Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-04-08
GRAND RAPIDS. WISCONSIN

dragging on for many years and the
English colonies were beaten again
and again by their Canadian enemies.
Then General James Wolfe was sent
from England to take charge OF the
army in America. He found that
! everyone in the colonies was tired of
the war and de decided that the war
must be ended. He knew that the
heart of the French defense was the
strong city of Quebec He determin-
ed to take Quebec. Now this was a
thing almost impossible to do The
city of Quebec, lying 3 miles up the
Saint Lawrence River is a natural
fortress. 1t is built on a cliff. 1t
overlooks the river and the fat, sandy
shore below. Behind the city rises
the high rock plateau known as the
Plains of Abraham The city was
we'll garrisoned and well provisioned.
Moreover troops were stationed below
it on that fiat sandy shore and on a
a small island opposite in order that
the city might be more completely
guarded. This was the only way by
which the English could come near
the place. General Wolfe thought of
plan by which he might be able to
take Quebec. He heard that ships
were expected from France bringing
| more supplies and more soldiers to the
city. He decided not to wait but to
go at once.
Thus, one cloudy moonless night
Wolfe and his soldiers started up the
ST. Lawrence River the ship floating
on the rising tide. In silence they
moved gently up the great river.
There was no dip of oars, no white
glimmer of sails to tell the enemy
that Wolfe was near. Like a shadow
the dark ship tioated through the
darkness On board the men talked
to each other in whispers in order to
while away the nervous time of wait
ing. Wolfe is said to have quoted
from the Elegy the lines:
1.-The pride of heraldry the pomp of
power
And all the beauty. all that wealth
e'er gave
Await alike the inevitable hour
The paths of glory lead but to the
grave"
Unchallenged and unnoticed the
ship slipped up the river in the dark
ness. 1t passed the island in silence.
Then suddenly a sentinels' Call rang
from the shore. "Qui vive?" chal-
lenged the French sentinel. One man
in Wolfe's ship spoke French. He
shouted an answer to the sentinel
After another question and reply the
man was satisfied. The ship went on
its.way through the night. Quietly it
slipped past the sleeping city of Que
bee. Beyond the city they dropped
anchor, they let down the boats, they
rowed close to the cliff wall, they
clamored up the cliffs, dragging their
guns with them, Morning dawning
shone on the red coats of British
soldiers lined up on the Plains of
Abraham. that overlook Quebec.
They were all ready for battle. Shortly
after day break the fighting began.
From the first, victory was with the
English. The surprise had put the
French at great disadvantage.
In the battle Wolfe was everywhere
at once. cheering and leading onward
the fighters, comforting and encour-
aging the fallen. A shot broke his
wrist. He wrapped q handkerchief
around it and fought on. Another shot
shattered his arm. He fought on. A
third shot entered his breast. He
reeled and sank to the earth. 1t was
about ten in the morning when Wolfe
fell. A few minutes later some one
shouted '"They runl' "They rnnl'
"Who run" demanded General Wolfe
starting from the Ealf-faint i'm which
he had fallen. 'The French; was
the reply. Tell General Burton TO
march Webb's regiment around to the