Plains of Abraham Jul. 31-Sep. 17, 1759 Strategic Context The British and French are fighting each other across the world as enemies in the Seven Years’ War, including Canada, where the British are slowly pushing the French out of Quebec and New France as a whole. The British plan of attack in North America is known as Pitt’s Plan and succeeding; the British capture the fortress of Ticonderoga while placing Quebec City under siege for a month. The French position in Canada centers on the fortress of Quebec City, which British commander James Wolfe must capture before his naval supply lines literally freeze. French commander Marquis de Montcalm and New France’s governor general, Marquis de Vaudreuil, do not get along very well and are still bickering over details of their command arrangement. Wolfe’s unsuccessful attack across the Montmorency River is still fresh in both commanders’ minds however as a stalemate resides. Stakes + A British victory would shatter French control over New France, leaving Montreal as the only remaining strong point. + A French victory would prevent any major British gains in New France for the rest of the year. By Jonathan Webb, 2009 To view animation on PC: hit F5 To view animation on Mac: hit ⌘ + enter

Plains of Abraham, 1759 Strength  British  Well  French  Well  13,000 infantry  Marquis de Montcalm  9,000 infantry  22 ships of the line  James Wolfe By Jonathan Webb, 2009  Charles Saunders

North America c. 1754

Beauport Shore Quebec City Point Levis Montmorency River Ile d’Orleans Anse de Foulon St. Charles River Plains of Abraham French (Montcalm) British (Wolfe) The battlespace consists of a portion of the wide, rapid St. Lawrence River centered on Quebec City. While appearing to be a formidable fortress, the fortress is actually in poor state and indefensible from the landward sides due to its low elevation compared to the Plains of Abraham and the fact its guns are mounted in the open atop the walls. However, landing near Quebec City is complicated by the steep cliffs along the shore west of the Montmorency River with the exception of Beauport Shore, from which movement against Quebec City is restricted by the St. Charles River. St. Lawrence River Beauport

Landmarks British (Wolfe) Beauport Shore Quebec City Point Levis Montmorency River Ile d’Orleans Anse de Foulon St. Charles River Plains of AbrahamSt. Lawrence River Beauport Symbol guide FrenchBritishInfantry Sentry lineShips of the lineHeadquarters French (Montcalm) British (James Wolfe) 9,000 infantry (Charles Saunders) 22 ships of the line French (Marquis de Montcalm) 13,000 infantry Wolfe has plenty of time to establish his force on the Plains of Abraham west of Quebec City. Montcalm, however has no time to recall the detachment far west of Quebec while his Beauport forces are moving very slowly towards the heights. Montcalm remains uncertain of whether the main British attack will still be directed against Beauport. Wolfe holds an uncharacteristic council of war, which his subordinates use to convince him to abandon his various plans for a second attack on Beauport. Wolfe does so and moves his base to Point Levis and Ile d’Orleans in preparation for a landing at Anse de Foulon, recently scouted by his subordinates. Montcalm is relieved – thinking Wolfe is withdrawing altogether – but remains alert. When Wolfe recovers from his illness, the situation is much improved but critical. Montcalm detaches 800 infantry to aid the outnumbered French commander La Corne in Montreal and 3,000 infantry are chasing shadows further and further west of Quebec as a result of aggressive British raids on the coast. Montcalm’s subordinates assure him that the 100 infantry left behind to guard Anse de Foulon are enough to sufficiently delay or even prevent any landing. Wolfe’s main base is established just east of the Montmorency River with forces also posted across the St. Lawrence River at Point Levis and Ile d’Orleans Saunders’ fleet is divided in order to completely isolate the French army. Wolfe plans on seizing a beachhead at Beauport, fight across the St. Charles River, and attack Quebec City. Montcalm’s main base is established at Beauport with forces posted all along the fortified north side of the St. Lawrence River. Montcalm plans to prevent any British landing that could subsequently threaten Quebec City by land. Wolfe recognizes the attack to be unsuccessful and orders a hasty evacuation. The evacuation can not be hampered in any way by Montcalm due to the damp gunpowder. This costly, abortive attack drives Wolfe into bitterness and despair, eventually contributing to incapacitating physical illness. Wolfe plans an amphibious assault against Montcalm’s base at Beauport using his elite stormtroopers, the Louisbourg Grenadiers, in the first wave. The landing is a fiasco however; the first wave rushes the French positions before allowing the belated second wave to land when its transports ground awkwardly. The French simply abandon the redoubt and take to the cliffs where they rain down a deadly fire on the British attackers. Luckily for Wolfe, rainfall dampens all musket powder, ending the slaughter. During the night of September 12/13, Wolfe sends 1,200 infantry in a feint against Beauport while the main force of 3,600 travels virtually undetected towards Anse de Foulon. Montcalm is fooled by the shouts and gunfire at Beauport as the British scale the heights of Anse de Foulon, scattering the understrength, sleeping French sentries.

