heir van consisted of ten
companies of grenadiers, two of volunteers, and four hundred savages;
eight battalions, formed in four columns, with some bodies of Canadians
in the intervals, constituted their main body; their rear was composed
of two battalions, and some Canadians in the flanks; and two thousand
Canadians formed the reserve. Their whole army amounted to upwards of
twelve thousand men. Major Balling, with great gallantry, dispossessed
their grenadiers of a house and windmill which they occupied, in order
to cover their left flank; and in this attack the major and some of
his officers were wounded: nevertheless, the light infantry pursued the
fugitives to a corps which was formed to sustain them; then the pursuers
halted, and dispersed along the front of the right; a circumstance which
prevented that wing from taking advantage of the first impression they
had made on the left of the enemy. The light infantry, being ordered to
regain the flank, were, in attempting this motion, furiously charged,
and thrown into disorder: then they retired to the rear in such a
shattered condition, that they could never again be brought up during
the whole action. Otway's regiment was instantly ordered to advance from
the body of the reserve, and sustain the right wing, which the enemy
twice in vain attempted to penetrate. Meanwhile the left brigade of the
British forces did not remain inactive: they had dispossessed the French
of two redoubts, and sustained with undaunted resolution the whole
efforts of the enemy's right, until they were fairly fought down,
overpowered by numbers, and reduced to a handful, notwithstanding the
assistance they received from the third battalion of Royal Americans,
which had been stationed with the body of the reserve, as well as from
Kennedy's regiment, posted in the centre. The French attacked with great
impetuosity; and at length a fresh column of the regiment de Rousillon
penetrating the left wing of the British army, it gave way; the disorder
was soon communicated to the right; so that after a very obstinate
dispute, which lasted an hour and three quarters, brigadier Murray was
obliged to quit the field, with the loss of one thousand men killed or
wounded, and the greater part of his artillery. The enemy lost twice the
number of men and reaped no essential advantage from their victory.

QUEBEC BESIEGED.

Mr. Murray, far from being dispirited by his defeat, no sooner
retired within the w