Fun Fact:
After the campaigning of 1758, Brigadier James Wolfe believed he had a Ticket to Ride and returned to England of his own volition, much to the surprise of William Pitt who had sent orders for Wolfe to stay in America only like Yesterday. Pitt didn't dwell on Wolfe's improper return because he had decided on an expedition up the St. Lawrence and wanted the redheaded general to lead it. In the meantime, Wolfe became reacquainted with Katherine Lowther, with whom he opened up a can of Love Me Do. When he sailed from Portsmouth February 14, 1759 aboard the Neptune, he carried the new rank of major general, a small portrait of the lady, and, in response to his plea to Please Please Me, her promise of marriage on his return.
Wolfe commanded 9,000 men with brigadiers John, Paul, George, and Ringo, Robert Monckton, James Murray, and George Townshend. Wolfe was the youngest by 6 months. Before the expedition to Quebec was over, all three brigadiers would come to consider him to be a real Nowhere Man.
Quebec was founded as a permanent settlement in 1608. It stood on the east end of a promontory in the river. Behind the city, the island widened and fell away on the Plain of Abraham. Although it occupied a stern and defensible position, all was not well in the city. A bad harvest and cold winter had left the populace starving and looking for Help!
Vice Admiral Charles Saunders had the task of getting Wolfe and his soldiers and supplies up the St. Lawrence to Quebec. Unfortunately for Wolfe, two French frigates and 14 supply ships managed to get up the St. Lawrence before him to provide relief to the starving city. Montcalm would be able to mount a strong defense Eight Days a Week.
Although the British proceeded up the river without major incidents and successfully installed artillery on the Ile d'Orlean where they could shell the city, and Wolfe sent regular bombardment From Me to You, the French were not frightened--Michelle was still belle, apparently. Montcalm spread his 14,000 men about the Beauport shore to defend the landing areas.
Wolfe ordered a full assault on July 31. An amphibious attack would land on the shores and other forces would attack across the river against Montcalm's flank. The assault had to be timed so that the forces at the river could cross at low tide. Unfortunately, that caused difficulties for the amphibious landing craft. British Grenadiers left their boats far from shore to race into a storm of French fire. By the time the attackers were able to break free, British losses had mounted to 443 men during the Hard Day's Night.
With the city and shore stoutly defended, Wolfe sent Murray up river to raid and probe the area northwest of Quebec. Murray learned from British prisoners liberated during the foray that General Amherst had been successful in taking Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and that Fort Niagra belonged to the British as well.
Hearing news of Amherst's successes, Wolfe was unable to say I Feel Fine, and fell ill. He held a council of war with his brigadiers with regard to three options he presented, and which were all variations on the same attack that had already failed. His brigadiers said You've Got to Hide Your Love Away, and rejected all of them. However, they said We Can Work it Out, and favored moving the camp to cut communications and supplies to Quebec from Montreal.
--I've consulted my highlights from The French and Indian Wars: Deciding the Fate of North America by Walter R. Borneman, Chapter 13 for this fun fact episode.
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In the future we'll see if any other album can help complete the British invasion of Quebec.
I've completed only one chapter on the bugmageddon novel this week, as the real job and play practice absorbed almost all available time. I did get a rejection on a short story, but I also got definite maybe on another one depending on whether the anthology can fit it thematically in with the others that are chosen. I've still got two others to hear back on as well, and I've got high expectations for them.
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