34. The English now retreated to Fort George. Soon afterward three
thousand men, under Colonel Bradstreet, were sent against Fort
Frontenac, on Lake Ontario, which, after a siege of two days, was
compelled to capitulate. The fortress was demolished. Bradstreet's
success more than counterbalanced the failure of the English at
Ticonderoga.
[Sidenote: =Destruction of Ft. Du Quesne.=]
35. Late in the summer General Forbes, with nine thousand men, advanced
against Fort Du Quesne. Washington led the Virginia provincials. On
the 24th of November he was within ten miles of Du Quesne. During that
night the garrison took the alarm, burned the fortress, and floated
down the Ohio. On the 25th the victorious army marched in, raised the
English flag, and named the place PITTSBURGH.
36. General Amherst was now promoted to the chief command of the
American forces. By the beginning of summer, 1759, the British and
colonial armies numbered nearly fifty thousand men. The entire French
army scarcely exceeded seven thousand. Three campaigns were planned
for the year: General Prideaux was to conduct an expedition against
Niagara. Amherst was to lead the main division against Ticonderoga
and Crown Point. General Wolfe was to proceed up the St. Lawrence and
capture Quebec.
37. On the 10th of July, Niagara was invested by Prideaux. Two weeks
later the fort capitulated, and the French, to the number of six
hundred, became prisoners of war. At the same time Amherst was marching
with an army of eleven thousand men against Ticonderoga. On the
22d of July the English forces landed, and on the 26th the garrison
retreated to Crown Point. Five days afterwards they deserted this place
also, and withdrew to Isle-aux-Noix, in the river Sorel.
[Illustration:
MAP SHOWING
THE COLONIES.
at the time of
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.]
38. Early in the spring General Wolfe began the ascent of the St.
Lawrence. His force consisted of nearly eight thousand men, and a fleet
of forty-four vessels. On the 29th of June General Monckton was sent to
seize Point Levi.
39. On the 9th of July, General Wolfe crossed the north channel, and
encamped on the east bank of the Montmorenci. This stream was fordable
at low water. On the 31st of the month a severe battle was fought at
the fords of the river, and the English were repulsed with heavy losses.
[Sidenote: =The Plains of Abraham.=]
40. Exposure and fatigue threw the English general into a fever. It was
decided to ascend the St. Lawrence, and gain the Plains of Abraham,
in the rear of the city. The lower camp was broken up, and on the
6th of September the troops were conveyed to Point Levi. Wolfe then
transferred his army to a point several miles up the river.
[Illustration: QUEBEC IN 1759.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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