Anonymous: Account of General Braddock's Defeat (1755).
General Edward Braddock led the first British offensive in the French and Indian War.
Topic: The French and Indian War
Please study this document and answer the following questions.
M. De Contrecoeur, Captain of Infantry, Commandant of Fort Duquesne, on the
Ohio, having been informed that the English were taking up arms in Virginia for
the purpose of coming to attack him, was advised, shortly afterwards, that they
were on the march. He dispatched scouts, who reported to him faithfully their
progress. On the 17th instant he was advised that their army, consisting of 3000
regulars from Old England, were within six leagues of this fort. That officer
employed the next day in making his arrangements; and on the ninth detached M.
de Beaujeu, seconded by Messrs Dumas and de Lignery, all three Captains,
together with four Lieutenants, 6 Ensigns, 20 Cadets, 100 Soldiers, 100
Canadians and 600 Indians, with orders to lie in ambush at a favorable spot,
which he had reconnoitred the previous evening. The detachment, before it could
reach its place of destination, found itself in presence of the enemy within
three leagues of that fort. Mr de Beaujeu, finding his ambush had failed,
decided on an attack. This he made with so much vigor as to astonish the enemy,
who were waiting for us in the best possible order; but their artillery, loaded
with grade (a cartouche), having opened its fire, our men gave way in turn. The
Indians, also, frightened by the report of the cannon rather than by any damage
it could inflict, began to yield, when M. de Beaujeu was killed. M. Dumas began
to encourage his detachment. He ordered the officers in command of the Indians
to spread themselves along the wings so as to take the enemy in flank, whilst
he, M. de Lignery and the other officers who led the French, were attacking them
in front. This order was executed so promptly that the enemy, who were already
shouting their "Long live the King," thought now only of defending themselves.
The fight was obstinate on both sides and success long doubtful; but the enemy
at last gave way. Efforts were made, in vain, to introduce some sort of order in
their retreat. The whoop of the Indians, which echoed through the forest, struck
terror into the hearts of the entire enemy. The rout was complete. We remained
in possession of the field with six brass twelves and sixes, four
howitz-carriages of 50, 11 small royal grenade mortars, all their ammunition,
and, generally, their entire baggage. Some deserters, who have come in since,
have told us that we had been engaged with only 2000 men, the remainder of the
army being four leagues further off. These same deserters have informed us that
the enemy were retreating to Virginia, and some scouts, sent as far as the
height of land, have confirmed this by reporting that the thousand men who were
not engaged, had been equally panic-stricken and abandoned both provisions and
ammunition on the way. On this intelligence, a detachment was dispatched after
them, which destroyed and burnt everything that could be found. The enemy have
left more than 1000 men on the field of battle. They have lost a great portion
of the artillery and ammunition, provisions, as also their General, whose name
was Mr Braddock, and almost all their officers. We have had 3 officers killed; 2
officers and 2 cadets wounded. Such a victory, so entirely unexpected, seeing
the inequality of the forces, is the fruit of Mr Dumas' experience, and of the
activity and valor of the officers under his command.
| Reference : |
America: A Narrative History, 6th Edition, Chapter 4; Inventing America, Chapter 4; Give Me Liberty, Chapter 3
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Baron de Dieskau: Letter to Count D'Argenson (September 14, 1755).
Jean-Armand Dieskau, a French general, describes a battle in which he was taken prisoner by the British.
Topic: The French and Indian War
Please study this document and answer the following questions.
M. De Contrecoeur, Captain of Infantry, Commandant of Fort Duquesne, on the
Ohio, having been informed that the English were taking up arms in Virginia for
the purpose of coming to attack him, was advised, shortly afterwards, that they
were on the march. He dispatched scouts, who reported to him faithfully their
progress. On the 17th instant he was advised that their army, consisting of 3000
regulars from Old England, were within six leagues of this fort. That officer
employed the next day in making his arrangements; and on the ninth detached M.
de Beaujeu, seconded by Messrs Dumas and de Lignery, all three Captains,
together with four Lieutenants, 6 Ensigns, 20 Cadets, 100 Soldiers, 100
Canadians and 600 Indians, with orders to lie in ambush at a favorable spot,
which he had reconnoitred the previous evening. The detachment, before it could
reach its place of destination, found itself in presence of the enemy within
three leagues of that fort. Mr de Beaujeu, finding his ambush had failed,
decided on an attack. This he made with so much vigor as to astonish the enemy,
who were waiting for us in the best possible order; but their artillery, loaded
with grade (a cartouche), having opened its fire, our men gave way in turn. The
Indians, also, frightened by the report of the cannon rather than by any damage
it could inflict, began to yield, when M. de Beaujeu was killed. M. Dumas began
to encourage his detachment. He ordered the officers in command of the Indians
to spread themselves along the wings so as to take the enemy in flank, whilst
he, M. de Lignery and the other officers who led the French, were attacking them
in front. This order was executed so promptly that the enemy, who were already
shouting their "Long live the King," thought now only of defending themselves.
