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Talk:Battle of the Plains of Abraham - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Talk:Battle of the Plains of Abraham

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This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Battle of the Plains of Abraham article.
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Good article Battle of the Plains of Abraham has been listed as one of the History good articles under the good article criteria. If you can improve it further, please do. If it no longer meets these criteria, you can delist it, or ask for a reassessment.

Contents

[edit] Where is the English defeat ?

Reading this you could almost beleive this was a victory without consequence.

Actually the British realise too late it was a huge mistake.

In 1783 there will be nothing left of the British Empire in america.

How can you call that a wounderfull victory ?

The British-Canadian will be expell from the USA and start from Zero

Reading your version it's like this was a win for the British forever.

That will bring them 20 years of misery and their worst catastrophic defeat.

Actually the British petition to return Quebec to France but the mistake was done.

A disgruntled French-Candian no doubt. Why don't you console yourself here http://www.cmhg.gc.ca/cmh/en/page_253.asp?

It's worded in a way that you might like (incorrectly).

To the unsigned poster :

I take strong offense to your personal attack against me this is not acceptable on Wikipedia. I don't care about your opinion about me.

Truth be told, the um, "disgruntled French-Canadian" is more right than wrong. Because of the French Indian War, the Colonists learned to unite and fight against a common foe. This is what enabled them to rebel so well against the Crown. Beforehand, there appeared to be almost no possibility of the colonies ever uniting under a common cause. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.11.170.168 (talk) 03:53, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Not neutral point of view

This article is not written with a neutral point of view. This is clearly the british and british-canadian account of the event.

[edit] Factual errors and no context

British general views and opinion should not be taken as historical facts. Also, many factual errors can be found in the text and the event is presented as a victory when serious historian knows this was a stategic blunder that will have disastrous consequence for the british empire. This battle being only the first part of a continental war that will end at Yorktown in 1781 is presented alone without any context misleading the reader to beleive this was a celebrated event.

[edit] Wolfe is not a hero

Today only the british and british-canadian still worship Wolfe and his gang. Celebrated american historian like Fred Anderson of Colorado call Wolfe a terrorist p 344 of his book the crucible of war for his murderous policies against civilians. John Knox, one of Wolfe soldier, explain in his journal how he could hear the scream of women and children while they were burned alived in their home by wolfe policies of burning civilian houses. Worst was the british policies of starvation and rape explain in Fred Anderson book. Amherst will poison civilian with small pox. Monkton also made war on civilian in acadia and pay for the scalp of indian children. In his book Road to Glory praising Wolfe the autor cannot fail to explain the starvation of babies by saying at least wolfe provided cow so women can feed their children. John Knox describe the dead civilian who starved in the street all cause by Wolfe sadistic policies. War on civilian is not heroic except maybe for british people.

American will be brutalised by William Howe the one who really climb the hill that night and they don't worship Wolfe since 1775. They worship Richard Montgommery and the people who defeat William Howe, the colonel of Wolfe. People like Georges Washington.

[edit] William Howe importance is missing

British want us to beleive in the myth of Wolfe the dauntless hero by erasing William Howe. Wolfe climb was without danger after Howe. And his battle action was to get shot death from the start and to die almost alone. This is hardly bravery or valor under fire. Considering his murderous brutality against women he's hardly a hero either.

[edit] The picture is a known fraud

Even the picture shown is a known fraud and a mythical misrepresentation of the event. Wolfe die alone with one or two person around him. This known forgery is presented as accurate portrait of the event. No serious historian would dare to use this propangada painting for a reality. At the very least the article should explain that Wolfe die like an idiot and alone and not like a hero. Even Murray knew that he didn't deserve it when he learn about the propaganda. A known caricature as no place in an encyclopedia.

[edit] Of course the french account is missing

In Townsend gloating review of his invasion he explain that most of the casualities on british happen at the hand of quebeckers while the british were butchering the fleing soldiers. Those quebeckers made a glorious defense and are simply not explained.

The article end with Rememberance day is done there every year. Of course the Fête Nationale is done there every year with 100 000 french people celebrating in a city 99 % french. Wolfe is not considered a hero in Quebec and Wolfe as totally failed to conquer the region for the british. Rememberance day is not popular in quebec.

[edit] The factual errors

William Howe is the one who climb the plain before Wolfe. While the article dwell on pointless detail on De Vergor, the British William Howe who will lose america is simply erased to hide what will really happen in the second part of the war (the american revolution).

Canada existed at that time. This battle is the Invasion of Canada. An article about the conquest of Canada that pretend it will lead to his foundation is ludicrus to said the least. Vaudreuil and his man were all proud Canadien (quebeckers)

The 1763 will give the British ALL north america exept the Louisiane territory. The article pretend it just won canada east. Again this is done to hide the fact that the british will lose New France territory at Yorktown in 1781 against the same french. Making the win of the plains completely pointless.

The section on the consequence of the war dwell and speak of victory when the British empire will be entirely lost because of this invasion cause by too much arrogance. 1763 is a temporary treaty that will not last and will soon be replace by the british defeat in the 1783 treaty. Simply saying Peace will not last is not enough.

Wolfe thugery is erased when no mention of his manifesto is explained. No mention either of his policies of war against civilian.

The perfect volley quote is a british general opinion and has no historical value. The british were using grape shot fire from a canon at that time and this pretensius volley was nothing special in that kind of battle. Pouchot the year before will kill 300 british who attack him at Carillon the same way. Lévis will make the british flee 6 month later. This was no different. Nothing magical about it either. Quote like it was like a single weapon is british slur but not historical event. Many idiot had their opinion on it but it doesn't make it true.

[edit] The article must be corrected

The opinion of people are given as accurate fact in the article, this is not the way to explain history. One cannot misquote part of many letter to reach is desired conclusion. Selective quoting is inappropriate. One should explain fact not built a fiction with half quote from people of the time who didn't know better or did not hold those opinion after they wrote it. Stick to the fact not constructive fiction.

When providing speculative controversy like Vaudreuil blame Montcalm you should provide the text and not just a lame reference to an old book by a british historian. If not people have to relie on your own personal speculation an opinion about primary source we don't have.

I will wait to see correction and I will provide them if it's not corrected.

Actually, in sourcing much of this article, I did seek out references that discussed the French viewpoint where I could, and in the rewrite tried to ensure - as pointed out in the first rejected A-Class review, and cleared up as noted by the promotion to A-Class in the second review - that this followed the neutral point of view as well as possible. None of this article is my speculation, it's been written based on research of texts discussing the battle. However, if you feel the article needs more input from the French side, and you have good reliable sources that you can work from in making those changes, then you're more than welcome to do so. Tony Fox (arf!) 05:12, 19 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Date of battle

September 13 or September 18 or September 10? What day did this take place? I suppose it has to do with calander reform and such. (Compare with appropriate list of battles page as well -- dml

Sept. 13th is correct. Calendar change has nothing to do with it as it took place in 1752 in Britain and in 1582 in France. Rmhermen 19:24 Apr 15, 2003 (UTC)
September 13 is the battle, the 18th is the day the garrison in Quebec surrendered. Adam Bishop 16:42, 14 Aug 2003 (UTC)

[edit] Burial of the Dead

Hello,

In the aftermath of the battle of The Plains of Abraham on Sept 13, 1759 the dead on both sides were collected. It is known that General Wolfe's body was transported back to England in a cask or caskette of Alcohol. At what location on the field or in the city were the British war dead buried?

