The Winning of Canada: a Chronicle of Wolfe — John Shaqi
The Winning of Canada: a Chronicle of WolfeWood, William
History
The Winning of Canada: a Chronicle of Wolfe
Wood, William
United States -- History -- French and Indian War, 1754-1763; Wolfe, James, 1727-1759
Though far from well, Wolfe was as keen as ever about anything that
could possibly make him fit for command. He picked out the best officers
with a sure eye: generals and colonels, like Carleton; captains; like
Delaune, a man made for the campaigns in Canada, who, as we shall see
later, led the 'Forlorn Hope' up the Heights of Abraham. Wolfe had also
noted in a third member of the great Howe family a born leader of
light infantry for Quebec. Wolfe was very strong on light infantry, and
trained them to make sudden dashes with a very short but sharp surprise
attack followed by a quick retreat under cover. One day at Louisbourg
an officer said this reminded him of what Xenophon wrote about the
Carduchians who harassed the rear of the world-famous 'Ten Thousand.'
'I had it from Xenophon' was Wolfe's reply. Like all great commanders,
Wolfe knew what other great commanders had done and thought, no matter
to what age or nation they belonged: Greek, Roman, German, French,
British, or any other. Years before this he had recommended a young
officer to study the Prussian Army Regulations and Vauban's book on
Sieges. Nor did he forget to read the lives of men like Scanderbeg and
Ziska, who could teach him many unusual lessons. He kept his eyes
open everywhere, all his life long, on men and things and books. He
recommended his friend. Captain Rickson, who was then in Halifax, to
read Montesquieu's not yet famous book _The Spirit of Laws_, because it
would be useful for a government official in a new country. Writing home
to his mother from Louisbourg about this new country, that is, before
Canada had become British, before there was much more than a single
million of English-speaking people in the whole New World, and before
most people on either side of the Atlantic understood what a great
oversea empire meant at all, he said: 'This will sometime hence, be a
vast empire, the seat of power and learning. Nature has refused them
nothing, and there will grow a people out of our little spot, England,
that will fill this vast space, and divide this great portion of the
globe with the Spaniards, who are possessed of the other half of it.'
On arriving in England Wolfe had reported his presence to the
commander-in-chief, Lord Ligonier, requesting leave of absence in order
that he might visit his relatives. This was granted, and the Wolfe
family met together once more and for the last time.
Though he said little about it, Wolfe must have snatched some time for
Katherine Lowther, his second love, to whom he was now engaged. What
had happened between him and his first love, Miss Lawson, will probably
never be known. We know that his parents were opposed to his marrying
her. Perhaps, too, she may not have been as much in love as he was. But,
for whatever reason, they parted. Then he fell in love with beautiful
Katherine Lowther, a sister to the Earl of Lonsdale and afterwards
Duchess of Bolton.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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