The fight was obstinate on both sides and success long doubtful; but the enemy
at last gave way. Efforts were made, in vain, to introduce some sort of order in
their retreat. The whoop of the Indians, which echoed through the forest, struck
terror into the hearts of the entire enemy. The rout was complete. We remained
in possession of the field with six brass twelves and sixes, four
howitz-carriages of 50, 11 small royal grenade mortars, all their ammunition,
and, generally, their entire baggage. Some deserters, who have come in since,
have told us that we had been engaged with only 2000 men, the remainder of the
army being four leagues further off. These same deserters have informed us that
the enemy were retreating to Virginia, and some scouts, sent as far as the
height of land, have confirmed this by reporting that the thousand men who were
not engaged, had been equally panic-stricken and abandoned both provisions and
ammunition on the way. On this intelligence, a detachment was dispatched after
them, which destroyed and burnt everything that could be found. The enemy have
left more than 1000 men on the field of battle. They have lost a great portion
of the artillery and ammunition, provisions, as also their General, whose name
was Mr Braddock, and almost all their officers. We have had 3 officers killed; 2
officers and 2 cadets wounded. Such a victory, so entirely unexpected, seeing
the inequality of the forces, is the fruit of Mr Dumas' experience, and of the
activity and valor of the officers under his command.
| Reference : |
 America: A Narrative History, 6th Edition, Chapter 4; Inventing America, Chapter 4; Give Me Liberty, Chapter 3
|
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Captain John Knox: FROM The Fall of Quebec
Knox describes the pivotal battle of the war.
Topic: The French and Indian War
Please study this document and answer the following questions.
...Great preparations are making, throughout the fleet and army, to surprise
the enemy, and compel them to decide the fate of Quebec by a battle: all the
long-boats below the town are to be filled with seamen, marines, and such
detachments as can be spared from Points Levi and Orleans, in order to make a
feint off Beauport and the Point de Lest, and endeavour to engross the attention
of the Sieur de Montcalm, while the army are to force a descent on this side of
the town. The Officer of our regiment, who commanded the escort yesterday on the
reconnoitring party, being asked, in the General's hearing, after the health of
one of the gentlemen who was reported to be ill, replied, - 'he was in a very
low indifferent state;' which the other lamented, saying, 'he has but a uny,
delicate constitution.' - This struck his Excellency, it being his own case, who
interrupted, 'Don't tell me of constitution, that Officer has good spirits, and
good spirits will carry a man through every thing.'...
The Brigadiers Monckton and Murray, with the troops under their command,
reimbarked this day, from the parish of St. Nicholas, and returned to their
ships. This evening all the boats of the fleet below the town were filled with
marines, &c. covered by frigates and sloops of war, worked up, and lay
half-channel over, opposite to Beauport, as if intending to land in the morning,
and thereby fix the enemy's whole attention to that quarter; the ships attending
them are to edge over, at break of day, as near as possible without grounding,
and cannonade the French intrenchments. At nine o'clock this night, our army in
high spirits, the first division of them put into the flat-bottomed boats, and,
in a short time after, the whole squadron moved up the river with the tide of
flood, and, about an hour before day-light next morning, we fell down with the
ebb. Weather favourable, a star-light night.
Thursday, 13 September 1759
Before day-break this morning we made a descent upon the north shore, about
half a quarter of a mile to the eastward of Sillery; and the light troops were
fortunately, by the rapidity of the current, carried lower down, between us and
Cape Diamond; we had, in this debarkation, thirty flat-bottomed boats,
containing about sixteen hundred men. This was a great surprise on the enemy,
who, from the natural strength of the place, did not suspect, and consequently
were not prepared against, so bold an attempt. The chain of centries, which they
had posted along the summit of the heights, galled us a little, and picked off
several men, and some Officers, before our light infantry got up to dislodge
them. This grand enterprise was conducted, and executed with great good order
and discretion; as fast as we landed, the boats put off for reinforcements, and
the troops formed with much regularity: the General, with Brigadiers Monckton
and Murray, were a-shore with the first division. We lost no time here, but
clambered up one of the steepest precipices that can be conceived, being almost
a perpendicular, and of an incredible height. As soon as we gained the summit,
all was quiet, and not a shot was heard, owing to the excellent conduct of the
light infantry under Colonel Howe; it was by this time clear day-light. Here we
formed again, the river and the south country in our rear, our right extending
to the town, our left to Sillery, and halted a few minutes. The General then
detached the light troops to our left to route the enemy from their battery, and
to disable their guns, except they could be rendered serviceable to the party
who were to remain there; and this service was soon performed. We then faced to
the right, and marched towards the town by files, till we came to the plains of
Abraham; an even piece of ground which Mr. Wolfe had made choice of, while we
stood forming upon the hill. Weather showery: about six o'clock the enemy first
made their appearance upon the heights, between us and the town; whereupon we