Iain MacNeill Waterloo, On Canada

It is my understanding that, as was common practice at the time, enlisted men from both sides were buried in common graves on the battle field. Did religious considerations play a role, as in different pits for the Catholics and the Protestants, I don't know. It is my understanding that French dead from the battle of 1760 laid buried under a monument that currently lies at the corner of Chemin Sainte-Foy and Avenue Des Braves. I understand that the monument was displaced a few meters from its original location during a commemorative and restoration event maybe a century ago, and that bones were found and sent at some new resting place.

As I mentioned in the 'Trivia' section, it is my understanding that the wounded from both sides were sent to the Hopital General by the St. Charles River, and that those who perished at the hospital were buried just outside in a yard that has now been converted into a military cemetery. Montcalm's remains have recently been transferred from the Ursuline convent to a mausoleum on the grounds of this cemetery. I took part in the parade.

lambda 03:35, 28 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Getting the numbers straight

Everytime I read something on this battle, I see different numbers. The story is mostly the same, but the numbers just never match. I invite the author(s) of this article to compare their sources with these two:

http://www.net4war.com/history4war/dossiers/moderne/quebec01.htm (French and in French)

http://www.republiquelibre.org/cousture/1759B.HTM (Quebec and in English translation)

Maybe this will help us determine the original source of the numbers. I am personally confused by all these different accounts. Mathieugp 22:09, 13 Feb 2004 (UTC)

I was confused by it as well...I think most of the specific numbers I used are from the Historical Atlas of Canada. The problem seems to be that there were different periods of fighting using different numbers of troops, and that there were also reserves, reinforcements and unused garrisons on both sides, so total numbers probably don't match the actual numbers of men used. I guess it's the same for every other battle. Adam Bishop 22:13, 13 Feb 2004 (UTC)

I have to say this article seems to stray from a neutral point of view. The surrender of the French is described as "the ultimate tragic outcome," and the treatment of the decision by France to leave Canada, "a poor, underpopulated colony" and focus on its rich Caribbean possessions borders on historical editorializing, not reporting. Something tells me the author, or one of the authors, was rooting for the French. Patrick Grey Anderson 21:35, 5 Mar 2004 (UTC)

Or maybe he saw the English and French Empires fighting each other for world domination (again) and the young people of Canada paying for it? Mathieugp 22:10, 5 Mar 2004 (UTC)
An anon seems to have added the "tragic outcome" and similar bits...but it was me who wrote about the rich Caribbean and poor Canada. I suppose what I mean is, France thought it was more worthwhile to keep a profitable Caribbean island, rather than a much bigger colony that had a small population and didn't produce much for them. I didn't mean to editorialize or sound pro-French, so you are welcome to reword it in a more neutral way. Adam Bishop 21:40, 5 Mar 2004 (UTC)

more details on how wofle found the pathway please, i got more even from school...

You are free to add that information yourself. Adam Bishop 01:13, 19 Mar 2004 (UTC)

[edit] French and Indian War vs. Seven Years' War

Okay.

1. The French and Indian War is the same thing as the Seven Years' War, as the War of British Conquest (Canada), as the War of Conquest (Quebec). Same war, different names. It's like the War of the Spanish Succession, also known as Queen Anne's War in former British colonies in the New World.

2. Scholarly sources. Scholarly sources, scholarly sources, scholarly sources. Refereed- peer-edited- journals! Random web sites should not, ever, be cited as sources. Why? Because significant facts and figures are listed. For example, Montcalm did not send out 4000 men to Wolfe's 4800, he sent out 4500 to Wolfe's 4400. (W.J. Eccles, "The Preemptive Conquest, 1749-1763." Readings in Canadian History: Pre-Confederation, 4th edition, R. Douglas Francis and Donald B. Smith eds. (Toronto: Harcourt Brace and Company, 1994): 180.).

3. Montcalm wasn't afraid of a siege, for resons listed in the article (namely that to bring provisions for the army up, the English would have had to haul them up the cliffs).

>>>>Here, I disagree--and this has been quite the debate over the past three and a half centuries. Montcalm DID have reason to fear the Brits might entrench on the Plains, and that they WOULD be re-supplied, thus opening up a second front on the city (the other being the entrenchments at Beauport). The geographic reality of the area is not all hanging cliffs. After the initial assault--gloriously (and questionably) depicted in illustrations of the time--, most of Wolfe's contingent probably went up a stream bed that comes down from the Plains onto the Anse-aux-Foulons cove. The bed is called la Coulée Saint-Denis, and though steep, it is hardly impracticable by soldiers known to carrying heavy military loads over portages in the wilderness. I DO feel Montcaml's best strategy on the morning of the 13 would have been to just roll over and go back to sleep--considering also the onset of fall, a rather uncomfortable season for trench warfare, to say the least. But as the military commander, Montcalm must have felt he had no choice but to come out and meet Wolfe. I understand he feared loosing his land communication with Montreal. He also distrusted the fortifications, and especially, the colonial officers that commanded its artillery. lambda 03:59, 28 December 2006 (UTC)

4. Again, see the figures. Altered to be in line with what we can best ascertain to be true.

Is it proper to say that this battle is part of the French and Indian War? I know that's what Americans call the "North American phase" of the Seven Years' War, but we tend not to say that in Canada, and I'm sure Britain and France don't say that either. Adam Bishop 06:43, 12 Aug 2004 (UTC)

It is certainly true that this battle is part of the French and Indian War and that it is part of the Seven Years War. The previous arrangment of the sentence implied that American called the entire Seven Years War the French and Indian War which is not true. We call both the European part and the overarching conflict the Seven Years War. The British are not consistent in this regard as they call the fighting during this same time period between:
  • British vs. French and Red Indians (Native Americans) - part of the Seven Years War
  • British vs. French and East Indians - the 2nd Carnatic War

Rmhermen 13:02, Aug 12, 2004 (UTC)

