As usual, however, France was earlier in the field than
Britain, who had in April no force ready for America which could
intercept Montcalm. The storms were heavy, and on Easter Day, when Mass
was celebrated, a sailor firm on his feet had to hold the chalice for
the officiating priest. On board there were daily prayers, and always
the service ended with cries of "God save the King!" Some of the
officers on board were destined to survive to a new era in France when
there should be no more a king.

Montcalm had with him a capable staff and a goodly number of young
officers, gay, debonair, thinking not of great political designs about
America but chiefly of their own future careers in France, and facing
death lightheartedly enough. Next to Montcalm in command was the
Chevalier de Uvis, a member of a great French family and himself
destined to attain the high rank of Marshal of France, and a capable
though not a brilliant soldier, whose chief gift was tact and the art
of managing men. Third in command was the Chevalier de Bourlamaque, a
quiet, reserved man, with no striking social gifts and in consequence
not likely at first to make a good impression, though Montcalm, who was
at the beginning a little doubtful of his quality, came in the end to
rely upon him fully. The most brilliant man in that company was the
young Colonel de Bougainville, Montcalm's chief aide-de-camp. Though
only twenty-seven years old he was already famous in the world of
science and was destined to be still more famous as a great navigator,
to live through the whole period of the French Revolution, and to die
only on the eve of the fall of Napoleon. In 1756 he was too young and
clever to be always prudent in speech. It is from his quick eye and
eager pen that we learn much of the inner story of these last days of
New France. Montcalm discusses frankly in his letters these and other
officers, with whom he was on the whole well pleased. In his heart
he could echo the words of Bougainville as he watched the brilliant
spectacle of the embarkation at Brest: "What a nation is ours! Happy is
he who leads and is worthy of it."

It was in this spirit of confidence that Montcalm faced the struggle
in America. For him sad days were to come and his sunny, vivacious,
southern temperament caused him to suffer keenly. At first, however, all
was full of brilliant promise. So eager was he that, when his ships lay
becalmed in the St. Lawrence some thirty miles below Q