halted, and wheeled to the right, thereby forming the line of battle.... The
enemy had now likewise formed the line of battle, and got some cannon to play on
us, with round and canister-shot; but what galled us most was a body of Indians
and other marksmen they had concealed in the corn opposite to the front of our
right wing, and a coppice that stood opposite to our center, inclining towards
our left; but the Colonel Hale, by Brigadier Monckton's orders, advanced some
platoons, alternately, from the forty-seventh regiment, which, after a few
rounds, obliged these sculkers to retire: we were now ordered to lie down, and
remained some time in this position. About eight o'clock we had two pieces of
short brass six-pounders playing on the enemy, which threw them into some
confusion, and obliged them to alter their disposition, and Montcalm formed them
into three large columns; about nine the two armies moved a little nearer each
other. The light cavalry made a faint attempt upon our parties at the battery of
Sillery, but were soon beat off, and Monsieur de Bougainville, with his troops
from Cape Rouge, came down to attack the flank of our second line, hoping to
penetrate there; but, by a masterly disposition of Brigadier Townshend, they
were forced to desist, and the third battalion of Royal Americans was then
detached to the first ground we had formed on after we gained the heights, to
preserve the communication with the beach and our boats. About ten o'clock the
enemy began to advance briskly in three columns, with loud shouts and recovered
arms, two of them inclining to the left of our army, and the third towards our
right, firing obliquely at the two extremities of our line, from the distance of
one hundred and thirty--, until they came within forty yards; which our troops
withstood with the greatest intrepidity and firmness, still reserving their
fire, and paying the strictest obedience to their Officers: this uncommon
steadiness, together with the havoc which the grape-shot from our field-pieces
made among them, threw them into some disorder, and was most critically
maintained by a well-timed, regular, and heavy discharge of our small arms, such
as they could no longer oppose; hereupon they gave way, and fled with
precipitation, so that, by the time the cloud of smoke was vanishd, our men were
again loaded, and, profiting by the advantage we had over them, pursued them
almost to the gates of the town, and the bridge over the little river,
redoubling our fire with great eagerness, making many Officers and men
prisoners. The weather cleared up, with a comfortably warm sun-shine: the
Highlanders chaced them vigorously towards Charles's river, and the fifty-eighth
to the suburb close to John's gate, until they were checked by the cannon from
the two hulks; at the same time a gun, which the town had brought to bear upon
us with grape-shot, galled the progress of the regiments to the right, who were
likewise pursuing with equal ardour, while Colonel Hunt Walsh, by a very
judicious movement, wheeled the battalions of Bragg and Kennedy to the left, and
flanked the coppice where a body of the enemy made a stand, as if willing to
renew the action; but a few platoons from these corps completed our victory.
Then it was that Brigadier Townshend came up, called off the pursuers, ordered
the whole line to dress, and recover their former ground. Our joy at this
success is inexpressibly damped by the loss we sustained of one of the greatest
heroes which this or any other age can boast of, - General JAMES WOLFE, who
received his mortal wound, as he was exerting himself at the head of the
grenadiers of Louisbourg....
...The Sieur de Montcalm died late last night; when his wound was dressed,
and he settled in bed, the Surgeons who attended him were desired to acquaint
him ingenuously with their sentiments of him, and, being answered that his wound
was mortal, he calmly replied, 'he was glad of it:' his Excellency then
demanded,--'whether he could survive it long, and how long?' He was told, 'about
a dozen hours, perhaps more, peradventure less.' 'So much the better,' rejoined
this eminent warrior; 'I am happy I shall not live to see the surrender of
Quebec.'...
After our late worthy General, of renowned memory, was carried off wounded,
to the rear of the front line, he desired those who were about him to lay him
down; being asked if he would have a Surgeon? he replied, 'it is needless; it is
all over with me.' One of them then cried out, 'they run, see how they run.'
'Who runs!' demanded our hero, with great earnestness, like a person roused from
sleep? The Officer answered, 'The enemy, Sir; Egad they give way every-where.'
Thereupon the General rejoined. 'Go one of you, my lads, to Colonel Burton; tell
him to march Webb's regiment with all speed down to Charles's river, to cut off
the retreat of the fugitives from the bridge.' Then, turning on his side, he
added, 'Now, God be praised, I will die in peace:' and thus
expired.
| Author : |
Captain John Knox |
|
| Reference : |
America: A Narrative History, 6th Edition, Chapter 4; Inventing America, Chapter 4; Give Me Liberty, Chapter 3
|
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Observation |
| 1. What type of document is this? (Ex. Newspaper, telegram, map, letter, memorandum, congressional record) |
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| 2. For what audience was the document written? |
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| 3. What do you find interesting or important about this document? |
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| 4. Is there a particular phrase or section that you find particularly meaningful or surprising? |
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Connection |
| 5. What does this document tell you about life in this culture at the time it was written? |
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Submit to Gradebook: