422 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



the opinion as a matter of extremity and ftec^S* 

 sity, and began the measures that were neces- 

 sary to carry it into execution. After a series 

 of the most uncommon difficulties, and judicious 

 Tnanceu\Tes, by the most dexterous address, and 

 well concerted movements, he succeeded in ef- 

 fecting a landing near Sillary on the twelfth of 

 September, an hour after midnight. Wolfe 

 himself was with the first party that landed ; 

 and in an instant all was activity, enterprise, 

 and expedition. The troops' that were first 

 landed, climbed up the bank and precipice, by 

 the bushes and bouehs of trees, with the most 

 animated agility and resolution ; they dispersed 

 a captain's guard who were placed there to de- 

 fend the narrow path of ascent, and gained the 

 summit without any further molestation from 

 the enemy. Wolfe climbed up among the rest ; 

 and as soon as he had ascended the banks, drew 

 up his troops in order as fast as they arrived. 



Montcalm was no sooner informed that the 

 British troops had gained the heights of Abra- 

 ham, which in a manner commanded the town 

 in its weakest part, than he resolved to hazard 

 a battle, and having collected his whole force 

 from the side of Beauport, began hi:: march 

 without delay. Both armies were soon drawn 

 np in order of battle, with their respective gen- 

 erals at their head. Wolfe had placed himself 

 on the right of the English ; Montcalm was on 

 the left of the French army : Thus the two 

 generals, rivals worthy of each other, met at the 

 he;id of tl eir respective armies, where the con- 

 flict was the most severe. About nine o'clock 

 the French army advanced to the charge ire 



