QUEBEC

The French and Indian War was the inevitable result of both Britain and France establishing colonies in North America. British possessions stretched along the eastern seaboard, while the French had stakes in Louisiana and Canada, with very tenuous links set between the two.

It was a powder keg situation and the fuse was lit in the early 1750s when explorers from the British colonies decided to break out and cross the Appalachian Mountains into French territory. Clashes between colonists escalated until both sides brought in regular troops. The conflict, often considered part of the larger Seven Years’ War, became a struggle for control of Canada.

By the summer of 1758, Britain was gaining the upper hand, but a concerted campaign was needed to finally break French power in North America. Sir Jeffrey Amherst was the commander-in-chief of British forces, based in New York, but it was James Wolfe, a rather troubling subordinate, who saw an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow by capturing the capital of French Canada.

A complex plan was drawn up, involving three separate operations. Two of them, while important, also served as diversions for the main thrust to be made by Wolfe. He would sail up the St Lawrence River and capture Quebec.

“IT WAS JAMES WOLFE, A RATHER TROUBLING SUBORDINATE, WHO SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO DELIVER A FATAL BLOW BY CAPTURING THE CAPITAL OF FRENCH CANADA”

The siege

Wolfe’s fleet and army arrived at Quebec on 27 June and an artillery bombardment commenced by the middle of July. However, Quebec was strongly fortified against a coastal assault and getting to the landward side was tricky. Taking the city had sounded