Well, I've checked in the Canadian history text books I have available (published in 1972, 1998, and 2000) and they all call it the Seven Years' War. (A book about the history of Quebec that I have simply refers to it as "the Conquest.") Do Americans really say this battle took place in "both" wars? Since this battle took place between the British and the French, and happened in the actual seven years of the Seven Years' War, I think SYW should at least be more prominent. Adam Bishop 19:10, 13 Aug 2004 (UTC)
Yes we really say that it took place in both wars. It is no different than saying that the Battle of Midway was a battle in the Pacific War and in World War II. But we wouldn't say that D-day was a battle in the Pacific War, which is equivalent to what the article used to say. All of the battles in the French and Indian War took place between the British and the French and why the British named it the Seven Years War makes about as much sense as the name of the Hundred Years War. (Of course, Americans traditionally count WWII as 1941-1945 but merrily include the invasion of Poland in 1939 as part of the War.) Any suggestion on how to make it more prominent? Rmhermen 20:53, Aug 13, 2004 (UTC)
Ah you Americans and your crazy war-naming schemes :) I'm not sure how to reword the opening; it just doesn't make sense to me to mention the French and Indian War at all...or, I should say, it would make more sense (to me) to say "the Seven Years' War, also known as the F&I War," but if that's not how you actually use it, then I don't know. Adam Bishop 21:05, 13 Aug 2004 (UTC)
The war started in 1754 in North America, 1756 in Europe and India, 1758 in Africa, 1759 in the Caribbean, 1762 in the Pacific, so they call it the Seven Years Wars. Our system is crazy? What is that the weighted median length of the war? (I could say it doesn't make sense to me to mention the Seven Years War as you probably would never see that below a college-level text but that might reflect too much on the U.S. education system.) How would "was a battle during the French and Indian War, the U.S. name for the North American phase of the Seven Years' War." sound? Rmhermen 22:58, Aug 13, 2004 (UTC)
Heh, it's the "Seven Years', More or Less, War". I don't think "...the F&I War, the US name..." would work either. I guess what I am thinking is that the battle is more important to Canadians than to Americans, so Canadian usage should be used (this is my POV of course, since it's probably equally important to both). But I don't want to be difficult/nationalistic, so maybe we should just leave it as it is now. Adam Bishop 06:10, 14 Aug 2004 (UTC)
I'm surprised Canadians don't just call it the "Franco-British War," or some such name like that. If/when Canada can settle on a name for the North American theatre, that could get precedence. Until then... Funnyhat 08:02, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)
As far as I'm aware we have settled on a name, but apparently it's not good enough, and I'm not going to keep reverting when it gets changed. Adam Bishop 09:15, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)
I have to second Adams's opinion in regard to the name. The 2 names I have ever heard in Québec were "the seven years war" (relatively neutral and put the battles into their context) and "the conquest" (which make sense from a francophone standpoint but not from outside). "french and indian war" to me similarly only make sense if you were from the US or the UK. To people of french descent, using it would be like refering to a conflict as "That war we were involved in" and for other peoples, it sound as if you were picking on the francophones and the natives.--Marc pasquin 00:13, 8 May 2005 (UTC)
While normally sympathetic to this type of distinction between a war and its theatres, I have to say that I've been pretty shocked at the mercilessness with which so many Seven Years' War-related articles have been hunted down and edited to fit the American nomenclature. As far as I know, the United States is the only nation to make reference to "French and Indian Wars" in its histories. As previously stated, we Canadians, as well as the Brits and French, all refer to the North American fighting as part of the "Seven Years' War" (especially since the character and outcome of our war was greatly influence by events in Europe). Germans, Austrians, Spaniards, Swedes, and Russians use the same nomenclature.
Again, I'm sympathetic to the name "French and Indian War", and I do understand that many Americans browse and contribute to these articles. Including links and references to the French and Indian War article whenever appropriate seems like a prima facie good idea.
But I do think that the current trend tends to unduly emphasize "F & I War" at the expense of "Seven Years' War", almost to the point where it seems that readers may be insulated from the European conflict. Bear in mind that the second paragraph of the Seven Years' War article explains and links to the French and Indian War.
The French and Indian War is explained in the body of this article. Mentioning it in the battlebox seems unwarranted, and it clutters up an otherwise aesthetic piece. If people have any passionate arguments they'd like to share for its inclusion, please do so. Albrecht 20:34, Jun 15, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Suspect source

There's a reference at the bottom of the article to "Canada, the great islam" by Donald Dillon. The title seems strange enough given the article content, and google searches for Dillon or the title haven't been showing me anything. The ISBN listed is not recognized by the Library of Congress or Amazon. -Joshuapaquin 02:34, Sep 15, 2004 (UTC)

True...and the anon who added it also added something else that was later removed. So the source has now been removed as well. Adam Bishop 04:27, 15 Sep 2004 (UTC)


Good day, I realize this discussion has been going on for a loooong time but my understanding is that the French and Indian War is a valid subset of the greater conflict known as the Seven Years War. It essentially lasted 5 of the 7 years (7 years being when war was declared in 1756 and the Peace of Versaille was written in 1763). I think it is fair to differentiate the two but that means setting a finite scope to what is included in the French and Indian War, and what beyond that makes up the rest of the Seven Years' War. The fact that most of the "European" world and Canada (which has been under British influence and thus impacted by British history-writers and war-namers) use the term "Seven Years War" is nothing more than in a matter of perspective and people cannot deny that a finite amount of the larger conflict consists of the French and Indian War.

Just my 2-cents.

[edit] Abraham Martin

Is it important to add that Abraham Martin was dead and that the land was not "his" as we would usually considered it, but had been his the previous century? -Acjelen 16:46, 2 August 2005 (UTC)

[edit] "Canadian Militia"

The first paragraph of the second section mentions "100 Canadian militia". Lower Canada didn't exist yet. Is this meant to refer to New French militia? Kimholder 16:13, 4 January 2006 (UTC)

No, "Canadian" is correct. "New French" could refer to the inhabitants of any French North-American colony, from Acadia to New Orleans, and isn't much use here. Albrecht 17:23, 4 January 2006 (UTC)

I understand New France was divided in four segments: i) Acadia (now the Maritime Provinces of Canada), ii) Canada (the St. Lawrence Valley, Outaouais Valley, Richelieu Valley, Ohio Valley, and Great Lakes or "Pays-d'en-Haut"), iii) a hyphen area where the Ohio River meets the Mississippi River, and iv) Louisiana. Therefore, militia raised in the government of Canada, New France, is appropriately called "Canadian militia". One must understand that current use of the name Canada (from sea to sea to sea), does not express the same national reality as it did in New France. One can also argue that the current confusion is born from a wilful political choice to recuperate the word "Canada" to name a country that currently holds two founding European nations, whereas the original use of "Canadian" strictly meant "French colonial of a given region of New France". Enough said. lambda 04:17, 28 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] request for peer review, Battle of the Thousand islands

Wikipedia:Peer review/Battle of the Thousand Islands/archive1

I Just finished up the main body of this article on a relitivly small engagemet of the French and Indian War. I'm hopeing a peer review will bring some suggestions on how the article can be improved and hopfully bring some more info on the subject. I'd like to see more info on some of the personalities that don't have they're own page to link to, and some more detail on how the battle developed... Any input would be very much appreciated! Mike McGregor (Can) 18:13, 10 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] The Site Today

I went to Quebec and the tour guides showed us the plains but they were not real. The real plains are located under an office building and a parking lot, seriously. Rijaman 01:33, 9 May 2006 (UTC)

Can you find a historical or accademic source to account for this?--Black Orpheus 21:59, 12 May 2006 (UTC)

Actually, I think "The Battle of the Plains" covered the 1,5 km extent of the plateau, now mostly developped land. Does this make numerical sense? 4500 soldiers in two ranks. Say a line of 2000 soldiers, shoulder to shoulder, with space between sections. Give just under a meter's width per soldier. Seems just about right. lambda 04:25, 28 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Researching for improvement towards FA

As I'm trying to expand my Canadian history horizons, I came across this article and noticed that it's got a lot of potential to move towards Featured Article status (or at least to Good Article as a minimum; it's a solid article now, but could definitely be fleshed out to discuss more pre- and post-battle activities, cause and effect, etc. I've started gathering some resources and will be researching towards this over the next few weeks, with a goal of getting some writing done in January. Once I know what I'm doing (hah!), I'll post an outline and some of my thoughts here for discussion by anyone who's regularly involved with the article. Sound good, anyone? Tony Fox (arf!) 23:01, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Suggestions

Good work so far. I just have a few suggestions and here they are:

  1. Is it possible to get an image of Wolfe apart from the one showing him dieing. Maybe a portrait seeing as you have an image for Montcalm.
  1. Also most editors recommend having eg pp. 39 instead of p. 39 in the inline citations.

