Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-02-14
From the British Repository of Arts.
@ U E B E C.


THE history of Quebec is interesting. bu,
too long to be detailed 1t has sustained three
sieges. Tie first was in 1880. A considera-
o'e army marched from New England, under
.he command OF the governor OF that province,
- invest the place by land, whilst the English
meet saiied up the 81. Lawrence to attack 1t by
"a'er'-lhe army was conducted by party
., iroquols, nm'cal to the French but who
aoahaoned their allies in the midst of the will
oerness, IN consequence OF which the provin-
ciais were dispersed, and returned home as
chey could Meanwhile a force was landed
IRON the fleet to make diversion, but they
Were promptly attacked by the French. and
were forced 10 re embark with great loss.
ms expedition, therefore, totally failed.
The second Was more fortunate Tine great
LORD Chatham, justly alarmed at the prog ress
the French armies were making in North A.
merica, foresaw that the north western con
tlnent must soon obey one or other of the ri
val powers. A formidable armament for the
times, consisting OF about $4,000 men. in 90
transports and covered by 90 men of war. was
nt'ed out with so much expedition. that it ar
rived IN the river 81. Lawrence, in June 1859
1t was commanded by general Wolfe and adj
miral Saunders. Notwithstanding this promp
tltude, the enemy was prepared to meet il.
lie ilrst made a bold at empt to burn the fleet
IN the river by fire ships; it was well con-
Quoted, and would probably have succeeded.
1t he had not set fire to them too soon.
Point Levi was first attacked and carried
by the English, from whence the town was
bombarded. The French, to prevent an in
vestment, had posted their principal force at
Montmorencia The ground was very strong.
Wolfe attacked them with the flower of his
troops, consisting of all his flank companies
He could not, however with all his exertions
force their strong positions he was compelled
to retreat to his battcaux, leaving 1900 of his
men on the field This loss together with the
approach of winter would have justified a fri
gid calculating general in giving up the enter
prise; but Wolfe was resolved to conouer o,
die He did both
AS he could not gain the heights of Abra
ham by one route, he tried another, which
the enemy thought impracticabe He landed
his men higher up the river, at Auce de Mer
since called Wolfes cave 1t is the only as
sailaSle acclevity on the whole coast; and al
though now there is horse road made down
the slope to the water, at that time it was co
vered with brush wood, and not even path
On the morning of the 18th December, be-
fore day break, the advanced party gained
the heights The whole army consisting Of
about 5000 men followed; Montcalm the
French governor, with equal rashness and
presumption drew out the garrison and gave
battle. The contest was not long in deciding
both commanders fell-They show a rock
of grey granite, rising above the sod, in hol-
low which is rounded by travellers knocking
off fragments, on which the ilustrious Wolfe
breathed his last: and this is the only monu-
ment that exists, to commemorate the hero in
the very country which he conquered
The enemy was panic struck, and capitulat-
ed otherwise, if he had collected his scatter
ed forces, which would have trebled that of
the victors, and held out few days until the
severe weather set in, the siege must have
been raised.
The last enterprise against Quebec was
planned with great judgment, and executed
with no less spirit and vigor, SO that it had
nearly proved successful.
The Canadians had as yet no time to appre-
ciate the freedom, happiness and security they
enjoyed under the British government, when
the American revolution broke out and set
them all in flame with the hope of speedy
independence. The Congress, taking advan-
tage of those sentiments, determined on the
conquest of this country and SO certain were
they OF succeeding, that they actually made a
provision in their declaration of independence
to admit Canada into the Union as fourteenth
state.
On the other hand, the military force of the
province was at that time very weak. 1t
scarcely amounted to 1000 regulars and pro-
vncal militia, that could be depended on
But it possessed governor, General Carleton,
who was not to be daunted with difficulties,
great as they We're
The Republicans having reduced Crown
Point and Ticonderoga, became masters of
lake Champaign From thence, Montgomery
marched at the head of 5000 men to invade
Canada. Fort 81. John was the key to the
nrovince ON Lat size IL was a Mace of CON