THE CAPTURE OF QUEBEC.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 122, 17 December 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE CAPTURE OF QUEBEC.

The capture of Quebec brought to a close the great struggle between France and England for domination in North America, and determined the superiority of tho English in that portion of the giobe. The French and English colonists were constantly in dispute with each other, mainly by the efforts of the former stopping the English from trading with tne Indians, which eventually resulted in desultory fighting. Both countries now saw that the time had come when one or the other should be masters in North America, and forces were hurried from Curope to the colonies. John Wolfe was selected to conduct a British army of 8,000 men down the St. Lawrence to attack Quebec. The position of this town is one of great natural strength, being situated at the junction ot me St. Charles nnd St. Lawrence Rivers, standing on a rock inaccessible on three of its sides. Wolfe first attacked from the river Montmorency, but was repulsed. Then he conceived the idea of attacking the town from the western tide, which was defended by rugged and precipitous rocks, known as the Heights of Abraham, and it never entered the mind of the French or their commander that it was possible for an army to scale them. On the night ot September 13, 1759, the English army was conveyed in boats to the foot of the cliff, where they landed, and with the aid of boughs and stumps of trees, the men scaled the heights. In the morning the French 6aw with astonishment an enemy army of 5000 men prepared for battle, and in the fight that ensued the English gained a complete victory. Although Wolfe was mortally wounded, he knew that his army was victorious before lie died. The trench leader, Montcalm, was also killed. Five dav ß after the battle, Quebec opened its'gates to the English, and during the following year the whole of Canada came under British rule. \\ olfe's body was sent home to England and buried in Greenwich Church, and a monument wa6 erected to his memory in Westminster Abbey.