Those are all my suggestions, good work and good luck in the future with this article. Kyriakos 06:20, 31 January 2007 (UTC)

I also suggest requesting to get the article a formal peer review at WPMILHIST peer review deparment. Kyriakos 20:56, 31 January 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for the comments! I'll work on making some adjustments as I go along here, and look at a peer review soon. Tony Fox (arf!) 04:39, 3 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] GA-Review

I did a couple of very small edits. Notes were changed to References, References were changed to Sources and a small fix on the External Edits. This is a very good article - covers all the points extremely well, nicely and completely referenced, well written. Congrats. Of course the next step is a formal peer review and then submission for Featured article. I would do that soonest.Peter Rehse 09:32, 17 March 2007 (UTC)

Brilliant! Thanks for the input - great to hear that the article's up to standards. Tony Fox (arf!) 19:12, 17 March 2007 (UTC)


[edit] Plains of Abraham != Battle of the Plains of Abraham

There should be a separate article about the park itself, currently Plains of Abraham forwards to the entry about the battle. How does one go about getting a redirect cancelled?--Jeff 14:54, 31 March 2007 (UTC)

Edit the redirect page, replacing the current text with whatever you think should appear in the article. The French wiki (fr:Bataille des Plaines d'Abraham) might be a good place to start. Albrecht 15:12, 31 March 2007 (UTC)
Okay, I've translated the fr:Plaines d'Abraham article. Some clean-up, expansion, and inline citations are still needed. DoubleBlue (Talk) 04:33, 18 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Numbers don't add up

The numbers in the text for Wolfe's deployment (3300) on the P of A do not match those in the box (4300). Which is it? Lafarge Dodger —Preceding unsigned comment added by Lafarge Dodger (talk • contribs) 15:42, August 28, 2007 (UTC)

Good catch. I'll take a quick look at my notes tonight and correct the infobox based on my research.
Any chance you can provide a reference for the paragraph you included regarding the terrain of the ground? I've tried to keep at least one reference in each paragraph. Thanks! Tony Fox (arf!) 16:03, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

The Canadian War Museum has an excellent display explaining how the shape of the ground played a role in the battle (which is sually the case). John Keegan also talks about the lay of the field in his book on North American forts. I'll have to dig it out. Keegan concentrates more on Wolfe's use of the bluffs to prevent flanking. Lafarge Dodger —Preceding unsigned comment added by Lafarge Dodger (talk • contribs) 22:39, August 28, 2007 (UTC)

The bluffs were discussed in pretty much every source I found, yeah, but none really discussed the positioning with relation to slope or rises, other than acknowledging that Wolfe was standing on one when he was wounded. Seems like a good addition if you can find that reference. Tony Fox (arf!) 22:48, 28 August 2007 (UTC)
I should note that I've replaced some of the copy you removed earlier today; I hadn't noticed it until now. In the section regarding the battle, one of your edits removed a line that was sourced to Eccles, as well as the source itself which applied to a segment of text prior to that line. The effect was to leave portions of the text improperly sourced. As for the cultural references section, that was intended to be included as a "for example" kind of thing, and was a response to the previous A-Class review conducted on the article. I'm okay with it out for now, but if reviewers feel it should be reincluded, I'll look at putting it back in. Tony Fox (arf!) 22:56, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Comments from User:Plains2007

[edit] Totally innacurate source

This article reprint every inflated innacurate account by british imperialist propanda. Almost all of them fail to explain accuratly what happened. We have acces to at least three first hand account of the event. Townhend, Holmes letter and a soldier who was there.

 This article's representation of one or more viewpoints about a controversial issue may be unbalanced or inaccurate.
Please improve the article or discuss the issue on the talk page.

[edit] Primary source, first hand witness

http://home.worldonline.co.za/~townshend/quebec1759.htm http://www.militaryheritage.com/quebec1.htm http://library.uwaterloo.ca/discipline/SpecColl/archives/holmes/holmes.html

[edit] No Magic Volley

I also know about another soldier account who speak about the mutual fire that last 10 minutes and speak of no magic volley. This British Imperialist Myth was done later by historian in London trying to make a bigger deal of this cowardly night attack that was anything but brilliant. Most of the work will be done by grapeshot canon, by the scottish regiment of Fraser (who will fail in his charge against quebec milician) and by the German and Swiss of the Royal american. What is stricking is that the soldier do not see anything unusual about the fight. It was normal fight for them. The same British regiment will be fleeing the french at the second battle of the plains of abraham 7 months later.

[edit] The charge that totally failed

The french were on retreat before any charge were ordered. All witness account explain it. The charge will not reach the retreating french army. What they will reach is defeat at the hand of the Quebec milician near the gate of the city. The scottish charge will be push back twice and will take their worst casuallity at that time according to Holmes letter itself. The charge not only did not make the french flee, it also totally failed. They push them back over the river but they did not defeat the french army. The army was protected by valliant hero. This is call retreat in good order.

[edit] The french retreat is normal

Their is nothing abnormal about a smaller army retreating from a bigger one. 30 % of the french were not equiped to charge (no sabre and no bayonnette on their gun). 4000 soldiers equip for charging against 3000 french that were devastated by grapeshot canon and had lost all their commander will not stay put. The retreat was NOT in disorder. They knew where to reach safety and they did reach it. The british charge will NEVER reach the french ranks. What they will get is a good beating by the Quebec milicia and they will RETREAT while taking canon shot in their ranks. If not for the british sadistic policies of killing the wounded the dead on each side would have been equal. 3300 french will be alive after the battle. Safely protected in their retreat by the heroism of the quebec milicia.

[edit] The only usefull canon was the english one

Their was a british canon firing grapeshot into the french fromation between the 47th and the 78th. They were shooting into the french compact formation from the start. Contrary to the British coward who were lying on the ground the whole time the french were Standing and taking grapshot canon into their rank. The 3 canons on the french side were too far and the British line was on the ground not standing making their canon completely useless. The french advance made the canon impossible to use when the fight started at what pont the British stood knowing the french canon will not reach them. NO account exist of french canon being use on Wolfe army. Because NONE were used on the plains. They will however defeat the Highlander charge near the city gate. When you have canon on your side you win. This is 18th century warfare.

[edit] Out numbered french army

The Quebec milicia was not equiped with bayonnette on their gun making the fight totally impossible for the outnumbered frenchman. On Wolfe own account his army had more professional soldier. Montcalm army was 30 % from the milicia and indians. One of his batallion, the languedoc, was of recent recruit with no experience. The best french army is not there. Lévis, Bourlamaque and Bougainville were fighting amherst in Montréal.

[edit] They attempted an attack and retreated when it failed

The french flank were totally open by the milicia who ran to the wood since they could not face a charge they were not equip to oppose. The most professional Roussillon was the worst attacked by the grapeshot of the english canon (witness account, primary source). The recruit of langedoc were the first to break rank. Like Murray army the french had two easy way to retreat. Like Murray in the second battle of the plain in April they ran for the Wall of Quebec. The British who did not sustain any canon shot were not affected. Of the only 67 dead, 3 happen in the Boat when landing. Most of our casualities happen after the battle against the quebec milicia according to Holmes letter account. This means that on the plains less then 30 were killed on the British side. This is because they were not shot at with canon and they were lying on the ground for 5 hours. (they were in place at 5 AM so until 10 AM they were lying down, the 2 first hours in the dark)

[edit] They came in Total Darkness

Every picture we see the soldier coming in full day light. This is plain wrong. The troop were all in place on the plains at 5 AM. This means that the sun will come up only 2 hours later at 7 AM. The landing, the attack, the take of the Samos Canon, the walk into the small access ramp by the whole army (exept 12) will all happen in PITCH DARK NIGHT. Since it was also RAINING. There was NO moon light. This is by no means courageous. On the 12th of july the Quebec milicia did the same Night attack on Lévis. They went totally undetected even after shooting their gun by mistake. They will be lying down even while the french advanced on them. Giving no target to the french advancing army to shoot at while receiving canon grapeshot in their rank.

