The New Hampshire Gazette

BOSTON, Sept. 6.

Since Monday Morning last have arrived here a Number of Ships, Snows, Brigantines, &c. belonging to this and the neighbouring Colonies, which have been employed in the Transport Service; up the River St. Lawrence, and have suffered Damage in the hard Gales of Wind, which we mentioned in the first Accounts received from the River. And in which Storm there was one Schooner lost, Capt. Nicholson, of this Place: The People saved. There was very severe Thunder and Lightning during that Storm. There were 28 Sail that came from the River, under Convoy of his Majesty's Frigate Diana, Captain Alexander Schomberg, which has also received some Damage, and is arrived here to refit it, most of the above Vessels are bound in here. They left the Island of Orleans about the Middle of August. The Accounts we have from our Armament at the Siege of Quebec, the Capital of Canada, are very far from being disagreeable, as it was reported on Monday last: All Letters, and the Reports of most that are from thence, agree, That our Forces go on with the greatest Vigour and Spirit, and make no doubt that they will be Masters of the whole Country this Fall.

As we are not able to publish an exact Journal, or a very correct Account of all the Proceedings of the Army since their Arrival at the Isle of Orleans; we shall give our Readers the best we can collect from several Letters from thence, dated to the 14th of August: To which Time it can be affirmed, Duty has been carried on very regularly with great Unanimity between the different Corps of all Ranks, and no Troops could have behaved braver, and undergo Fatigues in a more Soldier-like Manner. The two Extents of our Army, as it was posted the latter End of July, is 4 or 5 Leagues Distance, which begins from the East Side of Montmorency Falls, on the North Side of the River St. Lawrence to River Etchemin on the South Side, in different Bodies, about two Leagues above Quebec: the greatest Part at Point Levee, and at Montmorency.

Extract of a Letter from Point Levee, (within two Miles of Quebec,) dated July 29th.

"On the 29th of June, 1300 of our Troops, crossed from the Isle of Orleans, to Point Levee, and took Possession of that important Post, with the Loss of 3 Men, and 3 wounded: On the 30th, 1000 were sent forward to take Possession of Point Orleans, which was done without any Loss. Here we continued for 6 Days, when 2 armed Vessels were sent down the North Shore in order to cover our Landing on Montmorency, which was accomplished the Night following unperceived by the Enemy: Here we encamped and built a Redoubt: a Number of our Rangers, who were sent as advance Parties, were attacked, and we lost about 20. besides wounded. Our People upon Point Levee erected a Battery and four Mortars, and 6 32 Pounders, situated within 900 Yards of Quebec, which is the Width of the River, across from that Place to the City. On the 12th of July we opened our Battery on the Town; which played its Part very well, and soon set several Houses on Fire; which burnt to the Ground: The Enemy returned the Compliment as well as they could, but did us but little Damage. We immediately went to work and erected another Battery of 4 Mortars within 300 Feet of the other; and from these two Batteries, which are extremely well situated, we have given them a smart Dose, fired the Town several Times, and burnt the large Church to the Ground. On the 25th we opened a third Battery of 6 24 Pounders on the Town, situated within 200 Yards of the other, which rakes the lower Part of the Town; and by these Batteries it is in our Power to beat the Town to Pieces: But this is not the greatest Strength we have to oppose; their greatest Numbers being without the Town; we have some Deserters, and have taken about 400 Prisoners; but they differ vastly in their Accounts as to their Numbers, some say 5, some 9, and some 15 Thousand. But by laying the best Accounts together, I believe they have 4400 Regulars: How many Canadians and Indians, is wholly uncertain; but they are very numerous by their Encampments. However, upon the whole, I think our present Situation to be as well as can be expected, considering our Numbers; it being in our Power to distress the Enemy to such a Degree that they must be extremely miserable; for we are daily taking their Cattle and Sheep by Hundreds; and they can't have any Benefit from a Crop this Year; and if they should not surrender, we can maintain our present Posts until it is too late for any Supplies to come to them from abroad; and upon our withdrawing, destroy all that we can; They must perish in the Winter, for it is now in our Power to destroy the greater Part of their Country that hath been inhabited. On the 26th General Wolfe, with a Thousand Men, went from his Encampment which is at Montmorency, in order to surprise a small Camp of the Enemy's when they way-laid him, and fired upon him, on which a smart Skirmish ensued, in which we lost 2 Captains and 2 Lieutenants, and about 15 Privates, besides wounded, among which was one of the General's Aide-de-Camp. We came off Conquerors. The Evening before Col. Fraser, being out with a Party received a Ball thro' his Thigh, but is likely to do well. Capt. Rous, and one Frigate, 2 Cutters and 2 Sloops are above the Town, watching their Shipping, which are 8 Leagues up the River: It is said they have 4 Frigates and 10 Sail of Merchantmen. The Night before last, they sent down a Fire-Raft of 4 or 5 Hundred Feet long; but did no hurt, being towed by our Boats clear of our Shipping. We earnestly want to hear from General Amherst.

