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In June 1759, the British
navy transported Major-General James
Wolfe and a powerful army to Québec.
Unable to overcome the city’s tenacious
garrison, steep cliffs, and stone walls,
Wolfe bombarded Québec for two
months. On the verge of failure, the
British noticed a small cove three kilometres
west of the city walls. Wolfe and 4800
troops landed undetected there on the
night of 13 September 1759. They scaled
the cliffs and advanced to the Plains
of Abraham. The Marquis de Montcalm,
the French commander, left a strong position
just outside the city and fought them
with an army of 4500 French regulars,
Canadiens, and First Peoples. The British
won following an intense, 30-minute battle.
Both Montcalm and Wolfe were mortally
wounded. Québec surrendered five
days later.
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