aired above five hundred houses which had been damaged by the
English cannon, built eight redoubts of wood, raised foot-banks along
the ramparts, opened embrasures, mounted artillery, blocked up all
the avenues of the suburbs with a stockade, removed eleven months'
provisions into the highest parts of the city, and formed a magazine of
four thousand fascines. Two hundred men were posted at Saint Foix,
and twice the number at Lorette. Several hundred men marched to Saint
Augustin, brought off the enemy's advanced guard, with a great number of
cattle, and disarmed the inhabitants. By these precautions the motions
of the French were observed, the avenues of Quebec were covered, and
their dominions secured over eleven parishes, which furnished them with
some fresh provisions, and other necessaries for subsistence. Sixteen
thousand cords of wood being wanted for the hospitals, guards, and
quarters, and the method of transporting it from the isle of Orleans
being found slow and difficult, on account of the floating ice in the
river, a sufficient number of hand-sledges were made, and two hundred
wood-fellers set at work in the forest of Saint Foix, where plenty of
fuel was obtained, and brought into the several regiments by the men
that were not upon duty. A detachment of two hundred men being sent to
the other side of the river, disarmed the inhabitants, and compelled
them to take the oath of allegiance: by this step the English became
masters of the southern side of St. Laurence, and were supplied with
good quantities of fresh provision. The advanced posts of the enemy were
established at Point au Tremble, Saint Augustin, and Le Calvaire; the
main body of their army quartered between Trois Rivieres and Jaques
Quartier. Their general, having formed the design of attacking Quebec in
the winter, began to provide snow-shoes or rackets, scaling-ladders, and
fascines, and make all the necessary preparations for that enterprise.
He took possession of Point Levi, where he formed a magazine of
provisions; great part of which, however, fell into the hands of the
English; for, as soon as the river was frozen over, brigadier Murray
despatched thither two hundred men; at whose approach the enemy
abandoned their magazine, and retreated with great precipitation. Here
the detachment took post in a church until they could build two wooden
redoubts, and mount them with artillery. In the meantime, the enemy
returning with a greater force to reco