Lot 235: [FRENCH & INDIAN WAR]. TOWNSHEND, George (1724-1807), fourth Viscount, First Marquis

[FRENCH & INDIAN WAR]. TOWNSHEND, George (1724-1807), fourth Viscount, First Marquis Townshend. Draft letter signed ("Geo.Townshend") TO WILLIAM PITT, 1st Earl of Chatham (1708-1778). "Camp before Quebec," 20 September 1759. 4 1/2 pages, folio, closely written, several sheets neatly reinforced along folds, even age-toning. Docketed by Townshend "Copy of my Relation of the Action to Mr. Pitt." Cloth protective case.

TWO DAYS AFTER THE SURRENDER OF QUEBEC, GEORGE TOWNSHEND REPORTS TO WILLIAM PITT ON THE GLORIOUS VICTORY

The British victory over the French at Quebec, in which both General Montcalm and James Wolfe were killed, constitutes one of most significant turning points in the history of North America, heralding the loss by France's of all her North American territories. When Wolfe was fatally wounded and his second-in-command, General Monckton incapacitated by a wound, command devolved unexpectedly on Viscount Townshend, who commanded during the latter phases of the battle, repulsing a counterattack by Bougainville, and, while preparing to bombard the city, received an offer of surrender on terms specified by him. The present manuscript--apparently dictated to an aide or amanuensis--constitutes a carefully crafted draft of his detailed formal report on the battle and the surrender. The final version of Townshend's dispatch was sent directly to Secretary of State William Pitt. That version, the recipient's copy (now in the PRO, London), differs significantly from this draft. In addition, a preliminary sketch of Townshend's report is preserved in the Northcliffe Collection in the National Archives of Canada, Ottawa, testifying to the care taken by Townshend in rendering his report (he appears to have taken pains to justify letting most of the French army escape and for the lenient surrender terms he granted to obtain a swift capitulation).

He writes: "I have the honour to acqiant you with ye success of his Majesty's armson ye 15th instant in an action with ye French on ye heights to ye westward of this town. It being determined [by a conclave of Wolfe's generals] to carry ye operations above ye town, the posts at point Levy & Isle d'Orleans being secured, General Wolfe marched with ye remainder of his forces& embarkt them in transports which had passed ye town for that purpose..." After a diversion was mounted "to amuse ye enemy ye boats fell down wth ye tide & landed upon ye N. shore within a league of Cape Diamond an hour before daybreak..." The infantry, he reports, were "obliged...to scramble up a woody precipice," and fight off a French detachment on the heights. The French immediately moved to counterattack, "crossing ye River St Charles. General Wolfe thereupon began to form his line of Battle..."

He describes in detail the disposition of the British army. By this time, "General Montcalm having collected ye whole of his force...& advancing upon us, showed his intention to flank our left...where I was immediately ordered wth Amhersts's Battalion...." The French, with many Indian allies "kept up a very brisk tho' irregular fire upon our whole line, which bore it wth ye greatest patience...reserving their fire for ye main body now advancing...The French brought up two small pieces of Artillery," but a lone British cannon, "being extremely well served galled their column exceedingly." The French attack "was very brisk & animated...our troops nevertheless reserved their fire to within 40 yards which was so well continued, they ye Enemy every where gave way. It was then our General [Wolfe] fell at ye head of Bragg's & ye Louisbourg Grenadiers advancing to charge their Bayonets...On their side fell the French General Mon r. de Montcalm and his second in command since dead of his wounds on board our fleet...."

"This, Sir, was ye situation of things when I was told in ye action that I commanded. I immediately repaired to ye center & finding that ye pursuit had put part of ye troops in great disorder I formed them as soon as possible. Scarce was that affected when Mons r. de Bougainville wth. About 2000 men...appeared in our rear...." That attack was repulsed. Townshend explains why he did not pursue the retreating French, contending it "was not my business to risk ye fruit of so glorious a day, and to abandon so commanding a situation..." On the 17th, as he brought up artillery to bombard the town "a flag of truce came out," and a surrender agreed: "The terms you find we granted, will I flatter myself be approved of by his Majesty considering ye enemy assembling in our rear, ye inclemency of ye season..." He forwards "a list of ye killed & wounded & a list of French Prisoners." He adds praise for the naval force and its "constant assistance & support" during the campaign, notes the "difficulties which ye nature of this country...presents to military operations..."

Provenance: Martin Breslauer, London, in the 1940s(?) -- An American collector - The present owner.