The troops which headed for Quebec City, not counting administration and staff, numbered 8,535.
After successfully navigating the St. Lawrence River without a native pilot on board, Wolfe landed a force on the east side of the Montmorency and another at the head of the Island of Orleans directly across from the city of Quebec. He set up batteries on the south side of the St. Lawrence River at Pointe Levis. He attacked the city from the vantage points of the island and Pointe Levis.
At the end of July he attempted a frontal attack near Beauport and this proved disastrous -- Wolfe's army lost 400 of their men in this failed attack. After this loss, Wolfe realized that he had to plan a surprise attack if he wanted to succeed.
Wolfe sent a fleet of ships on various occasions, between September 3 - 12, up and down in front of the city pretending to land. In answer, Montcalm would send his men along the cliffs in order to follow the ships' movements. This tired out the French army. While Wolfe's main troops made preparations to land above the city, some boats headed to Beauport on the night of September 12 and started to bombard that area. Montcalm's army answered by marching to that area. Meanwhile the English army was climbing the cliff at L'Anse au Foulon.
On September 10, while Wolfe was surveying the cliffs, he noticed laundry hanging on the cliff. He believed that there was a trail from the river up to the Plains since women did their wash at the river. Scouts were sent out, and indeed there was a trail.
On the night of September 12, 1759, Wolfe sent his men up the trail. When challenged by guards they spoke French and since Montcalm was waiting for a shipment of provisions, the ruse was successful. They gained access to the plain at the top of the cliffs and the French troops were chased off.