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As the war exploded
upon Europe and American the French General Montcalm
quickly took to the field and led his forces down the
Lake Champlain slot to Fort Oswego which he captured in
1756. This relived the French of the direct threat to
their St Lawrence lifeline. The following year, 1757, he
used Fort Ticonderoga to launch another attack on the
English strongpoint of Fort William Henry. The French
seemed to be unbeatable but they had not counted on
Pitt, and his strategy.
All that was French victory and English
Defeat now took a decisive turn. The plan that Pitt had
created was put into action. In 1758 a massive 3 point
attack was launched by the British with Ticonderoga,
Louisbourg and Fort Duquesne as the objectives for the
year. Sir James Abercrombie the British commander
attacked Montcalm several times at Ticonderoga.
Simultaneously, Colonel John Bradstreet attacked the
French at Fort Frontenac and destroyed it. Fort Duquesne
in the Ohio Valley was cut off and it and the entire
Mississippi basin were abandoned by the French.
The third British
attacked landed upon Louisbourg with thundering effect
as the British Navy broadsides caused the great walls of
the fortress to crumble. General James Wolfe landed
along the coast behind the fortress and Louisbourg fell.
The sea lanes up the St Lawrence and into
the heart of French North America were open.
Montcalm had no choice and was forced to
retreat back to the St Lawrence and his base of
operations at Quebec City while leaving a token force at
Ticonderoga to delay the British advance..
This was European war rather then the hit
and run of the North American wilderness. Montcalm
requests 4,000 additional troops from France to hold
onto the French Empire in America. The French government
decides not to send the troops and leaves Montcalm and
his forces to hold on as best they can.
Quebec City now prepares for the
inevitable arrival of the British at their gates.
Canadians converge on the city to prepare to defend it.
106 additional cannon are placed on the walls of the
fortress city. To the east of the city, defensive
preparations are stepped up. 15,000 French defenders are
now ready for the 200 British ships on their way of the
St Lawrence under the British Admiral Saunders. 9,000
soldiers and 18,000 sailors form this impressive
invasion force. General James Wolfe leads this British
force and is charged with capturing Quebec City in 1759
before the winter sets in and the river freezes. The
British make their camp on an Island in the river across
from Quebec City and plan their attack.
The initial British
comes at Beauport where the French defenses prove to be
strong enough to repeal the assault. |
