THE DEATH OF GENERAL WOLFE
Questions to arouse interest. What is represented in this picture? What have these men been doing? What makes you think so? Why have they stopped? What can you see in the distance? Do you think the soldier running toward the group in the foreground is the bearer of good or bad news? What makes you think so? How many of you can tell what battle has just been fought, or something about General Wolfe?
Original Picture: Grosvenor House, London, England.
Artist: Benjamin West.
Birthplace: Springfield, Pennsylvania.
Dates: Born, 1738; died, 1820
The story of the picture. It is little wonder that the artist, Benjamin West, who overcame so many obstacles to follow his chosen calling, should admire a man like General Wolfe, who also had a great many difficulties to overcome. Each was born with an overwhelming desire,—the one to be a great artist; the other to be a great soldier. Both achieved their desire through their own earnest and praiseworthy effort. Perhaps the greatest difficulty James Wolfe had to contend with was his poor constitution and constant ill health. He could scarcely endure the long marches by land or voyages by sea—yet he would shirk neither. Duty to his country was always first.
He was only sixteen years old when he took part in his first campaign. Abbé H. R. Casgrain tells us: “He was then a tall but thin young man, apparently weak for the trials of war. Moreover, he was decidedly ugly, with red hair and a receding forehead and chin, which made his profile seem to be an obtuse angle, with the point at the end of his nose. His pale, transparent skin was easily flushed, and became fiery red when he was engaged in conversation or in action. Nothing about him bespoke the soldier save a firm-set mouth and eyes of azure blue, which flashed and gleamed. With it all, though, he had about his person and his manner a sympathetic quality which attracted people to him.” Although a severe illness compelled him to give up this first campaign and return home, Wolfe was by no means discouraged, and he later on managed to distinguish himself for his courage and military skill.
It was not long after this that the great William Pitt decided that Wolfe was a man to be trusted with great things. He appointed him commander of the English troops to be sent against Quebec.
American history had just reached the period when all the English colonies had been founded except Georgia, and the long struggle had come between France and England for the possession of Canada.