A Short Description of QUEBEC

The city of Quebec is divided into the Upper and Lower Town; it stands upon the S. E. side of a very high and steep bank, which stretches out into the river from the north side of the river St. Lawrence. The Lower Town stands upon a flat between the river and hill, which is exceeding steep, it is of no great breadth, but encircles the foot of the hill above a mile in length, from Point Diamond to the river St. Charles; here most of the principal merchants and tradesmcn inhabit; the houses in the Upper Town are occupied by clergy, officers of the army, and principal people of Canada.

Near Cape Diamond, which is the fourth part of the town, is the King's yard; where.there is now on the stocks a ship of sixty guns. Upon four batteries in the Lower Town are mounted forty pieces of cannon, forty-two and twenty-four pounders; and cover the passage up to Point Levi, up to the narrows the communication between this and the Upper Town, is by an almost perpendicular passage, defended above by nine pieces cannon, and is cut across by trenches, strengthened by breast-works; so that should we get possession of the Lower Town, our conquest of the Upper will be but little forwarded, as there are difficulties which it will not be easy to surmount.

Round the Upper Town arc planted upwards of forty pieces of cannon, which flank the river. and above that, on the top of the hill, is the citadel, which commands both towns; the wall whereof are said to be twenty-five feet thick.

Notwithstanding this strength towards the river, if we could get possession of the hills to the westward of the town, which arc at least.&& high as the citadel, we imagine it would hold out but a short time, but before we can carry this point, we have many difficlities to overcome: but we have brave officers, and men ready to face the greatest dangers. the shorc to the eastward of the town, is well defended, both by art and nature, and if we should-drive thcm from this post, we are then to force an army greatly superior to ours in number.

The palaces of the governor and bishop, cathedral, jesuits college, and several other churches and publick buildings, command a fine view of the river, most of the houses arc built of stone, and stand to great advantage on the side of the hill; but are within reach of our batteries erected at Pont Levi.

SIEGE of QUEBEC 1759

JUNE the 5th, 1759

The fleet under the command of Vice-admiral Saunders, sailed from Louisburg in high spirits for Quebec.

8th, Pass'd Cape Ray, and entered the gulf of St. Lawrence, without any impediment.

19th, Anchoed at the Ile Bic, 70 leagues up the river, and about 60 below Quebec. Here the fleet was divided into three divisions, in order to make our passage up the river the easier.

20th, General Wolf with the transports, escorted by the frigates, left us, with orders to make all possible haste up the river, whilst we with the hcavy ships followed as fast as were able.

25th, Anchor'd with the fleet at the Isle de Coudre, 20 leagues from Quebec. The admiral shifted his flag into the Stirling-Castle, and with the Alcide, Pembroke, Centurion, and Sutherland, sailed up the river, as the Devonshire, frigates, &c. had already done. We found Admiral Durell riding here, with his fleet. They arrived about the middle of May.

29th Anchord with the fleet between the lale of Orleans, and the south shore. In the evening the troops landed without opposition: ---- This island is about eight leagues in length, and about five miles from north to south, where broadest, and divided the river into two channels; that for large ships lying on the south-side is about two miles in breadth, the west-end is about three miles from Quebec, and very near two from each shore.

30th We anchored with the men, of war, bombs, &c. off the west-end of Orleans, between it and Point Levi, on the south shore. Here the river alters its course to S.S.W whereas it runs from cast to west, up between the island and the main. About a mile and a half above point Point Levi, and opposite to the city of Quebec, the river is not a mile broad. --- In the evening a brigade under General Monkton landed at Point Levi, and took post there, with very little loss; but the next day a body of canadians and Indians incommoded our troops at Point Levi, the ground being woody, but their commander being kill'd, they dispers'd, with little loss on our side. At night the enemy taking the advantage of a fresh westerly wind and ebb-tide, sent down seven large fire stages upon us; but by the bravery of the boats crews, who boarded and towed them off with huzza's, the whole fleet escaped, though many ships were in great danger. By prisoners we are inform'd, that the greatest part of the Canadian force was drawn to Quebec for the defence of it, and encamped between that city and the falls of Montmorency, about seventeen thousand strong: that their regulars amounted to between three and four thousand; the rest were canadians and Indians, the greatest part train'd to arms.

The banks on the north-shore are high and steep; from the mouth of the river St. Charles, which runs into the country, under the works of the town to the fails of Montmorency, at the distance of six or seven miles, they have a breast-work on the bank, and are entrenching behind it. The west side of the river that fails at Montmorency, is defended in the same manner, quite up to the mountain; and they trust more to these defences than to their town, and are in no manner of apprehension from us. ---Note, great part of this intelligence is obvious, as we have a view of rive distinct camps, capable of holding many more troops than their accounts, mention; and we can observe them, very busy in fortifying their posts quite to the falls. We find, that the banks abreast of Quebec, on the south side, command the greatest part of the city, and that by batteries from thence we may lay it in ashes. From this place we have a fine view of the city and its defence towards the river.

Part 2: Accurate and Authentic Journal of the Siege of Quebec, 1759