up the river; and they passed the city of Quebec, without
having sustained any damage. The general, being on board of this little
armament, carefully observed the banks on the side of the enemy, which
were extremely difficult from the nature of the ground; and these
difficulties were redoubled by the foresight and precaution of the
French commander. Though a descent seemed impracticable between the city
and Cape Rouge, where it was intended, general Wolfe, in order to divide
the enemy's force, and procure intelligence, ordered a detachment, under
the command of colonel Carleton, to land higher up, at the Point
au Tremble, to which place he was informed a great number of the
inhabitants of Quebec had retired with their most valuable effects. This
service was performed with little loss; and some prisoners were brought
away, but no magazine was discovered. The general, thus disappointed in
his expectation, returned to Montmorenci, where brigadier Townshend had,
by maintaining a superior fire across that river, prevented the enemy
from erecting a battery, which would have commanded the English camp;
and now he resolved to attack them, though posted to great advantage,
and everywhere prepared to give him a warm reception. His design was,
first to reduce a detached redoubt close to the water's edge, seemingly
situated without gunshot of the intrenchment on the hill. Should this
fortification be supported by the enemy, he foresaw that he should be
able to bring on a general engagement: on the contrary, should they
remain tame spectators of its reduction, he could afterwards examine
their situation at leisure, and determine the place at which they could
be most easily attacked. Preparations were accordingly made for storming
the redoubt. On the last day of July, in the forenoon, part of brigadier
Monckton's brigade was embarked in the boats of the fleet, to be
transported from the Point of Levi. The two brigades, commanded by the
brigadiers Townshend and Murray, were drawn out in order to pass the
ford when it should be necessary. To facilitate their passage, the
admiral had stationed the Centurion ship of war in the channel, to
check the fire of the lower battery, by which the ford was commanded: a
numerous train of artillery was placed upon the eminence, to batter and
enfilade the left of the enemy's intrenchment; and two flat-bottomed
armed vessels, prepared for the purpose, were run aground near the
redoubt, to favour the des