August 14.

I have to add, since the above, That on the 31st of July we landed 2000 Men, near the Montmorency-Falls, in the Face of the Enemy's Intrenchments, who were so well prepared to receive us, and after bearing the Fire near half an Hour, we retreated with some Loss, tho' not so great as might be expected, considering the Enemy's Number, which it was thought amounted to 10,000, well intrenched: The Enemy's Intrenchments reaches above 5 Miles, and are three deep, that they can retreat to: Along the River below Montmorency Falls the Shore is of Slate, and exceeding steep, so that it was almost inaccessible, and a considerable Shower of Rain had fell just before our Men attempted to force them, which made the Slate so slippery that they could not get Foot-hold. The Enemy keep close to their Camps within the Intrenchments; having a Troop of Horse-Dragoons constantly out to give Notice of any Attempts that we may make. Their Firing is chiefly aimed at our Batteries on Point Levee, and down the River, to prevent any of our Ships getting up the River above Quebec, where Capt. Rous is, who it is thought will attempt to destroy the French Frigates and Transports there, that there may be no Obstruction to General Amherst's Army in their Way down to join our Forces: We have 1500 Men gone up the River, which Brigadier Gen. Murray commands, who are destined to get Intelligence of General Amherst; from whom we have not heard this Summer. If we don't make a complete Conquest this Season, we shall destroy their Crops, and a great many Houses which must needs make them miserable the ensuing Winter, and that will bring their stomachs to a bearing by next Spring. Some of the Carpenters are very busy at present, being preparing to go to Isle aux Coudre, there to build Barracks for 1500 Men."

We have the following Account from Isle aux Coudre, dated Aug. 16. 1759, of the Proceedings of the Company of Rangers commanded by Capt. Gorham.

