The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-04-23
VOLTS BATTLE WITH MoNTCALM
The site Pointed Out to Tourists Not
the Actual Place ar. Combat

The site Pointed Out to Tourists No
the Actual Place of Combat.
1t will be surprise to historical stu
dents everywhere, and to American
tourists in particular who have visited
| Quebec, and made pilgrimage to thu
supposed site of Wolfe and Montcalm':
great battle, to learn that no military
contest every occurred, upon the GROUND
that has been pointed, out to tourists
| for the last three-quarters of century
as the original plains of Abraham. Yet
the fact Is no westablished clearly and
positively by unimpeachable docu-
mentary evidence, the discovery OF
which ranks among the most important
literary and historical finds of recent
years. The discoveries in question are
due to the agitation begun in 1898 for
the perpetual maintenance by the gov
eminent of Canada Of what was then
universally believed to be the site of
the battle ground
Following the announcement that the
Ursuline nuns of Quebec, who owned
the ground, had surveyed 1t and were
offering it for sale in building lots,
came the angry protests, not only from
all parts of Canada, but from England
and the United States as well, against
what was hastily ssuned to be pro-
posed dissertation of ground that had
been consecrated by the blood OF some
of the worlds greatest heroes. Unex-
pected doubts having been cast upon
the then almost unanimously accepted
tradition that the property of the nuns
was the scene of Wolfe's great victory,
a thoroughly organized search was un-
dertaken in the imperial departments.
the Tower of London, and other public
record offices of London, the United
States and France to establish the
actual site of the battle beyond any
possibility of further dispute The in
fluence and aid of public men of both
Great Britain and Canada were secur-
ed by the searchers after historical
truths, and the result has been the dis
covery of such valuable mass of i'm
portant and hitherto unknown manu-
scripts, maps and plans of the time of
the British conquest of Canada, that
it would seem as If there were no linz
it's of the finds that might be made In
connection with the battle. One of the
most remarkable of the newly found
is journal of the par
ticular transaction Of the siege of Que
bee by an officer of Fraser's Highland
ers" The officer in question actually
furnishes the names of the first eight
men, chosen by lot, who scaled the pre-
cipitous heights Of Quebec, to lead the
way to the remainder of Wolfe's army.
Then there Is a plan made in 1859 by
an officer of Wolfe's army, who was af-
forwards surveyor general of Canada
This map is of very large dimensions,
executed in colors, and gives
every detail OF the battle oI the Plains
from beginning to finish.
Another very important plan is the
work of three engineers. 1t is in the
of the imperial authorities.
A copy wah seen by the historical, Far
bault who wrote in 1887
mo description of Wolfe's battle at
Quebec could be complete without a
prior study of it,"
Another very large map just discov-
cred in London is superbly executed
II colors and was prepared by officers
If Wolfe's army, soon after his death |
Other important documents in connec-
ion with this matter, of which copies
nave been brought here, and will doubt
ess, before long, be given to the public |
~ the Royal society of Canada, are a |