The battlefield consists of the Plains of Abraham, relatively flat but featuring gentle rolling hills, gradually sloping downward towards Quebec City to the east. The Plains of Abraham are enclosed to the south by the St. Lawrence River, Sillery woods to the northwest, and a wooded slope and St. Charles River to the north. Quebec City is virtually indefensible from any attack from its landward sides. French (Montcalm) British (Wolfe) Quebec City Anse de Foulon St. Charles River Plains of Abraham St. Lawrence River Sillery Woods

Wolfe deploys his force in two lines with a small flank guard and reserve. Wolfe plans to repel the French attack by having his infantry load a double ball shot into their muskets and only fire when the French are at close-range, then capture Quebec City with an assault. Montcalm deploys his force in two lines, native Canadian skirmishing parties and militia on his flanks, and no reserve. Montcalm plans to attack immediately and eliminate the British threat before it can strengthen with follow-on forces. Montcalm’s Canadian skirmishers harass Wolfe’s flanks along the forest and cliff lines, forcing the British to lay in prone position for cover. Montcalm prepares to launch a decisive frontal attack and reins in these skirmishers. The French advance steadily, halting 130 yards from the British to fire a volley before continuing a progressively untidy advance. Wolfe’s orders that no shot be fired until the French are within 40 yards are being strictly followed. When the French do wade into this range, the British fire a rapid volley of double ball shot, which, to the French sounds like a single cannon shot. This devastating volley utterly stuns and defeats the French attack. Wolfe and Montcalm are both mortally wounded as the British pursue the French from the battlefield. Effective rearguard actions by native Canadian skirmishers and French regulars prevent the defeat from becoming a disaster. Wolfe’s subordinates also do not care to risk any sort of reverse after already winning the battle so rather than aggressively pursuing the French, they settle in to besiege Quebec City. Both sides are leaderless at this point although Townshend and Vaudreuil assume loose command of the British and French respectively. Vaudreuil orders the Quebec garrison to hold out until the city is taken by assault or food runs short. Food runs short much more quickly than imagined; as Townshend begins to get the heavy artillery and ships of the line in position, the French surrender Quebec. This occurs just before the French relief force comes within sight of the city. British (James Wolfe) 9,000 infantry (Charles Saunders) 22 ships of the line French (Marquis de Montcalm) 13,000 infantry British (Wolfe) Landmarks Quebec City Anse de Foulon St. Charles River Plains of Abraham St. Lawrence River Sillery Woods Symbol guide French (Montcalm) FrenchBritishRegular infantry Skirmishers/militiaHeadquarters Headquarters

Plains of Abraham, 1759 Casualties & Aftermath British: French: ≈1,200 or 13% ≈3,000 or 23% By Jonathan Webb, 2009 In April the following year, Francois de Levis led a French advance from Montreal to retake Quebec City. The city was put under siege but ended when a British fleet arrived. Meanwhile, three separate British columns converged on Montreal, effectively ending the war in Canada in favour of the British, ceding Canada and North America to the British.

The Art of Battle: Animated Battle Maps By Jonathan Webb, 2009 ©