The Decisive Battles of World History

Lecture 23: 1759 Quebec—Battle for North America

The Campaign

x Quebec is situated on a high, rocky promontory on the north side

of the St. Lawrence waterway. It is protected to the east and south

by the St. Lawrence and to the north by the St. Charles River. The

walled Upper City stands high above the river on a plateau; the

smaller Lower City is below, by the river. On the plateau west of

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plateau are steep cliffs dropping 200 feet to the St. Lawrence.

x The French believed that their cannons could prevent British ships

from proceeding up the St. Lawrence River. To prevent British

troops being landed further down the St. Lawrence and marching

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and strong points constructed along the northern escarpment,

ending near a 300-foot cliff over which the Montmorency Falls

plummeted. Montcalm nevertheless judged that this zone of the St.

Lawrence was the most likely area for a British landing; thus, he

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x To capture this stronghold, Wolfe had about 8,500 men. What it

might have lacked in numbers, his force made up in quality: 10

excellent battalions of British regular line infantry supplemented

by some grenadiers, a contingent of artillerymen from the Royal

Regiment of Artillery, and 6 companies of American rangers.

x Wolfe’s main subordinates were all young, eager, and competent.

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warships and crews that transported his army to its target. This

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gunpowder, supplies, manpower, boats, and experience with

amphibious landings.

x On the other side, Montcalm had perhaps 13,000 to15,000 troops of

all kinds, but the core of his forces was his 8 battalions of regular

French infantry, although these were badly under strength and

probably totaled no more than 5,000 men.