Battle of the Plains of Abraham

Plains of Abraham, Battle of the
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, 13 September 1759, during the SEVEN YEARS' WAR, fought upstream from Québec on a tract of land that is thought to have been named after Abraham Martin, to whom it was granted 1635-45. A powerful British force under Major-General James WOLFE and Vice-Admiral Charles Saunders was sent up the St Lawrence to capture Québec. The French, commanded by Lieutenant-General the Marquis de MONTCALM, at first held the British at bay.

Having sailed upstream past the city on September 5 and 6, Wolfe's army landed without opposition on September 13, climbing the cliffs a few km above Québec. Montcalm's communications with his source of supplies were threatened; he felt obliged to accept battle and impulsively attacked without waiting to collect all his forces. The armies actually on the field seem to have been about numerically equal - some 4500 each - but the British were all regulars, whereas many of the French were ill-trained militia. The French attack was broken by British infantry fire, and the French retired in disorder. Both Wolfe and Montcalm were mortally wounded. The French field army retreated up the St Lawrence by a circuitous route that night. Québec surrendered on September 18. A French attack early in 1760 failed to recover the city, and later in the year the British captured Montréal and NEW FRANCE fell.

Author C.P. STACEY Revised: NORMAN HILLMER

Suggested Reading
C.P. Stacey, Quebec 1759: The Siege and the Battle (1959).

Links to Other Sites
Battle for a Continent
A brief summary of an episode of CBC's "Canada: A People's History" that examines the historic battles waged by England and France over who would control the North American colonies. Check the links on the right side of the page for additional details.

Plains of Abraham
A concise illustrated history of the Plains of Abraham, the Fortifications, and other famous Québec city landmarks. Click on "Battles of 1759 and 1760" (on the right side) for information about related events. From the National Battlefields Commission.

Montcalm, Louis-Joseph de, Marquis de Montcalm
A biography of Louis-Joseph de Montcalm, Marquis de Montcalm from the "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online."

Face to Face: The Canadian Personalities Hall
The Face to Face website presents outstanding Canadians whose contributions have transformed this country. Click on "Personalities" and then scan the photos to access profiles of noteworthy individuals. From the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

Glossary: Battle of the Plains of Abraham
A glossary of terminiology related to the siege of Québec and the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Check this site for more information on this topic. From the Virtual Museum website "1759: From the Warpath to the Plains of Abraham."

Historical Atlas of Canada
View online excerpts from the "Historica Atlas of Canada." Also, search this book for maps and background information about specific places, people, and events in Canadian history. From Google Books.

Québec Citadel
A description of the heritage features of the Québec Citadel, located on the heights of Cap-Aux-Diamants overlooking the St. Lawrence River. From the "Canada's Historic Places" website.

Sir Charles Saunders
A biography of Sir Charles Saunders, naval officer and office-holder. From the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online.