[edit] The cleft in the Cliff

Only 10 or 12 soldier carried out the real attack on the post of Duvergor. It was total darkness and even at close range Duvergor could not see anything. It was MacDonald NOT fraser who climbed first and spoke french. Duvergor has NO way of seeing anything before the English were on them. The other Sentries WILL fire and kill 3 british. But what could they aim at in total darkness ? You cannot resist 4000 troups landing in the dark. The attack was the work of Colonel William Howe who will later lose the USA with is mistake. He did not climb himself he let a scott do it for him. But he will lead the attack on the Samos canon (The attack happen in the dark)

[edit] The number of dead

P. 130 of the Book Canada a popular History tell that their was 67 dead on the einglish side and 220 on the french side. This was due to a policy of killing the wounded by the english side. And the use of grapeshot BEFORE any fire was giving on the plains.

[edit] The courageous resistance by Quebec Milician is removed

The Quebec milician and Acadian Milicia (150) made three (3) stand. One in front the the Saint-Louis Gates where they stop dead a Scottish charge who crumble and ran away twice. The other was in the saint-Vanier Hill where they climbed back to protect the french retreat and where they fought until they were butchered. This prevented the english from killing the french army making it a retreat in order and while protected. 3280 french soldier left the plains alive and protected by the action of the Quebec Milicia. A third fight happened around a bakery near the river.

[edit] The battle was one hour long

The real battle happened after the firing on the plains. The totally failed scottish charges was defeated by the Quebec milician in front of Saint-Louis Gates. The french very sucessfully protected the retreat of the army by shooting their canon into the scottish charge. And Quebec milician will only be removed from the wood by the German and Swiss of the Royal american. The real British soldier never did much on that day. They let the scottish and the german do the fighting. Murray was not fooled by this. He resented Wolfe who was known to despise the scottish soldier since Culloden. Murray commented on Wolfe adulation from the British public this way : Wolfe do not deserve it. And when you know, like he did, what really happen. We know now that Wolfe did not deserve to be treated as a hero. Murray and Townhend did all the job on the plains. This is a Scottish and German victory.

[edit] The Royal american were German and Swiss Soldier

British account never mention the fact that the 60th 2 and 3 batallion were in fact 75 % of German origine (from pensylvania settlement) and Swiss from europe. It was the regiment of Haldimand and Bouquet. Even if Townhend lead them that day.

[edit] Wolfe is no hero

He came that night in total darkness and went by an easy access cleft between the cliff he knew was there. He walk in the dark into position and lay on the ground his army for 5 hours. He cowardly shot grapeshot into the french standing up army. He order fire and was shot dead. He did not lead any charge. He did not fight. He stood on the right side very far from the danger of the left side woods that he left to the scott and the german.

[edit] The consequence

20 years after the plains the British will be expelled from their american collonies by the second treaty of 1783. New France territory will be american not British. William Howe the invader that night will be soundly defeated and the British humiliated by the French Navy and Army. This battle will not decide the fate of america. This will only decide the fate of Quebec. And every body knows Quebec is a fully french city. And that Canada is not very solid. The French are still in Control of the Old Canada. Quebec 1759 was a strategic mistake that will lead to the worst british defeat of his empire at Yorktown in 1781. Each year the French Nationalist celebrates their national holliday on the Plains. Laugthing at the face of the British who wrongly beleive we lost that war. We are in full possession of Quebec and the British are long gone.

[edit] As I said before this article is to be rewritten entirely

The picture showing that the whole british army never scaled the cliff is in the link about the real witness at the battle. This picture as only ONE innacuracy. The landing happen in total darkness and while raining so their is no moon light. The drawing is not done to fool people like the present picture on the wiki site depict. benjamin west was inflating for propaganda reason. Most of the people there were not with wolfe. People who really were are not drawn. . This article is a one side point of view. This account is the British Imperialist inflated account and totally inacurate and must be replaced. Plains2007 15:40, 21 October 2007 (UTC)

Wow. It would appear that you have access to sources that completely disagree with basically every source that I looked at regarding this battle; I'd be interested to see the actual references you would consider to be putting these viewpoints forward, because it would be rather surprising to me to have the reports of respected historians such as Eccles be completely wrong, as you assert. Tony Fox (arf!) 18:47, 21 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Submission for a new article or a merge

The article as it currently stand is misleading and innacurate. For the following reasons:

  • 1- the article should be about the battle only and not the siege or the war.
  • 2- the article give the personal opinion of historians, the soldiers and even the writer
  • 3- the article is misleading on many aspect of the battle
  • 4- the article is full of innacuracies and supposition that are not true
  • 5- the structure of the article don't measure up to well written battle article
  • 6- the article miss completely the fight that happen after the plain
  • 7- the article completely miss the importance of the canons
  • 8- the article is full off inacurate number based on speculation
  • 9- the article is based on dubious historians view when primary account are available
  • 10- the pictures have no historical value, this in an encyclopedia not a work of fiction
  • 11- the article contains weird comment on James Cook and the plains of today
  • 12- the article contains wild accusation of cowardice and attack of character

[edit] This is a battle article

The common structure can be found on many other well written article.

  • 1- give a context of the battle alone very shortly
  • 2- give the formation in presence with all details
  • 3- describe the battle itself only with the most accurate account
  • 4- explain all the military movement while giving context to behavior
  • 5- conclude with the clear consequence of the battle alone
  • 6- when giving number allways add about
  • 7- make a strong warning that account are not allways corroborated
  • 8- remove all speech, mind reading, opinions, editorializing
  • 9- remove all picture of general since this is about the battle not them
  • 10- remove all the comment of what they should have done this is not an essay

(see the Battle of Culloden for an exemple of good battle article without mind reading)

[edit] The primary account

We have well written witness account that were written 4 days after the battle from people who were in it. The more detailed are the one of Parson Robert MacPherson and Malcom Fraser. They start from the landing and continue to the battle after the plain first fire. They corroborate each other since they were hiden personal letter and describe the same details. They are from soldiers who know about military strategy. The reference section will be amended. Most of the reference will either point to page 185 or 187 of sons of the mountain that reproduce the letter describing the battle in detail. Other will point to Montcalm original letter.


[edit] Secondary account

Carefull review should be taken with all other books because they contains innacurate information most of the time. They come from nationalistic people who have every reason to hide what is not good for their view. Most, if not all, fail to understand the real final consequence of the battle or of who William Howe is. Most of those historian can't read the french letters. The current article contains many dubious historians as if they were authority when they are not. The huge majority of them living in Ontario and are the people who has the most to hide about the real consequence of this battle. Since this will really end at Yorktown in 1781.

[edit] The most credible secondary references available

The Paths of Glory is written by the best autority on Red Coat army and battle of the 18th century. He understand the importance of darkeness and artillery and explain the line formation in Line and in column. He call Montcalm army a Motley crew since 1500 are civilians militians. Ian MacPherson McCulloch is the autority on Scottish fighter of the war. The reference for biographies that has credibility is the Canadian Biographies online :*Biographies of many participants

[edit] Point of view

The opinion of anybody is not fact, even eye-witness. It might still indicate a reason for a behavior but it will not make the statement the truth. Weasel word like routed or panicked should also be removed. The letters we have are perfect as they are. They are devoided of rewritting for after the facts knowledge.

[edit] User of Wikipedia deserves better

People who want to know what happen should be given the name of the regiment, their position, who they were. They should get the most accurate blow by blow account of the battle only. They should not be forced to read a long editorial of everybody opinion that day while getting innacurate information about the battle itself, the war and the siege...who are discussed elsewhere.

