The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, also known as the Battle of Quebec, took place on September 13, 1759. Montcalm had a total of 13,390 regular troops, 200 artillery, 300 native warriors, and 140 Acadian volunteers available for the battle, even though most did not fight during the battle. On the morning of September 13th, Wolfe lined his troops with their backs to the river and spread out across the entire plains. As the French were advancing, the Canadien militia and native sharpshooters began the battle by engaging the British left flank, and they were able to hold their position throughout the entire battle. The 3,300 British troops then formed a gigantic horseshoe shape that stretched across the entire plains, with a firing line of one kilometer.
As French troops arrived from Beauport, Montcalm discovered that they only way to disassemble the British line was from a swift attack so he positioned all of his troops in and near Quebec City. Without waiting for the rest of the French troops to arrive from Beauport, he ordered an immediate attack on the British line at 10am that day.
British troops held their ground against the French using Wolfe's battle tactic called "centre". This was when the 43rd and 47th foot regiments held fire until the approaching troops got within 30 yards, and then fired at close range. Captain John Knox was fighting with the 43rd regiment and wrote in his journal that after one volley the British were able to take a few steps forward to close in on the stunned French line.
Wolfe was stationed with the 28th foot regiment and the Louisbourg Grenadiers, and he ordered his regiment to move forward to a higher location to observe the battle. He was struck once in the wrist, but had it wrapped. Just a few minutes after Wolfe's command to fire, he was struck in the stomach and in the chest, with the chest shot being the kill shot. As Wolfe was laying on the ground, his soldiers told him that the French had broken and began running away. Wolfe gave a few final orders and then instantly turned on his side and said "Now, God be pleased, I will die in peace" and died.
General Townshend took over for the British as a French army was approaching their flank. Townshend quickly gathered two battalions of soldiers and focused them on the flanking French army. Instead of attacking, the French turned back and retreated. This allowed Montcalm's army to get across the St. Charles River. During this retreat, Montcalm was shot by either British artillery or repeated musket fire in the abdomen and the thigh. He was able to make it back to the city but he died the next morning. The casualties for both sides of the battle were rather similar, as the British lost 658 and the French lost 644.
As French troops arrived from Beauport, Montcalm discovered that they only way to disassemble the British line was from a swift attack so he positioned all of his troops in and near Quebec City. Without waiting for the rest of the French troops to arrive from Beauport, he ordered an immediate attack on the British line at 10am that day.
British troops held their ground against the French using Wolfe's battle tactic called "centre". This was when the 43rd and 47th foot regiments held fire until the approaching troops got within 30 yards, and then fired at close range. Captain John Knox was fighting with the 43rd regiment and wrote in his journal that after one volley the British were able to take a few steps forward to close in on the stunned French line.
Wolfe was stationed with the 28th foot regiment and the Louisbourg Grenadiers, and he ordered his regiment to move forward to a higher location to observe the battle. He was struck once in the wrist, but had it wrapped. Just a few minutes after Wolfe's command to fire, he was struck in the stomach and in the chest, with the chest shot being the kill shot. As Wolfe was laying on the ground, his soldiers told him that the French had broken and began running away. Wolfe gave a few final orders and then instantly turned on his side and said "Now, God be pleased, I will die in peace" and died.
General Townshend took over for the British as a French army was approaching their flank. Townshend quickly gathered two battalions of soldiers and focused them on the flanking French army. Instead of attacking, the French turned back and retreated. This allowed Montcalm's army to get across the St. Charles River. During this retreat, Montcalm was shot by either British artillery or repeated musket fire in the abdomen and the thigh. He was able to make it back to the city but he died the next morning. The casualties for both sides of the battle were rather similar, as the British lost 658 and the French lost 644.