f scalping. He writes on July
2nd:

"While we were out, I observed several dead bodies on the road, not far
from our Camp; they were all scalped and mangled in a shocking manner. I
dare say no human creature but an Indian or Canadian could be guilty of
such inhumanity as to insult a dead body."

He was to see worse atrocities committed on his own side. On July 10th,
still at Point Levi, he writes of the doings of a company of the
colonial scouting force, the Rangers, commanded by Captain Gorham, who
soon after desolated Malbaie.

"A party of our Rangers having been sent out on this side of the river
(the south), on the 9th they took one man prisoner and two boys (his
children) having followed him a little way, making a great noise, were
in a most inhuman manner murdered by those worse than savage Rangers,
for fear, as they pretend, they should be discovered by the noise of the
children. I wish this story was not fact, but I'm afraid there is little
reason to doubt it:--the wretches having boasted of it on their return,
tho' they now pretend to vindicate themselves by the necessity they were
under; but, I believe, this barbarous action proceeded from that
cowardice and barbarity which seems so natural to a native of America,
whether of Indian or European extraction. In other instances, those
Rangers have hitherto been of some use, and showed in general a better
spirit than usual. They are for the most part raised in New England."

On Friday, July 13th, the scene changed. Wolfe was planning an attack on
Montcalm's camp and Fraser writes: "I was sent orderly officer to the
Camp, at Montmorency, where I had an opportunity of seeing our own, and
the French posts nigh the Fall. The river is fordable below the Fall at
low water." On July 24th, 350 of the Highlanders under Col. Simon Fraser
were sent down the river to bring in prisoners and cattle. The Highland
leader met with misfortune. On July 26th Fraser writes: "Lieut.
Alexander Fraser, Junior, returned to camp from the detachment which
marched with the Col. on the 24th. He brings news of the Colonel's
having been wounded in the thigh, by an unlucky shot from a small party
of Canadians who lay in ambush and fired on the detachment out of a
bush, and then retired. In the evening, the Col. came to camp with Capt.
McPherson, who was wounded by the same shot, and the ball lodged in his
thigh; but it is thought neither of their wounds are (_sic_) dangerous.
There was not an