[edit] Possible merge of both version

The current article as a lot of merits and good information. The problem is that it give too many opinions that tell a one sided point of view and contains too many factual innacuracy. I have many reservation about the canadian historian given as reference who most of the time give a very bad account of this battle. I certainly don't blame anybody that get their information wrong about this battle. As the information available is full of mistake.

[edit] Wolfe order to Scalp and starvation

Wolfe provocked starvation on purpose, he said so to Amherst in a letter before the siege, starvation was not a mistake. It was intentional. Wolfe order was to scalp indians. Prisoner of the english were also butcher without mery according to Knox journal who saw Captain Montgommery do it. Fred Anderson rightly call Wolfe a terrorist.

[edit] They dont climb a vertical precipice

As the image provided clearly shows, only a small group of less then 20 people actually has to climb a small steep cliff. 99 % of Wolfe army including himself has an easy climb according to Parksman who explain correctly what really happen. We can clearly see this small path in the drawing of Wolfe aide who was there. John Knox credibility is very much a controversy. He spoke of a vertical precipice...that he will never have to climb. So we know he as a tendency to inflate. He's the only second hand witness to Wolfe reported last word. This make them very doubtfull as Knox is a known liar.

[edit] William Howe and Samos

William Howe light infantry dispatch to stop the canon of Samos were 400. The french were 70. The attack happen in the dark.

[edit] I will leave time to make corrections

Feel free to comment and challenge my reference and description.

Therefore, I submit the following new article or submit that a merge should be done

Accounts of this battle and its aftermath vary and are contradictory on some points. This article attempts to provide a reasonable summary.


Battle of the Plains of Abraham
Part of the Seven Years' War
French and Indian War

This 1797 engraving is based on a sketch made by Hervey Smyth, General Wolfe's aide-de-camp during the siege of Quebec. In reality the landing was completed in the dark.
Date September 13, 1759
Location Quebec City
Result Decisive British victory
Belligerents
Flag of the United Kingdom Kingdom of Great Britain Kingdom of France
Commanders
James Wolfe † Louis-Joseph, Marquis de Montcalm †
Strength
4,500 regulars[1] 3,000 regulars
1500 militians[2]
Casualties and losses
67 dead, 600 wounded[3] 220 dead, 600 wounded[4]
v • d • e
Seven Years' War in

North America:
The French and Indian War


[edit] The context of the battle

The battle happened during the French and Indian War after a 3 month siege of Quebec city defended by General Louis-Joseph, Marquis de Montcalm, 47 years old, and the civilian governor de Vaudreuil since June 28, 1759. The battle happened after the Battle of Beauport on the 31 July 1759 where the british were defeated. The british Major-General [James Wolfe] must take action as the summer is ending. Since the attack on the Beauport lines on the east side was attempted and end up in failure Wolfe considered an attack from the west side. His general urge him to attack farther west. However, James Wolfe, 32 years old, decided to launch a night attack closer to the city. From the former prisoner Stobo who was in prison just above on the plains he knew about a small access road west of the city. He also knew from two french deserters that the post is not well guarded. Since Duvergor who was guarding it let many of his men go to their field for harvest[5]. Vaudreuil and others had expressed concern with the Foulon being a possible approach route, but Montcalm dismissed them, saying 100 men would hold off the army until daylight. He stated, "It is not to be supposed that the enemies have wings so that they can in the same night cross the river, disembark, climb the obstructed acclivity, and scale the walls, for which last operation they would have to carry ladders."[6]

[edit] The british night landing

On the morning of the 13 September at 3 AM during the night, in complete darkness under a cloudy sky (it was raining) [7] a first group of two boats landed on the Quebec city side of the Saint-Lawrence. It was a group of 24 light infantry soldiers and the Colonel William Howe that will first land on the bank of the river. It was a special force comprising of volonteers from many regiments. Their boats will drift to the West of the access road because of the strong current. The light infantry will climbed a cliff to reach by Captain Louis Du Pont Duchambon de Vergor french post. MacDonald of the 78th Fraser's Highlander regiment a bilingual scott (Scott jacobites were allies to the French in the previous war) will answer Duvergor call from his post. Not knowing who came in the darkness and who spoke to him in french Duvergor did not react. Still in darkness MacDonald soldiers will surprise the french sentries and make them surrender or flee. By that time the general James Wolfe with his two Brigadier-General Moncton and Murray had landed on the river bank[8]. The upper post was cleared and they could walk by the access road[9]. However, the british were taking fire from the other french sentries as the sentries killed 3 british in their boats[10].

As it was still in the dark Colonel William Howe was dispatch to attack the french batteries of canon of Samos on their left[11]. He overrun the french who was there. The whole british army will then climb the access road in the dark[12]. It was now 3 AM. They will proceed to the plains and make their formation in the dark and wait in the starting rain and mud. The british were order to lie on their belly on the ground to avoid taking fire from the sharpshooter in the woods[13]. Louis-Joseph, Marquis de Montcalm on the Beauport lines 10 km away became aware of the presence of the british at 5 AM. At first he did not beleived the sentry[14]. When he got confirmation of the landing Wolfe army was allready on the plain still the dark. The sun will only come up at 7 AM. The french army wake up and walk 10 km from the Beauport line, through a bridge on the Saint-Charles river and up the Saint-Vanier road near the city walls to reach the plains. They got to the plains at 6 AM still not in full light. The began their formation.

[edit] The british regiment formation

The british formation is given from left to right as seen on their side[15]. In potence formation[16] (an rotated L formation). The 2nd batallion of the 60th Royal American of german settlers from pensylvania, swiss and british officers from europe, the 15th, the 58th regiment of Anstrunter, the 78th Fraser's regiment of scottish Highlander in kilt and with broad sword (Simon Fraser himself was not present as he was wounded at the Battle of Beauport [17]), the 43rd and 47th Foot regiments,Bragg's regiment, 28th Foot of Lascelles, Louisbourg Grenadier consisting of portions of british regiment assembled at Louisbourg the previous year, the 35th Otway's regiment. Behind them in reserve the light infantry of Colonel William Howe, the The 3rd batallion of the 60th Royal American of german settlers from pensylvania, swiss and british officers from europe and the 48th regiment and a portion of the 58th.

Between the 47th and the 28th two field canons were firing grapeshot into the left side of Montcalm army into the Roussillon ranks. Wolfe is on foot between the 28th and the Louisbourg Grenadiers on the right far away from the wood full of sharpshooter. The british are set up in a long thin line of two soldiers deep that give no target to the french an let every soldier a clear aim to fire[18]. The british are a total of 4400 professionals soldiers exept for the two Royal American german colonial battalion of the 60th 2nd and 3rd equiped to fight in the woods and who face the milician and the indians on the left. Those two german rangers regiment were assemble after the Braddock defeat of 1755. After the british realized they needed a unit to fight in the woods[19]. The german wear round hat and light rangers uniforms. The grenadier wear an oval facing on their head gear. The scottish regiment of Fraser and Anstrunter wear kilt, beret and have broad sword like at the Battle of Culloden. The light infantry of Colonel William Howe are equiped to fight in the woods no for the Line fighting.

