es in the way of retaliation.

M. de Montcalm, who commanded the French troops, though superior in
number to the invaders, very wisely resolved to depend upon the natural
strength of the country, which appeared almost insurmountable, and had
carefully taken all his precautions of defence. The city of Quebec was
tolerably fortified, secured with a numerous garrison, and plentifully
supplied with provisions and ammunition. Montcalm had reinforced the
troops of the colony with five regular battalions formed of the best
of the inhabitants, completely disciplined all the Canadians of the
neighbourhood capable of bearing arms, and several tribes of savages.
With this army he had taken the field in a very advantageous situation,
encamped along the shore of Beaufort, from the river St. Charles to the
Falls of Montmorenci, every accessible part being deeply intrenched. To
undertake the siege of Quebec against such odds and advantages, was
not only a deviation from the established maxims of war, but a rash
enterprise, seemingly urged in diametrical opposition to the dictates of
common sense. Mr. Wolfe was well acquainted with all the difficulties of
the undertaking; but he knew at the same time he should always have
it in his power to retreat, in case of emergency, while the British
squadron maintained its station in the river; he was not without hope
of being joined by general Amherst; and he was stimulated by an appetite
for glory, which the prospect of accumulated dangers could not allay.
Understanding that there was a body of the enemy posted, with cannon, at
the Point of Levi, on the south shore, opposite the city of Quebec,
he detached against them brigadier Monckton, at the head of four
battalions, who passed the river at night; and next morning, having
skirmished with some of the enemy's irregulars, obliged them to retire
from that post, which the English immediately occupied. At the same time
colonel Carlton, with another detachment, took possession of the western
point of the island of Orleans: and both these posts were fortified, in
order to anticipate the enemy; who, had they kept possession of either,
might have rendered it impossible for any ship to lie at anchor within
two miles of Quebec. Besides, the Point of Levi was within cannon
shot of the city, against which a battery of mortars and artillery was
immediately erected. Montcalm, foreseeing the effect of this manoeuvre,
detached a body of sixteen hundred men acr