ay was really
decided, and both survived to be certain, the one of victory, the other
of defeat. Wolfe died on the field of battle. Montcalm was taken into a
house in Quebec and died early the next morning. It is perhaps the only
incident in history of a decisive battle of world import followed by the
death of both leaders, each made immortal by the tragedy of their common
fate.

At two o'clock in the afternoon of the day of defeat, Vaudreuil held
a tumultuous council of war. It was decided to abandon Quebec, where
Montcalm lay dying and to retreat up the St. Lawrence to Montreal, to
the defense of which Levis had been sent before the fight. That night
the whole French army fled in panic, leaving their tents standing and
abandoning quantities of stores. Vaudreuil who had talked so bravely
about death in the ruins of Canada, rather than surrender, gave orders
to Ramezay, commanding in Quebec, to make terms and haul down his flag.
On the third day after the battle, the surrender was arranged. On the
fourth day the British marched into Quebec, where ever since their flag
has floated.

Meanwhile, Amherst, the Commander-in-Chief of the British armies in
America, was making a toilsome advance towards Montreal by way of Lake
Champlain. He had occupied both Ticonderoga and Crown Point, which had
been abandoned by the French. Across his path lay Bourlamaque at Isle
aux Noix. Another British army, having captured Niagara, was advancing
on Montreal down the St. Lawrence from Lake Ontario. Amherst, however,
made little progress this year in his menace to Montreal and soon went
into winter quarters, as did the other forces elsewhere. The British
victory therefore was as yet incomplete.

The year 1759 proved dire for France. She was held fast by her treaty
with Austria and at ruinous cost was ever sending more and more troops
to help Austria against Prussia. The great plan of which Belle-Isle had
written to Montcalm was the chief hope of her policy. England was to be
invaded and London occupied. If this were done, all else would be right.
It was not done. France could not parry Pitt's blows. In Africa, in the
West Indies, in India, the British won successes which meant the ruin of
French power in three continents. French admirals like Conflans and La
Clue were no match for Boscawen, Hawke, and Rodney, all seamen of the
first rank, and made the stronger because dominated by the fiery Pitt.

They kept the French squadrons shut up i