 Both Wolfe and Montcalm were mortally wounded
after the issue of the day was really decided； and both survived
to be certain； the one of victory； the other of defeat。 Wolfe
died on the field of battle。 Montcalm was taken into a house in
Quebec and died early the next morning。 It is perhaps the only
incident in history of a decisive battle of world import followed
by the death of both leaders； each made immortal by the tragedy
of their common fate。
At two o'clock in the afternoon of the day of defeat； Vaudreuil
held a tumultuous council of war。 It was decided to abandon
Quebec； where Montcalm lay dying and to retreat up the St。
Lawrence to Montreal； to the defense of which Levis had been sent
before the fight。 That night the whole French army fled in panic；
leaving their tents standing and abandoning quantities of stores。
Vaudreuil who had talked so bravely about death in the ruins of
Canada； rather than surrender； gave orders to Ramezay； commanding
in Quebec； to make terms and haul down his flag。 On the third day
after the battle； the surrender was arranged。 On the fourth day
the British marched into Quebec； where ever since their flag has
floated。
Meanwhile； Amherst； the Commander…in…Chief of the British armies
in America； was making a toilsome advance towards Montreal by way
of Lake Champlain。 He had occupied both Ticonderoga and Crown
Point； which had been abandoned by the French。 Across his path
lay Bourlamaque at Isle aux Noix。 Another British army； having
captured Niagara； was advancing on Montreal down the St。 Lawrence
from Lake Ontario。 Amherst； however； made little progress this
year in his menace to Montreal and soon went into winter
quarters； as did the other forces elsewhere。 The British victory
therefore was as yet incomplete。
The year 1759 proved dire for France。 She was held fast by her
treaty with Austria and at ruinous cost was ever sending more and
more troops to help Austria against Prussia。 The great plan of
which Belle…Isle had written to Montcalm was the chief hope of
her policy。 England was to be invaded and London occupied。 If
this were done； all else would be right。 It was not done。 France
could not parry Pitt's blows。 In Africa； in the West Indies； in
India； the British won successes which meant the ruin of French
power in three continents。 French admirals like Conflans and La
Clue were no match for Boscawen； Hawke； and Rodney； all seamen of
the first rank； and made the stronger because dominated by the
fiery Pitt。
They kept the French squadrons shut up in their own ports。 When；
at last； on November 20； 1759； Conflans came out of Brest and
fought Hawke at Quiberon Bay； the French fleet was nearly
destroyed； and the dream of taking London ended in complete
disaster。
CHAPTER XI。 The Fall Of Canada
Though Quebec was in their hands； the position of the British
during the winter of 1759…60 was dangerous。 In October General
Murray； who was left in command； saw with misgiving the great
fleet sail away which had brought to Canada the conquering force
of Wolfe and Saunders。 Murray was left with some seven thousand
men in the heart of a hostile country； and with a resou