38 Ch, 1. 1757 Hanover recovered. Expedition to CONDUCT OF THE WAR same time, he re-constructed the Duke of Cumberland's late army of Hanover; and, luckily, the infraction of the treaty of Closterseven by the French in some important particulars, enabled him to do so without incurring for the country the reproach of a breach of faith. This force, amounting to about 50,000 men, was taken into British pay, and at its head was placed, on the recommendation of the King of Prussia, his nephew and one of his ablest lieutenants, Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick. Early in the year following, another expedition was sent to the coast of France; and though the immediate success of this armament was not commensurate with the magnitude of its equipment, its indirect, but main object, the diversion of the French force from a concentrated energy on the continent was fully accomplished. While the British fleet was menacing the coast of France, Prince Ferdinand was enabled to recover Hanover. At the same time, on the continent of the New World, vigorous efforts were commenced for the entire expulsion of the French. To dislodge them from the island of Cape Breton, commanding the entrance to the great river which formed the highway of North America, was the object of the best appointed expedition. Admiral Boscawen commanded the fleet; and General Amherst superseded the Earl of Loudoun, an officer of proved incompetence in the command of the land forces. His second in command was a young regimental officer, who had signalized his zeal and capacity at the IN FRANCE AND AMERICA. siege of Rochefort, the preceding year. This was Brigadier-General WOLFE. Ch. 1. 1757 39 Abercrombie. General Abercrombie, who commanded at New General York, was also ordered to reduce the forts of Ticonderago and Crown Point, on the Lakes George and Champlain, and so penetrate into Canada from a south-eastern point of the American continent; while a smaller force under Brigadier Forbes was detached from Philadelphia against Fort Duquesne, another strong and almost inaccessible French post. taken. The most important of these operations was Cape Breton completely successful. After an obstinate resistance, Cape Breton surrendered, as did also St. John's, since called Prince Edward's Island. The attack on the fortified lakes was mismanaged, and ended in failure. But Forbes, by great perseverance and gallantry, captured Duquesne, which, in compliment to the great minister, he called Pittsburg, a name which it still retains, although no longer a possession of the British crown. in affairs. Thus a few months, under the administration of Improvement an able and energetic statesman, was sufficient to redeem the country from her depressed and apparently impotent condition. But Pitt did not stop here; having engaged in war, he carried it on with unabated vigour, until success should enable him to conclude a permanent and honorable peace. The nation cheerfully submitted to the unparalleled burdens which their favourite minister un hesitatingly imposed upon it, and seemed to have 40 Ch. 1. 1759 Blockade of French coast. Expedition to the West Indies. Capture of Expedition to EXPEDITIONS TO given him an unlimited commission to restore and maintain its honor and glory. Early in 1759, the Government of France, whose coast had been so grievously harassed the preceding year by the British arms, took measures to retaliate by a descent upon England. But the principal ports of the enemy were blockaded or watched by English squadrons. Havre was bombarded by Rodney. Boscawen routed the Toulon fleet. Hawke blockaded Brest. A powerful squadron rode in the Channel. The internal defences were amply provided for both by a regular and a militia force. The offensive operations consisted chiefly of an attack upon the French possessions in the West Indies, and the conquest of Canada, by which England would obtain an undivided empire in the great northern division of the American continent. The former, a small expedition, had an adequate result in the acquisition of Guadaloupe, one of the most valuable islands in the West India Archi pelago. But the second great enterprize was planned by the minister himself, with the utmost care, and furnished with every means of success. The principle of the scheme was to divert the enemy from a concentration of force upon any given point. Separate attacks were to be made upon Lower Canada by expeditions, one of which was immediately, and the other circuitously, directed against Quebec. A third division of the THE WEST INDIES AND CANADA. invading armament was detached upon the distant forts of Niagara, to cut off the communications between Canada and Lousiana. To General Amherst was given the command in chief, with the particular service of accomplishing that arduous duty which had failed the preceding year in the incompetent hands of Abercrombie. General Wolfe was to enter the St. Lawrence from the sea, a course now open to an English squadron, in consequence of the reduction of Cape Breton the year before; and was to proceed forthwith to form the siege of Quebec. The ardent mind, which planned this extensive scheme, unfitted to regard difficulties in detail, calculated upon the junction of the forces under Amherst, their task being completed, with those of Wolfe before Quebec. Could such a junction be effected, it was not disputed that the capital of Lower Canada must fall. But prudence, as usual, censured a plan, the success of which depended on a favourable concurrence of circumstances. Amherst had not only to encounter the well-appointed garrisons of Ticonderago and Crown Point, elated by the successes of the preceding year; but these overcome, he would probably have to deal with the opposition, hardly less formidable, of the elements and season. And so, in fact, it turned out. The Lakes George and Champlain communicate with each other by a narrow channel, at either extremity of which is a fort. That of Ticonderago covers Lake George; Crown Point is at the entrance of Champlain. Ch. 1. 1759 41 42 Ch. 1. 1759 General City of ATTACK ON QUEBEC. These forts were successively abandoned by the enemy, who took up a strong position in a small island at the northern end of Lake Champlain, and commanding the channel, or river, Richelieu, by which it communicates with the St. Lawrence. It became necessary, therefore, to provide naval power to force the passage of this river. Before these preparations could be completed, the season was too far advanced to admit of active operations; and Amherst, after having been twice baffled by storms in attempting to transport his troops up the lake, was obliged to go into winter quarters. Thus the grand object of the expedition, the taking of Quebec, was left to the unaided resources of the young officer who was second in command; and there can be no doubt, from his having assigned this, the most important duty, to Wolfe, that the minister had fully calculated upon, and was content to abide, such an event. A few words will suffice to shew the difficulties which Wolfe surmounted. The city of Quebec is built upon high ground, rising almost perpendicularly from the water. On the north it is bounded by the River St. Charles; on the west and south by the great St. Lawrence. Its fortifications were inconsiderable, its strength being chiefly that of natural situation. The French commandant, Montcalm, an officer of experience and reputation, had entrenched himself in the quarter from which the city was most accessible. Interposed between him and the city was the St. Charles. Deep woods |