The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-06-22
GENERAL WOLFE.
From the New York Ledger.
BY JAMES PARTON.


Gently. swinging from it's ancient posts,
the old sign bearing the portrait of
Wolfe, which was taken hundred and
twelve wears ago, when the fall of that
hero, at the moment of triumph, had in
vested his name with electric interest.
The old sign had been painted over two
or three times during the century, but
the portrait has been preserved with lit
tie change though the name of the
tavern has been altered from "The
Wolfe" to one of more modern signltl
canoe.
What an impression his Rdeath made
upon the world Without looking long,
I have found six poetlcal tributes TO MS
memory, one Of the most enthusiastic OF
which was written by Thomas Paine
when he was young man Of twenty-six
lust married, and recently settled IN an
English town as stay-maker. 1t IS, |
believe, the earliest production of his
pen that has come down to US; and
very poor production it is, though better
than most of the magazine poetry of the
day.
James Wolfe, born in England in 1927,
the only son of a distinguished soldier
who died lieutenant general, was one
of those ardent, generous, sympathetic
natures. who disdain ordinary consider
ations of policy, and rejoice in sacrifc-
inc themselves to great, congenlal OBJ
iects. He was a soldier while he was
still boy. His father, who was colo
mel of marines then, obtained for him a
commission in his own corps, from which,
however, lie was soon transferred to the
infantry. Before he was twenty years
of age he had served and with distinc
ton, too, in five battles so that when
the twenty-seven years war broke out, In
1855, he was lieutenant colonel, TWEEN
ty-nine years of age. He had won every
grade by distinguished service, and soon
after the beginning of the war obtained
his colonelcy.
Now occurred the event which drew
upon him the eyes of William Pitt, the
great minister who then governed the
British empire with the sway of an abso-
Lutte monarch in the expedition against
Rocheforte, on the western coast of
France, Col Wolfe conducted night re
connoissance, in which he advanced two
miles into the country, and discovered
sure way, as he thought, of taking the
town by ASSAULT.
ships" said Wolfe to the commanding
general, land the place is ours"
The general rejected his offer, and SO
lost his only chance of taking the place.
The facts became known to Pitt, who re-
solved to keep the young officer in his
eye for promotion and employment, when
next there should be difficult enterprise
in hand.
The very next year, therefore, we
find him present as a brigadier general
at the seige of Louisburg that famous
old stronghold on the island of Cape Bre
ton, the reduction of which New Eng
land had so much at heart. Before
reaching the place, Wolfe had made him
self felt throughout the army. He was
one of those officers who know how to
preserve the exactest discipline, while
securing the affection and confidence of
every soldier.
1t is hardly too much to say that the
capture of Louisburg was chiefly owing
to his daring courage and his suggestive
mind At the head of division, he was
the first to land upon the island. The
surf was running high at the moment
and a considerable body of the enemy
were so posted as to command the land
ing-place but the impetuous valor of
Wolfe and his troops dislodged the foe
and secured footing on the soil. The
surrender of the town, which occurred
soon after, was the great event of the
campaign, and it was celebrated through
out the colonies with bonfres and illumi
nations.
General Wolfe received reward for
his services much dearer to an ardent
young soldier in the prime Of his years
NOT yet thirty three William Pitt sent
for him to return to London. Upon his
arrival, the minister laid before him his
darling plan for the conquest of Canada,
by the capture of Quebec, the key to
the whole province. Wolfe was made
maior-general, and assigned the com
mand of the expedition, over the heads
of dozen officers superior to himself IN
rank and age, When Major General
Wolfe left the presence of the great min
lister, on the day before he embarked
for Canada, he was resolved to justify
the confidence reposed ID him or perish.
He went forth fully determined to take
Quebec, if it was possible for fleet of
fifty four men-ofwar and an army of eight
thousand men to accomplish it. One Of
the young Officers Oh Ills ueeL WdS NooA,
afterwards so famous as a navigator
Another was Jervis, who won the great
victory off Portugal, which made him
Admiral the Earl of ST. Vincent.
It was powerful force, but nature had
placed obstacles almost insurmountable
in the way of its success, and the post
had been greatly strengthened by the
vigilance and skill of the great soldier
who defended it, the Marquis of Mont