erwards.

"The detachment of our Regiment consisted, at our marching from Point
Levi, of six hundred men, besides commissioned and non-commissioned
Officers; but of these, two Officers and about sixty men were left on
board for want of boats, and an Officer and about thirty men left at the
landing place; besides a few left sick on board, so that we had about
five hundred men in the action. We suffered in men and Officers more
than any three Regiments in the field. We were commanded by Captain John
Campbell; the Colonel and Captain McPherson having been unfortunately
wounded on the 25th July, of which they were not yet fully recovered.

"We lay on our Arms all the night of the 13th September.

"Friday, 14th September.--We got ashore our tents and encamped our
Regiment on the ground where they fought the battle yesterday. He[re] we
are within reach of the guns of the town.

"Saturday, 15th September.--We were ordered to move our Camp nigh the
wood, at a greater distance from the Town. We are making advanced
redoubts within five hundred yards of the town."

Such is Fraser's account of the struggle on the Plains of Abraham and of
the conduct of the Highlanders in their first pitched battle in North
America. The resolute preparations to attack Quebec produced their
effect. On September 18th the fortress surrendered. A little later the
army broke up the camp outside the walls and marched into the town. The
outlook was certainly not cheerful: "Most of the houses are destroyed
and we have but a very dismal prospect for seven or eight months, as
fresh provisions are very scarce, and every other thing exorbitantly
dear." A little later the fleet sailed away and General Murray with a
small force was left in a hostile country to hold Quebec through a long
and bitterly cold winter. He established two out-posts, one at Ste. Foy,
the other at Lorette, and then the army bent all its energies to meet
the foes, cold, disease and the French. Fighting the cold was terrible
work. Fraser writes:

"December 1st.--The Governor ordered two weeks wood to be issued to the
Garrison. It is thought we shall have a great deal of difficulty in
supplying ourselves with fuel this winter. The winter is now very
severe.

"December 20th.--The winter is become almost insupportably cold. The men
are notwithstanding obliged to drag all the wood used in the Garrison on
sledges from St. Foy, about four miles distance. This is a very severe
duty; the poo