lodge, or is still in, I cannot say, but in twenty days I was entirely
cured, and the wound which was at first but small was entirely closed
up.

"When we marched out, we thought the General did not intend to give the
French battle; and as he ordered the Army to carry out intrenching
tools, we thought he meant to throw up works on the rising ground,
before the Town, if the Enemy should not choose to attack him that day;
but, it seems he changed his mind on seeing their situation, which gave
him all the advantage he could desire with such an inferior Army and
where, if the Enemy ventured to attack him, he could use his Artillery,
on which was his chief dependence, to the best purpose: having a rising
ground, whereon he might form his Army and plant his Cannon, so as to
play on the Enemy as they advanced for about four hundred or five
hundred yards, with round shot, and when they came within a proper
distance the grape shot must have cut them to pieces. However, it seems
he observed the enemy, some formed at the edge of the wood, some
forming, and the rest marching from St. Foy. The bait was too tempting,
and his passion for glory getting the better of his reason he ordered
the Army to march and attack the enemy, as he thought, before they could
form, in a situation the most desired by them and ought to be avoided by
us, as the Canadians and Savages could be used against us to the
greatest advantage in their beloved (if I may say element) woods. It
would give me great pleasure to relate something more to the advantage
of this gentleman who is, in many respects, possessed of several
virtues, and particularly all the military ones, except prudence, and
entirely free of all mercenary principles; but, as his conduct on this
occasion is universally condemned by all those who are not immediately
dependent on him, truth obliges me to state matters as I believe, they
really stood; more especially as it is not said he advised with any of
those who had a right to be consulted before such a step should be
taken. Nay, it is said: that the preceding night, at a meeting with the
different Commandants of the Corps, he declared his intention of
fortifying himself on the heights and not to attack the Enemy, unless he
should be forced to it, which we were persuaded of by his orders to
carry out intrenching tools. We had very little chance of beating an
Army four times our number [an exaggeration: they were not twice as
numerous] in a sit