The Ranging Companies were sent early in the Spring, before the Army went up the River, under Convoy of the Alcide and Stirling-Castle: They met with great Bodies of Ice, and very bad Weather in the Entrance: but arrived at Isle aux Coudre the 8th of June; in their Way made several Prizes, one of which was a Topsail Schooner with 26 armed Men on board; it being calm, the Rangers in their Whaleboats pursued and took her. On the 23d of June General Wolfe came to Isle Madame; and on the 27th landed on the West End of Isle of Orleans; which, as has been already published, was entirely abandoned. On the 29th Capt. Gorham, with 200 of the Rangers, was sent on the South Shore, opposite this Island, in the Night, to cover General Monckton's Brigade. And the Morning after they being advanced of this Body, Capt. Gorham's Out-guard was attacked by the Enemy, who being superior, obliged them to give Ground till he marched out with his Detachment, which soon turned the Tables, and pursued them about two Miles, took three of the Officer's Swords; the commanding Officer's Arms, which he threw away, with all his Papers and Baggage; and very narrowly escaped himself. This was a Detachment of 200 Canadians commanded by Monf. Lary, Lieut. Col. in the Army, and Chevalier de St. Louis, who commanded the party that massacred the People at Bull Fort, up Mohawk River: The Rangers took 5 Prisoners and killed 6; they had only 4 wounded, all of Captain Gorham's Company. Soon after the Brigade marched to take Possession of Point Levee, opposite Quebec; Copse of Wood setting down upon the Road: At One o'Clock the Enemy began to Skirmish, and continued till Night, being reinforced with 200 Indians and Canadians; the Brigade and Rangers in their Turns gave Ground, according to their Situation: but in the End drove the Enemy: The Rangers were backed with two Companies of Light-Infantry: Several were killed and wounded on both Sides; Capt. Gorham's Company suffered most in this Affair, having lost one Sergeant and three Men killed, one taken, and 7 wounded. Brigadier Monckton did the Company Justice and represented the Affair to General Wolfe next Day, who was pleased with their Action. Skirmishing ensued on almost every Party's going out; but none material till the 9th of July. Capt. Danks was wounded; as also, Capt. Lieut. Armstrong, in a Skirmish, the latter died soon after; 13 Men killed and 10 wounded. On the 16th, Capt. Gorham, with the Rangers, passed by the City in Whale-boats undiscovered, and concealed themselves in the Woods by Day. On the 19th Capt. Rous passed in the Sutherland, with the Squirrel and 4 Transports, in the Night, unhurt. The Rangers took Post opposite him, about 6 Miles advance of the Army; and fortified and kept up the Communication between the Army and Shipping that passed; where they continued till the 4th of August nigh the River Etchemin: Capt. Gorham was then relieved: and the General ordered him 150 Rangers, a Detachment of the different Regiments, Highlanders and Marines in all about 300, an armed Vessel, three
Transports with a Lieut. and Seamen of the Navy to attend him: who proceeded down to Bay St. Paul, which is opposite this Island, the North Side, with Directions to destroy that Parish, having about 200 Men who had been active in distressing the Shipping and Boats.--- At 3 o'Clock in the Morning Capt. Gorham landed. and forced two of their Guards. of 20 Men each, who fired smartly for some Time: but in two Hours drove them All from their Covering in the Woods, and clear'd the Village which they burnt, consisting of about 50 fine Houses and Barns; destroyed most of their Cattle: In this, one Man was killed and 6 wounded of the Detachment; but two of the Enemy kill'd, and several wounded who were carried off.---- From thence the Rangers, &c. proceeded to Mal Bay, two Leagues to the Eastward on the same Side, there destroyed a very pretty Parish, drove off the Inhabitants and Stock without any Loss.----After which, they made a Descent on the South Shore opposite Isle-aux-Coudres, destroyed Part of the Parish of St. Anns and St. Row, where were very handsome Houses with Farms. and loaded the Vessels with Cattle : One Midshipman and 3 Seamen were wounded in coming with a Message from the Vessel on Shore.---- They returned to Isle aux Coudres the 15th of August; and were to join the General by the 20th, for some further Duty.

Extract of a Letter from a military Officer, dated at King George's Battery at Point Levee, near Quebeck, Aug. 13, 1759.

I am now almost happy in seeing English Batteries play upon Quebeck, as ours has done ever since the 12th of July, and with great Joy let you know we have been so successful as scarce to leave a House in the Place that is not battered down, by our Guns ; or burnt to Ashes by our Mortars :-. Canada is a rich Country to Appearance, as any in America :--- The Island of Orleans is like a Garden, from one End to the other : The Houses of the Inhabitants are so nu- merous, that you would think it to be one continu'd Village, for many Leagues above and below Que- beck:---I am most sure we shall take the Place; if not, all France can't save them from Ruin and Destruction ; for we shall burn their Houses, de- stroy their Corn, and eat their Cattle, which are bro't into Camp by our Parties, 3 or 400 at a time, and killed for the Use of the English Army.-- My Glass is fill'd, which I design Drinking to the Health and Happiness of our Friends in Boston, if the French don't knock it out of my Hands before I get it to my Mouth, for they have been a little Troublesome this Morning; their Bell has rung for Prayers, which makes me believe it is Sunday, therefore will send a few Messengers to their Church from our 32 Pounders, knowing the French Politeness, that they always choose to give Way to Strangers, especially when they carry the broad Arrow----. After the Town is taken, I come to Boston, have got a fine French Horse, who knows how to run when pushed, as well as his late Master."