[edit] The french regiment formation

Lieutenant-Colonel de Sennezergue (Montcalm second in command) on their right, Fontbonne on the left, Malartic with Béarn, Saint-Ours, D'Argenteuil [20], Milicia from Montréal with Repentigny, Québec with Courtemanche and Tree-River with Boucher[21]. Charles Langlade (a métis being half french and half ottawa) and a party of Ottawa indian (near Detroit) and indien from Michilimakinak of the present state of Wisconsin. A small cavalry of mounted milicia[22]. Three canons that will only fired when the British line is lying on the ground before the french took the field and they could not be used anymore because they were not going to shoot over their own soldiers[23]. Montcalm is on a black horse[26].

The french advanced in column formation because they have no choice. The plains are uneven and full of small Bushes that force the french to walk in long column giving the british canon a better target[24]. All the french on the back are unable to fire when the fight start. The Languedoc are new recruits from europe[25]. Jean Daniel Dumas, the hero of the victory over Braddock in 1755 is leading the quebec city milicians[26].

The regular colonial troop of Franche de la Marine are not present only the civilians milician are. The Montréal, Québec and Three-river milician are not equiped with bayonette or broad sabre[27]. They are not train to fight in line formation either. This is totally new for them. They fire too soon, they don't keep the formation and they fall on the ground to reload. They are not professional european line fighters. This formation of putting the milician on each side of the french regular army is a mistake according to Malartic evaluation after the battle[28]. As soon as the battle start the french flank are exposed since the milician go to hide in the wood after they fire their single shot. The milician are not equip to charge or defend against it. That is not what they are best at. Malartic suggest after the battle that the milician should have been put between the rank of professional line fighter. Either way they were of no use against a bayonette charge and cannot make one. On the british side the 60th of german rangers were not on the front line[29].

[edit] A desperate sortie

Montcalm is not planning a long battle as he don't even put a reserve behind his line. This will prevent any cover for retreat exept from his quebec milicians. This is a desperate sortie to prevent the british from digging themselves in a strong position. Montcalm can see the two field canons allready on the plain. This artillery worry him the most. If the british get more then this, his army is not going to be able to attack him. The city is starving allready and his food supply would be cut. Montcalm beleive Bougainville is too far to reach him. Vaudreuil cannot send more troops has he has to oppose a landing on the Beauport lines. Ramsey in the city don't let Montcalm take more then 4 iron canons too heavy to be move very far on the field. The decision to lauch this desperate attack is the same decision that Murray will take on the second battle of the plains in 1760. He beleive this is to be his only chance to attack before the british artillery makes it impossible. 30 % of his force are civilian milicians not even the colonial Franche de la Marine. Montcalm is facing 13 professionals regiments of the british in line formation that wait for his 5 regiments of regular in column formation. The 3 milicians batallions will never follow the line and will stay behind as they are not line fighters. Montcalm, said, “We cannot avoid the issue. The enemy is entrenching and already has two cannon. If we give him time to make good his position we can never attack him with the few troops we have.” [30]

[edit] The battle on the plains

It is now 10 AM in full day time[31]. From the start the British formation is harass by the sharpshooter in the woods on their left. The british line is on the ground. The Royal American of german rangers are the one who take the worst of it with the scottish 78th fraser regiment. The french advanced and fire at a lying down british thin line making the fire innefectual[32]. When the french take the field the french canon stop[33]. The british can stand up[34],. When they are close enough the french fire first on the british thin line[35], followed quickly by the british line first fire[36]. The thin line of british and the thick line of french make all the difference[37]. The british fire is from half the soldier on the field, the french fire come only from the first smaller row, the milicia as allready fire their shot and are on the ground. The british target is a thick line of french in column formation[38]. No bullet can miss. After two volley of the first and second row the fire become general for 10 minutes[39]. When everybody has fire his gun the battle stop long enough to clear the smoke[40]. The french are in retreat before any charge[41]. The french are outnumber 4 to 3 their flank unprotected by the retreating milician who cannot fight in line battle[42]. Senezergues, Fontbonne, Saint-Ours are either killed or wounded[43]. Only Montcalm try to rally his man who run for the city walls[44]. The british charge is on their back[45]. The 78th highlanders were ordered to charge with their swords by Brigadier-General James Murray.

[edit] The battle that follow

Near the city at Saint-Louis gates a group of milician make a stand[46]. With support of the city canon they stop the 78th fraser regiment of scottish in kilt charge[47]. The charge is put to flee[48]. Most of the french army reach safely the city wall the other groups run down Saint-Vanier steep road near the Saint-Jean gates. Montcalm is trying to reach the Saint-Louis gates when he is shot mortaly in the back. Montcalm, 47 years old, will die the next day[49].

Near Saint-Jean Gates another group of milician fire on the charging british. On the Saint-Charles river bridge Pierre de Vaudreuil can see the stream of french soldier running for cover. The hulk near the river fire their canons into the Scottish charges. Vaudreuil urge the french soldier to go back but only the Quebec milician listen to him. The french who sustained heavy fire on the plain are in no mood to continue[50]. Their leader are all dead and they would not follow this colonial Governor who as no military training. But the milician will[51].

200 volonteers quebec milician with some acadians go back into the fight and climb the Saint-Vanier road to protect the french army retreat[52]. Their combine fire stop the charging scott ex-jacobite twice[53]. Discusted the scott send the 60th of german rangers and the 48th of the british to clear the woods[54]. After a hard fight the outnumbered milician fall back down the Saint-Vanier road[55]. Where they reach a backery for their last stand[56]. The british open fire with canon on them and they slauther them almost to a man[57]. James Wolfe orders was to kill the wounded milician even if they were helpless and on the ground[58]. They would only save the french officer[59]. The british were still remembering how the milician had humiliated them repeatedly at Braddock's defeat in 1755 and at the Battle of Carillon in 1758. Where the milician had slauther the charging 42th regiment of the BlackWatch in a fair fight[60].

[edit] The arrival of Bougainville

The fight will last about an hour[61], when the quebec milician make their last stand the army of Bougainville 2000 troups arrive on the plains from the East. Georges Townshend and the 3rd batallions of germans settler from the 60th and the british 48th that were both in reserve behind the Line fighting have now two canons and a better position on the field[62]. Bougainville know the battle is over and the british are in a strong position with artillery. He safely go aroung them to reach Vaudreuil[63].

[edit] Vaudreuil combined with Lévis

Vaudreuil held a concil of war with his staff on the Beauport lines. He want to attack the british on the plains but the other officer vote to leave the city and combined their forces with Lévis's who come from Montréal. The Beauport lines are evacuated at 9 PM. Vaudreuil who was not in the fight and who is not a soldier himself wanted to attack immediatly[64]. The french are in no state to start again. Starved and demoralised they prefer to wait for Lévis[65] and fight another day. Many of their best leader are killed and Montcalm is mortally wounded[66]. Lévis march is army from Montréal to Quebec city until he reach the Jacques-Cartier River. With Vaudreuil they plan to retake the city immediatly. Vaudreuil had given the order to Jean-Baptiste-Nicolas-Roch de Ramezay in Quebec city to surrender on the 20th.

[edit] The Quebec city capitulation because of starvation

To their dismay Ramsey, a scott, surrender the city on the 18th. Townshend could not beleive his luck[67]. In a vote inside the city Ramsey and the french officer explain that the city is starving and could not last for 3 more days[68]. The city is full of starving civilians caused by the scorched earth criminal policies of Wolfe[69]. Women and children are dying of starvation[70]. Townshend enter the city on the 18th. John Knox's journal who was with the 47th describe a terrible scene of destruction and starvation[71] after the three month siege and the policies of Wolfe to burn the civilian farms around Quebec city[72]. The city was not taken during the battle but 4 days later it will capitulated to protect its civilian population who cannot be submitted to a siege.

