| After
the war of Spain, the treaty of Utrecht in 1713, had ordered in France
and to its king, Louis XIV, to yield Acadie, New Ground and the territories
of Hudson Bay to its enemy of always: England. It should be said that
the French colony was strong only approximately 15 000 to 16 000 colonists.
A pécadille vis-a-vis with 200 000 English present on these new
grounds, on this new continent as one liked to call it in the courses
of Europe. England had quickly seen, that its expansion would be done
beyond the seas, it had thus decided to drive out the French everywhere
where those were present. That that is in the Indies or in America.
In June 1755, without any precondition and declaration of some kind,
the English squadron of the Admiral Boscawen captured several French
boats at the entry of the St. Lawrence river.
Louis XV with the 7 year old war, does not have the means of fighting
on all fronts. It is necessary for him to choose between the European
face or the American face. The English enemy, as for him, decided to
fight battle on the American face, it is true that its Prussian ally
can trés well to deal with the battles in Europe. Great Britain
can thus concentrate its efforts on the unintermitting nopuveau. In
March 1756, Louis XV names the marquis Montcalm, controlling as a head
of the troops of News-France. This last is a good strategist, he gains
almost all the battles. But little by little, the defeats succeed the
victories. From 1758, a strong English forwarding seizes Louisbourg,
then of Fort-Frontennac and finally of Strong Duquesnne. French Canada
is insulated, it misses of all: men, of weapons, ammunition, food...
England drew its plans. Two attacks must have place, one against Quebec,
the other against Montreal. If the two cities fall, to as much draw
a feature on Canada, say themselves French. In Versailles, the court
and the king know about the dangers which watch for the colonists. Louis
XV wants to preserve his colonies but it does not have the average soldiers
of them. Moreover, it is afraid which the reinforcements which it could
send is to intercept by the English fleet, queen of the seas. It must
thus be resigned to the abandonment. It gives command to the troops
to only manage overseas, without assistance. As much to condemn them
immediately. On the spot, defense tries to be organized. Montcalm decides
to defend part of the territory with force, rather than all the territory
but slightly. Returned peace, France will be able to reign on a territory,
hopes T-it! Wolfe, the English General, decides to make the head office
of Quebec. In May 1759, it envoit a fleet accompanied by 25 000 men
and more than 2 000 guns.
Vaudreuil, governor of France east to the current of this seat. It learned
it by English prisoners. But it is not a soldier and even less one fine
strategist. He does not give any command to reinforce the garrisons.
Quebec is delivered to itself, the Canadians tributary to defend the
place. Montcalm benefits from the situation of the city. Indeed, this
one is on a height, which facilitates its defense. It orders to set
up a line of cuttings off with casemates and minicomputer-places strong
along the St. Lawrence river. It furnishes fear them with its guns and
its 13 000 men. May 26, it launches scathing attacks against the English
fleet. Nothing made there. It cannot déserrer the pressure.
The first English
balls start to fall on Quebec. Wolfe launches its first attack then.
The red clothes remove the first fear but ridge against French defenses
while wanting to climb the slope. It is a failure. Wolfe then decides
to bombard without dead time the city. It will found a permanent terror
there. That lasts until August. Montaclm being known in inferiority
avoids during more than three months the decisive battle which wants
English so much the General. September 10, 1759, the English discover
a passage in the French lines.
Admittedly narrow but large enough to sow panic among the defenders.
It is a simple path hardly with 3 kilometers of the town of Quebec,
this path leads to a plain which dominates the city. During the night
of September 13, barges deposit approximately 5 000 men with two guns.
Montcalm decides to face the English before they do not arrive on the
plate. But the French troops attack in the greatest disorder, the English
grapeshot with quickly reason of the French attacks. Wolfe take the
advantage then and launches its red clothes to the load, bayonets ahead!!!
The French are in rout, they flee towards the city. Wolfe was wounded,
mortally. Montcalm which, it also, was touched will die two days later.
English launches out to the continuation of the fuyards and inserts
the points of resistances the ones aprés the others. Panic gained
the French rows. Ramezay, the new one controlling place, received from
Vaudreuil the command to hoist the white flag. The bombardments continue
and the city still has some 2 000 men in garrison plus 4 000 people
there alive, where terrant itself there, with the choice.
September 17 Ramezay
yields, more with supplications men and women of Quebec that to the
command of the governor. It forwards proposals for a capitulation to
English. The English command is surprised and accepts this rendering
with pleasure. Indeed, the English had not drawn up only one battery
yet. September 18 Quebec capitulates officially. The English are owners
of the city. The French gather on Montreal which will fall one year
later. It is the end of News-France. 10 February 1763, it treated of
Paris decides transfer by France in England of Acadie, of Canada, of
Newfoundland and Cape-Breton as all the region which is stretched on
left bank of the Mississippi
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