“Amen, so be it!” answered the minister.
CHAPTER XXXIV
CONCLUSION
Six days after the battle on the Plains of Abraham, General Levis appeared before Quebec, to find that the fortress had capitulated. His indignation knew no bounds. He had been educated in General Montcalm’s school, and would not recognise that France was defeated. With a handful of about three thousand men, the remnant of the French army, he retired at first to Jacques Cartier, and afterwards to Montreal, and coolly decided that he would continue the war and re-conquer Quebec. Of such stuff heroes are made. They do not know when they are vanquished!
In the month of April 1760, two French ships, the Atalanta and Pomona, having on board ammunition and the necessary siege materials, slowly descended the St. Lawrence, profiting by a narrow channel which a sudden thaw had opened out right through the middle of the river. The troops, consisting of three thousand regulars and two thousand Canadians and savages, marched with great difficulty through the half-melted snow, until one morning they reached that very Plain of Abraham where Wolfe and Montcalm had fought their mortal duel.
General Murray, Governor of Quebec, immediately ordered a sortie, and offered battle to the little French army. He had at his command four or five thousand men and twenty-two pieces of artillery.
It was the 28th of April, 1760.
The assault of the French was terrific, the very impetus of despair. The Canadians charged, having fastened knives into the ends of their guns to supply the want of bayonets. The English artillery mowed down their ranks, but still they advanced with drums beating furiously to the charge. To repair their defeat, to die or to conquer, that was their sole object, and, thus animated, they threw themselves on the English with such fury that they forced them to retreat, and take refuge in Quebec; but not before they had left twelve hundred dead upon that fatal field. The French themselves had their brave general, Bourlamaque, severely wounded, and lost eight hundred men, the whole corps of Grenadiers!
Nothing daunted, General Levis laid siege to Quebec. The cannon which had been taken from the English served him well, but he lacked ammunition.
“If only one ship would come from France to our assistance before the English fleet arrives, Quebec would once more be ours, and the white lilies of France would float from her ramparts,” exclaimed General Levis, gazing out to sea, watching with the yearning of his heroic heart for the succour which would restore his lost prestige.
It was on the evening of the 15th of May when in the distant horizon sails were visible. Besieged and besiegers alike strained their eyes to recognise from whence they came. Were they English or French ships? It is easy to conceive the agonising suspense which filled every heart. The English historian and eye-witness, Knox, has graphically described it as follows:—