[edit] The aftermath

Lévis will defeat the very same regiment seven month later in Battle of Sainte-Foy on April 27th 1760. Murray will take the same decision that Montcalm took[73]. Murray, a scott, decided to leave the city and fight outside to prevent a siege he could not sustain[74]. This time it's the british soldier who flee in front of the french to reach the city walls. Only the arrival of the english fleet turn the tide in favor of the british[75]. Unable to make a siege Lévis go back to Montreal under the protection of Jacques Vauquelin ships. Totally outnumber the french cannot fight. New France surrender in Montréal without a last battle [76]. At Montréal that September, Lévis and 2,000 troops confronted 17,000 British and American troops. The French capitulated on September 8, 1760, and the British took possession of Montreal. The Treaty of Paris that was signed in 1763 to end the war gave temporary possession of New France to Great Britain. This first treaty will soon be replaced with the second Treaty of Paris(1783).


[edit] This is for Context only and will not appear in Battle Article

[edit] France real intention

France was outnumbered badly in america. The population was 1,2 millions english against 80 000 french people. But in Europe, France was 20 millions against england 7 millions. France decided to win the war in Europe since it was impossible in america. So in 1759 France had made a plan to invade England. The minister Belle Isle will explain to Bougainville that France cannot send more troops in Québec. First, they cannot pass the British Navy. But most importantly they needed the troops to invade England. This was the expédition particulière troops. The plan will fall when the french fleet of Toulon will be defeated in the Battle of Lagos and the Brest fleet will be defeated in the Battle of Quiberon. But France will only lose in Europe when the Russian pro-french Queen will die in 1761. At that time, the russian were defeating the german of Frederick II and were at the gate of Berlin. Frederick II was suicidal, England was broke. This last set back terminated France hope of winning in Europe. But this expedition particulière will still defeat england. Since this is the expedition that was sent to america to help Washington army. The Belle Isle plan will finaly succeed at Yorktown in 1781[77].

[edit] The political consequence

Taking Quebec and the New France territory soon become a terrible burden for the British[78]. William Pitt the elder is expelled from the negotiation in 1763[79]. The British negotiatior John Russel (4th Duke of Bedfort) as many reservation about keeping quebec. If we replace the french in north american the american will have no need of us. Choiseul, the french negotiator knows it too. The american will soon turn against the british themselves[80]. Even Murray want to give Quebec back to the french[81]. But the british are pushed by the americans to keep Quebec[82]. The result will soon become a disaster for the British[83]. With the rising cost of the war the British will start taxing the american[84]. But without a foreign enemy the British are not usefull[85]. The British Empire will lose the entire New France territory at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781 and in the second Treaty of Paris in 1783. The policies of assimilation of the french will also end up in failure[86]. Today, the american don't consider Wolfe as a hero anymore[87]. His personal friend William Howe will become the worst enemy of Georges Washington and the american patriot throughout the revolution (Bunkerhill 1775, New York 1776 and Philadelphia 1777). William Howe mistake to not support Burgoyne at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 will prove the decisive mistake for the British. As the french will enter the War because of it[88]. William Pitt the elder who planned the invasion of Quebec will crumble in parlement in april 1778 when he realized the french were beating him in america[89]. He will never recover from it and will die a month later[90]. This dramatic turn of event is the object of the famous painting the death of Lord Chatham[91]. The expelled and defeated british monarchist will have to move north[92].

Judging by your partisan opinons and your lousy grammar, I'm guessing your an angry, hardcore Frenchman who just can't admit that his ancestors got beaten by a Brit. I guess you're right and everybody else is wrong? 216.232.154.4 (talk) 04:18, 3 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

  1. ^ Paths of Glory pp. 277
  2. ^ Paths of Glory pp. 280
  3. ^ Canada a people history pp. 130
  4. ^ Canada a people history pp. 130
  5. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  6. ^ Casgrain, pp. 164
  7. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  8. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  9. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  10. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  11. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  12. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  13. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  14. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  15. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  16. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  17. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  18. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  19. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  20. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  21. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  22. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  23. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  24. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  25. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  26. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  27. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  28. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  29. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  30. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  31. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  32. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  33. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  34. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  35. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  36. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  37. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  38. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  39. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  40. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  41. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  42. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  43. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  44. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  45. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  46. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  47. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  48. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  49. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  50. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  51. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  52. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  53. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  54. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  55. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  56. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  57. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  58. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  59. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  60. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  61. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  62. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  63. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  64. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  65. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  66. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  67. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  68. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  69. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  70. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  71. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  72. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  73. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  74. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  75. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  76. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  77. ^ Marianopolis web site, pp. 164
  78. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  79. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  80. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  81. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  82. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  83. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  84. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 187
  85. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  86. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  87. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 187
  88. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 187
  89. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  90. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  91. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185
  92. ^ Sons of the mountains, p 185

[edit] Bibliography

  • MacPherson McCulloch, Ian (2006). Sons of the Mountains: The Highland Regiments in the French and Indian War, 1756-1767. United States: FIDES. ISBN 1-930098-75-8. 
  • Brumwell, Stephen (2006). Paths of Glory, the life and death of James Wolfe. Holland: McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN 978-0-7735-3261-8. 
  • Gilmor, Don (2000). Le Canada une histoire populaire, des origines à la confédération. Montréal: FIDES. ISBN 2-7621-2282-1. 


[edit] External links

[edit] The above suggestions

Somehow, I didn't see these on my watchlist when they were posted. I feel like a twit. I've asked for further assistance in the form of editors from the WikiProject Military History; it looks like there are some items that could be incorporated. Tony Fox (arf!) 23:00, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] GA Sweeps Review: Pass

As part of the WikiProject Good Articles, we're doing sweeps to go over all of the current GAs and see if they still meet the requirements of the GA criteria. I'm specifically going over all of the "World History-Americas" articles. I made several corrections throughout the article. I believe the article currently meets the criteria and should remain listed as a good article. The article would benefit by adding inline citations directly after the quotations, but overall, the article is well-sourced. If you have any questions, let me know on my talk page and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. I have edited the article history to reflect this review. Happy editing! --Nehrams2020 (talk) 06:10, 27 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] 3 Month Seige

At the beginning of the article, the battle's duration was labeled as 3 months. However, it actualy was over in less than an hour, and the British emerged victorius. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Wikilord17 (talk • contribs) 19:34, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

Once they got up the cliff, yes. They conducted a naval siege before that. Adam Bishop (talk) 20:46, 6 February 2008 (UTC)


[edit] Rewrite

I've gone through the first half of the article and basically improved the prose, which was a little awkward in places. I didn't substantively change any facts or the order in which they were presented. Nonetheless, I think the article as it stands is not very well organised. In the middle of the description of the French deployment, for example, we get a long excursus on French Canadian militia tactics. I think the sections of the article should be as follows - 1. Overview 2.Background on the SYW and Siege 3.Combatants (incl. brief things on the French commanders, British commanders, French units, British units, obviously with links to their respective pages) 4.The descent on L'Anse-au-Foulon 5.Deployment (Fr & Br) 6.Battle 7.Aftermath 8.Historical significance 9.Popular culture etc. As it is, the interlacing of these elements into one continuous narrative is not very encyclopaedic. I'm impressed at the sourcing, though, I must say. Anyway, I'll try some recrafting along these lines in the next while, unless there are objections. Jack (talk) 05:02, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

No complaints here; when I did the big rewrite last year, I kept the same general order as the article was in at the time. I'll be interested to see what you do. Tony Fox (arf!) 06:16, 31 May 2008 (UTC)


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