drum. But, with the remains of the castle, they have likewise disappeared, and probably there is not one living to tell the true story of so eventful a period. If the old commander of Du Quesne were now permitted to see the spot upon which stood the battlements of his former grandeur, what would be his astonishment! Instead of beholding the little fort, at the point or junction of the rivers, a portion of a city, opulent, and celebrated for her industry and manufacturing establishments, would present itself to his view. So transient are the works of men, that threescore years and ten have sufficed to obliterate these national monuments of war; they are no more; they have fallen by the hands of time, and been demolished by the proprietors of the ground. The Frenchman, as he arrives from the land of his forefathers, where his infantine ears had heard the tales of the old American wars, is ready to inquire, as he accosts the stranger, "Where is fort Du Quesne ?" He is answered, "It is gone." The son of Albion, in treading over the ground which formerly belonged to the subjects of King George, asks, “Where is fort Pitt?" the answer is, "It is demolished." And the American, whose breast swells at the sight of the ancient works of the pioneers of the west, inquires, "Where's fort Lafayette?" and arrives just in time to see the old block-house torn down, and the last of the forts disappear. CHAPTER VII. Plan to conquer Canada-Pitt's Circular Letter-Plan of Campaign--General Amherst takes Ticonderoga and Crown Point-Prideaux sent against NiagaraHis Death-Sir William Johnson successfully prosecutes his Predecessor's PlanExpedition against Quebec under Wolfe-Several unsuccessful attempts-Climbs the Heights of Abraham-Defeats Montcalm-Death of Wolfe-Death of Montcalm -Capitulation of the Inhabitants of Quebec-Sufferings of a Captain and EnsignFrench abandon Beaufort-Remains of the French Army retire to Montreal-M. de Levi attempts to recover Quebec-English Colonies raise more Men-Battle of Sillery-English defeated-M. de Levi besieges Quebec-Raises the Siege-Retreats to Montreal-French Governor makes his last Stand at Montreal-General Amherst appears-Governor capitulates-End of the War-Treaty. ENCOURAGED by the success of the last campaign, which, notwithstanding the defeat of Ticonderoga, was highly hon ourable to the English arms and attended with important results, it was resolved that the year 1759 should be signalized by the entire conquest of Canada, though the late effort had produced great exhaustion of provincial strength; and when Pitt's circular letter animated the colonists to attempt the most vigorous preparations for the great undertaking, they found that their resources were not commensurate with their good intentions. Three armies, however, were raised to attack, at nearly the same time, the strongholds of the French in Canada: Ticonderoga and Crown Point, Niagara, and Quebec. The plan of the campaign was as follows: As soon as the St. Lawrence should be open in the spring, Brigadier-general Wolfe, escorted by a strong fleet, was to start from Louisburg, and lay siege to Quebec. Major-General Amherst, who had superseded Abercrombie, as commander-in-chief, with the main army, was to march by the way of Ticonderoga, Crown Point, and Richelieu river; descend the St. Lawrence, and form a junction with General Wolfe; while General Prideaux, with the third division, was to capture fort Niagara; sail thence for Montreal; and, after taking that place, join the grand army before Quebec. General Amherst marched against Ticonderoga, which he reached on the 22d July. As the naval superiority of England prevented France sending out reinforcements, none of the posts in this quarter were able to defend themselves. Ticonderoga soon surrendered; and Amherst, after strengthening this place, proceeded against Crown Point, of which he took undisputed possession, the enemy having abandoned it and fled before his arrival. The second division of the army, destined against Niagara, was led on by General Prideaux, who, embarking at Oswego, early in July, soon after landed within a few miles of Niagara. As the French had Indian auxiliaries, and knew that they were not well calculated for sedentary warfare, it was determined to risk a general battle. Four days before the battle, Prideaux was killed by the bursting of a cohorn, while directing the operations of the siege, and the command devolved on Sir William Johnson, who prosecuted with such vigour the plan of his predecessor, that the French, alarmed at the prospect of losing a post which constituted a key to their interior empire in America, made great efforts in collecting troops from the neighbouring garrisons of Detroit, Venango, and Presqu' Ile. General Johnson, with his light infantry, some grenadiers and regular foot, placed between the cataract of Niagara and the fortress, with the auxiliary Indians on his flanks, awaited the approach of the enemy, who appeared on the morning of the 24th, charged with great impetuosity, were received with heroic firmness; and being deserted by their Indian allies, the French, in less than an hour, were completely routed, driven back to the fort, and obliged to capitulate. The least promising, but the most daring and important expedition, was that against Quebec, the capital of Canada. Strong by nature, and much