WOLFE, James, British soldier,
born in Westerham, Kent, England, 2 January, 1727; died near Quebec, Canada, 13
September, 1759. He was a son of Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Wolfe, an officer
distinguished for skill and bravery in Marlborough's campaigns. James was
educated at Greenwich. His military life began early, and with such unmistakable
evidences of great ability that at the age of sixteen he served as adjutant of
his regiment in the campaign of Dettingen. In the suppression of the Scottish
rebellion of 1745 he served as major and deputy quartermaster general, while his
father was a major-general, commanding a division. He was engaged in the
Netherlands in 1747-'8 on garrison duty in Scot in 1748-'53, and in England in
1753-'7.
In 1758 he had reached the grade of brigadier-general, and commanded one of
General Jeffrey Amherst's divisions at the siege of Louisburg, where he was
distinguished for his gallantry. The next year he was promoted major-general,
and placed by William Pitt
in command of the expedition against Quebec. In the latter part of June, 1759,
he arrived before that city with a force of 8,000 men, supported by a powerful
fleet, and, after erecting batteries at Point Levi and the isle of Orleans, he
opened fire on the enemy's defenses, which had been greatly strengthened by the
French commander-in-chief. The large ships of war being unable to co-operate by
reason of their draught, he next took position near the mouth of Montmorency
river and made a bold attack on the French works, which was repelled with loss.
Various other plans were now proposed by Wolfe, but rejected by his officers.
Sir Jeffrey Amherst failed to co-operate as had been promised, and the approach
of winter necessitated the speedy departure of the fleet. Wolfe sent many
desponding messages to Pitt, and the appointment of the young general to the
command was severely criticized in England.
As a final plan, Wolfe transferred his troops to a point several miles above
the city. While reconnoitering the precipitous bluffs called the Heights of
Abraham, on the north shore of the river, he detected the cove that is now
called by his name, about two miles from Quebec, whence a narrow path wound up
the cliff. Determining to surprise the French by this difficult route, he spent
a day and a night in preparation, and at one o'clock on the morning of 13
September embarked about 5,000 men in boats, which dropped noiselessly down the
river to the landing-plate. By sunrise the entire force had completed the
ascent, and soon after ten o'clock they confronted the French force, which was
superior in numbers but composed chiefly of undisciplined provincials. After an
hour's cannonade Montcalm attacked impetuously, but his men were driven back in
confusion, and Wolfe, pressing to the front, ordered the Louisburg grenadiers to
charge the enemy. While cheering on his men, he received two wounds, the second
of which ended his life, but not until he was assured of the defeat of the
French. Five days later Quebec surrendered, and the English became masters of
Canada.
Wolfe's remains were carried to England, where a monument was erected to him
in Westminster Abbey. The Massachusetts assembly also voted a marble statue of
him. A small column marks the spot where he fell, and an obelisk sixty feet in
height, has been placed in the government gardens at Quebec in his honor and
that of his enemy Montcalm, who fell in the same battle. See Robert Wright's "Life
of James Wolfe " (London, 1864), and Francis Parkman's "
Montcalm and Wolfe " (Boston, 1885).
General James Wolfe, a British soldier whose success in
1759 at the battle of Quebec won Canada for the British Empire. After several
failures due to poor judgment his victory came. As a general James Wolfe's
greatness was exaggerated because of his dramatic death during the moment of his
victory. Joining the army when he was fourteen Wolfe fought to his grave by
discovering a cove which is now Wolfe's cove, being appointed to command the
expedition against Quebec, and winning the war for the British.
Born in Westerham, England Wolfe joined the army when
he was fourteen years old. He served in Flanders and in Scotland. During the
Seven Year War he became a brigadier which is a military officer between a
colonel and a major general. In the battle of Louisberg he served under the
ruling of Major General Jeffrey Amherst. Wolfe returned to England after the
battle of Louisberg.
When Wolfe returned to England he was told to command
the expedition against Quebec. William Pitt was the director of English foreign
affairs then and appointed Wolfe. It was said to be one of the best decisions he
could have made. There were times Wolfe and the army felt like giving up but
they knew they had to continue.
Trying before and failing was Wolfe's last attempt to
capture Quebec. Depressed Wolfe called his senior officers together. Also
helping Wolfe was Admiral Charles Saunders. He was going to take the army
another dangerous miles up the river for landing. Dampening the spirits of the
army was a delay of bad weather. But wait a minute General James Wolfe had
spotted something that nobody else had spotted. It was a narrow cove at the
cliff base only 1.5 miles west of the city. At this time Wolfe had to make a
bold decision. On that night, September 12, he led a line of darkened boats into
what forever would be called Wolfe's cove.
Wolfe's success cost him his life and permitted the
British to seize Montreal completing the conquest of Canada. Dawn brought about
a rough scare for the French. Montcalm the French commander was prepared and had
about four thousand, five hundred men on hand while Wolfe had only about three
thousand, three hundred. With double loaded muskets the British soldiers stood
stiffly at attention. Snipers in the woods fired into the British ranks when a
soldier fell another one would step forward to take their place. Armed with only
a cane Wolfe strolled along the ranks smiling and joking with his men. Suddenly
Wolfe was hit a snipers bullet shattered his wrist. The French marched forward
firing again and again. It seemed that Wolfe would never give the order to fire
back. With the French only forty yards away he dropped his cane down and leaped
from in front of the muskets. Lying in the arms of an officer Wolfe was shot in
the lungs and in the stomach. He had enough time to ask how the war was going.
When the soldier told him the French were running he smiled and said," God
be praised I will die in peace." Forever giving him fame for finding Wolf's
cove, being appointed to command the expedition against Quebec, and winning the
war for the British.
Bibliography:
The World Book Encyclopedia 1994
S.V. James Wolfe By : Philip Buckner
page 378-379
The Colonial Wars 1992
Alden R. Carter
page 49-51
The American Nation 1991
Prentice Hall
page 154-155
