James Wolfe was indeed both young and brave. He had joined the British army at the tender age of thirteen and had seen active battle duty at sixteen. He had become a captain at the age of seventeen and a major at twenty. At the age of thirty-two he was a major-general.

Wolfe was impetuous and choleric - his temperament more Celtic than Saxon. He was extremely devoted to his country. He was a slave to duty, a stern disciplinarian and, above all, a soldier. He held the reputation of being one of the two best soldiers of his years in the army. The siege at Louisbourg only enhanced this reputation.

Wolfe did not enjoy sailing - his health, which wasn't strong, became even worse when he was at sea. However, he accepted the task, once again, when sent to Louisbourg, Nova Scotia by Prime Minister Pitt.

After the initial landing at Louisbourg, Wolfe was sent to Lighthouse Point which had been abandoned by the French to fire on ships in the harbour and the Island Battery on June 12, 1758. The Battery was destroyed and the war ships in the harbour forced to move closer to their (French) fort for gun cover.

Wolfe pressed on closer to the fort. It was noted in a journal that "General Wolfe was in this skirmish and as usual in the most danger" (Whitton, p. 214). This is in reference to a skirmish with 200 French from the fort who came out to gather wood at night.

A few days later Wolfe rushed closer and drove out the French from one of the bastions and successfully held it despite heavy fire. He combined lion-hearted courage, unflagging energy (despite weak overall health) ceaseless toil and a knowledge of war practices and theories in the taking of Louisbourg.

The siege continued with the English, under Amherst, but led by Wolfe, holding their ground until the French agreed to surrender on July 27, 1758. The garrison surrendered as prisoners of war - 5,637 of them in all. The booty consisted of 228 cannons, 28 mortars, 15,000 stands of arms, 14,000 shot, 5,000 barrels of powder, plus other supplies.

Wolfe had aided his country in taking the "Gibraltar of North America" as Louisbourg was called. This opened the Gulf of St. Lawrence and passage to the St. Lawrence and Quebec City to the English without worry of attack from the French Fort at Louisbourg.

Wolfe, in speaking of his exploits at Louisbourg, in a letter to his friend, Lieutenant-Colonel Rickerson confided:

I do not reckon that we have been fortunate this year in America. Our force was so superior to the enemy's that we might hope for greater success. It seems to me to have been no very difficult matter to have obliged the Marquis de Montcalm to have laid down his arms, and, consequently to have given up all Canada. ... Amongst ourselves, be it said, that our attempt to land where we did was rash and injudicious, our success unexpected (by me) and undeserved. There was no prodigious exertion of courage in the affair; an officer and thirty men would have made it impossible to get ashore where we did. Our proceedings in other respects were slow and tedious as this undertaking was ill-advised and desperate; but this for your private information only. We lost time at the siege, still more after the siege, and blundered from the beginning to the end of the campaign. ... I have his day signified to Mr. Pitt that he may dispose of my slight carcass as he pleases, and that I am ready for any undertaking within the reach and compass of my skill and cunning. I am in a very bad condition both with the gravel and rheumatism, but I had much rather die than decline any kind of service that offers. If I followed my own taste it would lead me into Germany. ... However, it is not our part to choose, but to obey." (Casgrain, p. 72.).

Though physically challenged by poor health, Wolfe soon was to accept a challenge far greater than Louisbourg had offered him - to take Quebec City from the French.

In the Quebec area we learn more about Wolfe's character. Though a soldier and a warrior, he had some morals in his battles and required those under him to live by his standards. Both the French and the English had Indians in their ranks. The French allowed and even encouraged the Indians to kill all enemies - women and children included. Wolfe, however, instructed the native people fighting under him that "Women and children are to be treated with humanity; if any violence is offered to a woman, the offender will be punished with death." (Bonner, p. 90).

Brave, young, a devoted soldier, a beloved leader - endearing qualities, however longevity is not assured those active in battle.

 Works Cited