improved by art, it was the Gibraltar of America; and all attempts against it having failed hitherto, it seemed almost impregnable. The armed vessels, the floating batteries, the strong fortifications, the perpendicular bank, the strong forts, and a large army commanded by the formidable Marquis de Montcalm, would have made the idea of its capture appear perfectly chimerical to almost any one but such men as Pitt and Wolfe. The latter was young, of an ardent mind, glowing with enthusiasm, and emulous of glory. Pitt had discovered this in Wolfe's conduct at Louisburg, which induced him to appoint him to conduct this difficult expedition, and to give him for assistants, Brigadier-Generals Monckton, Townshend, and Murray, all like himself young and enthusiastic. "Wolfe, now detach'd and bent on bolder deeds, A sail-borne host up sea-like Lawrence leads, Stems the long lessening tide, till Abraham's height Embarking at Louisburg, under convoy of Admirals Saunders and Holmes, he landed his whole army, consisting of 8000 men, on the island of Orleans, a few miles below Quebec, near the last of June. After several attempts to reduce the place, finding himself baffled and harassed, Wolfe seems to have resolved to finish the enterprise by a single bold and desperate effort. Determined from the first to take the place, impregnable as it was accounted, the measures of General Wolfe were singularly bold, and apparently repugnant to all the maxims of war. His attention was first drawn to Point Levi, on the southern bank of the St. Lawrence; upon which, after taking possession of it, he erected batteries. By means of these he destroyed many houses, but from this point it was soon apparent that little impression could be made upon the fortifications of the town. Finding it impracticable thus to accomplish his purpose, Wolfe next decided on more daring measures. For the purpose of drawing Montcalm to a general battle, Wolfe, with his troops, crossed the river Montmorenci, and attacked the enemy in their entrenchments. Owing, however, to the grounding of some of the boats which conveyed the troops, a part of the detachment did not land so soon as the others. The corps that first landed, without waiting to form, rushed forward impetuously towards the enemy's entrenchments. But their courage proved their ruin. A close and well-directed fire from the enemy cut them down in great numbers. Montcalm's party had now landed, and were drawn up on the beach in order. But it was near night, a thunder-storm was approaching, and the tide was rapidly setting in. Fearing the consequences of delay, Wolfe ordered a retreat across the Montmorenci, and returned to his quarters on the Isle of Orleans. In this rencontre his loss amounted to near 600 of the flower of his army. The difficulties of effecting the conquest of Quebec now pressed upon Wolfe with all their force. But he knew the importance of taking this strongest hold-he knew the expectations of his countrymen-he well knew that no military conduct could shine that was not gilded with success. Disappointed thus far, and worn down with fatigue and watchfulness, General Wolfe fell violently sick. Scarcely had he recovered, before he proceeded to put in execution a plan which had been matured on his sick-bed. This was to proceed up the river, gain the heights of Abraham, and draw Montcalm to a general engagement. Accordingly, the troops were transported up the river about nine miles. On the 12th of September, one hour after midnight, Wolfe and his troops left the ships, and in boats silently dropped down the current, intending to land a league above Cape Diamond, and there ascend the bank leading to the station he wished to gain. Owing, however, to the rapidity of the river, they fell below the intended place, and landed a mile, or a mile and a half above the city. The operation was a critical one, as they had to navigate. in silence, down a rapid stream, and to find a right place for landing, which, amidst surrounding darkness, might be easily mistaken. Besides this, the shore was shelving, and the bank so steep and lofty as scarcely to be ascended, even without opposition from an enemy. Indeed, the attempt was in the greatest danger of being defeated by an occurrence peculiarly interesting, as marking the very great delicacy of the transaction. One of the French sentinels posted along the shore, as the English boats were descending, challenged them in the customary military language of the French. "Qui vit?" "who goes there?" To which, a captain in Frazer's regiment, who had served in Holland, and was familiar with the French language and customs, promptly replied, "la France." The next question was still more embarrassing, for the sentinel demanded "à quel regiment?" "to what regiment?" The captain, who happened to know the name of a regiment which was up the river with Bougainville, promptly rejoined, “de la Reine," "the Queen's." The soldier immediately replied, "passé;" for he concluded at once that this was a French convoy of provisions, which, as the English had learned from some deserters, was expected to pass down the river to Quebec. The other sentinels were deceived in a similar manner; but one, less credulous than the rest, running down to the water's edge, called out, "Pour quois est ce que vous ne parlez plus haut?" "Why don't you speak louder ?" The |