Our further Accounts are, That Shells were constantly firing from our Batteries at Point Le- vee, against the City of Quebeck, the Houses in the lower Town were almost reduced to Ashes, and near 300 Houses in the upper Town demo- lished, with the Cathedral, and the Magazine there blown up: Few Inhabitants were in the Towns, they having retired to the Camps.---Ad- miral Saunders with 14 Sail of Men of War were at the West- End of the Island of Orleans: and Ad- miral Durell with some others at Isle Madame.-- That the Raft which was sent down the River the 28th at Night, was very long and piled high with combustible Stuff. and sent from the Ene- my's Shore to destroy the Shipping; but this was towed ashore by our Boats, in the same Manner their Fireships were when our Vessels went first up the River: To prevent such Attempts for the future, it was given out, that the Prisoners taken ashore, Men, Women and Children were put on board two large Ships, and were put in the first of the Range, that if any more Rafts came down they will first meet with them.----Notwithstanding the strong Intrenchments, and the Dif- ficulty of Access to the Enemy, which is the chief Obstacle in our Way, it is not doubted upon the Whole, that if General Amherst with his Army gets down to Quebeck in Season, the British Troops will soon be in Possession of Canada; or if one half of General Wolfe's Troops could get over to the Enemy, they would be able (by the Blessing of Heaven) to drive them from their strong Holds : It is supposed the Regulars among them do not amount to 4000, the other, are Cana- dians chiefly the Peasants, Which are about 11,000; who were so dastardly as not to pursue our Party that were repulsed from their Intrenchments on the 31st.--- Admiral Saunders had offered Ge- neral Wolfe a Number of Men from his Ships : Our Troops might soon get Possession of the City ; but that they wanted to get to the French Army: However, if this was found impracticable, the whole Country will be destroyed, and the Enemy left without Shelter : Our Troops will, it is said, strongly fortify Isle aux Coudres, and a great Part of our Troops winter there, that in the Spring the first Force which shall arrive, will certainly be Masters of that Country : But most are of Opinion the Enemy will submit before it is Time for the British Troops to come off: An Officer of Distinction in the Navy, writes to his Friend here, "Sir, I have to tell you, Quebec is a very strong Place; however we are in high Spirits. I have no doubt we shall get into it by and by."--. Many other Letters from Officers are expressed much in the same Terms.---.--We learn further, That we have had very false Notions of the Coun- try of Canada, and the Navigation of the River St. Lawrence ; that it is but necessary for a Sea- man to go up once, to acquaint himself with it : That the Land is so far from being barren, that all along the Country, as well as on the Islands, there are fine Fields of Indian-Corn, Wheat, Green-Peas, Pastures of fine Grass; and the Cattle fat and plenty, many of them taken, and brought to our Army by the Scouting-parties ; there are also a great Plenty of Wild Fowl and Pigeons on the Sea-Shore : The Weather in July was much as it is in New-England in that Month, hot, but generally more Rain; and it is thought the Winter is not so tedious as We have heard, the Arrival of the French Frigates and Transports So early, and the Forwardness of the Grain plainly evinces the contrary.---The Villa- ges up the River are compact, and the Houses well built.--.

It is said that most of the 200 Provincials that went from hence are enlisted in the Ranging Service. General Wolfe had sent a Manifesto to the Inhabitants of the several Villages, to submit themselves to his Britannick Majesty's Arms, and they should be protected ; we have not yet obtain- ed a Copy of the said Manifesto. The following Officers were wounded at the Attack of the French Intrench- ments near Beauport, within 6 Miles of Quebeck, July 31, 1759. Capt. Hamilton of the 40th Regiment, and Lieut. Collingwood of the 45th of Louisbourg Grenadiers. Capt. Loftus of the 15th. Captain Ince, Lieuts. Gore and Blakeney of the 35th. Capt. Smelt and Lt. Elphinston of the 47th. Capt. Edmondson, Lieuts. Hawthorn, Percival, and Webb of the 48th. Capt. Leland of the 58th. Captain Ochterlony, Lieuts. Archibald, Euyer, Kennedy, Grandidier and Johnson, and Ensign Peyton, of the 2d Battalion of the Royal Ame- ricans. Lieut. Willington and Shaw of the 3d Battalion of Royal Americans. Capt. Porter, slightly. Col. Fraser in the Thigh. Col. Burton in the Foot. Capts. Hamilton and Fletcher of Otways, killed. Lieut. Mathewson of the 47th Regiment killed. Privates, 55 killed, 300 wounded, mostly slightly. Capt. Ochterlony and Ensign Peyton (menti- oned above) were taken Prisoners by the Enemy ; the latter observing two Indians coming to scalp him, and having a double barrel'd Gun in his Hand, he fired it and killed one of them, while the other made a Thrust at him with a Cutlash. he turned the Screw of the Gun, discharged it. and killed the other : A French Officer came up and took him.