The Campaign of 1760 in Canada | Page 6

Mother Abbess of the Convent of Hotel Dieu, to acquaint her with
the reasons that induced him to destroy their mills and tenements at

Calvaire: namely, on account of her having transmitted intelligence to
the French, of the last detachment's being ordered to be in readiness to
march out; for having actually carried on a correspondence with the
French army in the whole course of the winter, whereby they were
informed of all movements, proceedings, and every other occurrence
that happened within the walls: the Governor also signified to her, that
if either she or her sisters should presume to correspond in future with
the French, either directly or indirectly, or in any respect act contrary to
good faith and the duty they owed to the King of Great Britain, they
should, without further ceremony, be banished from Quebec, and their
convent be converted into a barrack for the troops. As Madame de St.
Claude, who was sister to M. de Ramsay, and Superior of the General
Hospital, had always been inimical to the English in propagating
falsehoods, and in encouraging the Canadians to resist, General Murray
sent the Brigade-Major to signify to this lady that she should desist
from such conduct; and that as she appeared to take a great interest in
the affairs of this world, and seemed tired of her seclusion, he would
enlist her as a Grenadier, which from her stature (full six feet) she was
qualified to be, and that he would promote her the first opportunity that
presented itself."--(SMITH.)]
The French had about two thousand killed and wounded in this battle of
the 27th (? 28th) of April, of which number there was an hundred and
ten officers of the regular troops, besides a great many officers of the
Canadian militia: so they might say with Pyrrhus, the day of his victory
over the Romans--"Again such another victory, and I would be
undone!"
M. de Levis opened the trenches the same night before Quebec, and
they were carried on with such activity that his batteries were soon
ready to receive the guns necessary to make a breach.
But the most considerable of his bad pieces was a twelve pounder,
which he mounted upon batteries, firing at times with the greatest
economy, as he had but a small store of gunpowder. There needed only
the arrival of a ship from France with artillery and ammunition to
crown M. de Levis with glory. The English in Quebec confessed that

the first flag that would appear in the St. Lawrence would decide the
question, if Canada should remain in possession of the English or
return to the French.
No ships arrived from France with artillery. The fate of Canada was at
last settled by the appearance of three English men-of-war, on the 7th
of May. They ascended immediately the St. Lawrence without stopping
at Quebec. They attacked the small French frigates--at the Ance du
Foulon, about a mile above the town--which had passed the winter in
Canada; took some of them, burned others, and, in short, destroyed in
an instant all the French marine. This unlooked-for arrival, instead of
the vessel which M. de Levis expected from France, so astonished and
terrified the French army, that they immediately raised the siege--and
that without any necessity for it. They again left as a present for the
English their tents and their baggage, as they had done previously on
retiring from Beauport, after the battle of the 13th September. Such was
their consternation that, as if struck by a thunderbolt, they fled with the
utmost precipitation, as if the English were pursuing them after the loss
of a battle. De Vauquelin alone distinguished himself by a truly heroic
bravery. He commanded one of the small French frigates of about
sixteen guns, and fought like a lion against an English man-of-war of
forty guns, until he had no powder nor shot. He then sent all his crew
ashore to M. de Levis, judging that they might be of use to him, and
remained on board with the wounded, his colors always flying.
The English, after firing some time at his vessel, and receiving no
answer, approached in their boats and asked him why he did not fire, or
lower his flag? De Vauquelin answered them fiercely that, had he had
any more powder he would not have been silent so long; that if they
had a mind to take him, they might cut down his flag themselves, as
hitherto his custom was not to strike his colors, but to make others--his
country's enemies--do so. The English then went on board of his ship,
and took him prisoner, with his wounded men, and in consideration of
his determination--they having cut down his flag--treated him with the
regard which bravery can claim at the