Page:American History Told by Contemporaries, v2.djvu/400

372 comfortably warm sun-shine : the Highlanders chaced them vigorously towards Charles s river, and the fifty-eighth to the suburb close to John's gate, until they were checked by the cannon from the two hulks ; at the same time a gun, which the town had brought to bear upon us with grape-shot, galled the progress of the regiments to the right, who were likewise pursuing with equal ardour, while Colonel Hunt Walsh, by a very judicious movement, wheeled the battalions of Bragg and Kennedy to the left, and flanked the coppice where a body of the enemy made a stand, as if willing to renew the action ; but a few platoons from these corps completed our victory. Then it was that Brigadier Townshend came up, called off the pursuers, ordered the whole line to dress, and recover their former ground. Our joy at this success is inexpressibly damped by the loss we sustained of one of the greatest heroes which this or any other age can boast of, —  JAMES WOLFE, who received his mortal wound, as he was exerting himself at the head of the grenadiers of Louisbourg. . ..

. . . The Sieur de Montcalm died late last night ; when his wound was dressed, and he settled in bed, the Surgeons who attended him were desired to acquaint him ingenuously with their sentiments of him, and, being answered that his wound was mortal, 'he calmly replied, he was glad of it  :'  his Excellency then demanded,  — 'whether he could survive it long, and how long?'  He was told, 'about a dozen hours, perhaps more, peradventure less.' So much the better, rejoined this eminent warrior ; 'I am happy I shall not live to see the surrender of Quebec.'. ..

After our late worthy General, of renowned memory, was carried off wounded, to the rear of the front line, he desired those who were about him to lay him down ; being asked if he would have a Surgeon? he replied, 'it is needless ; it is all over with me.' One of them then cried out, 'they run, see how they run.'  'Who runs !' demanded our hero, with great earnestness, like a person roused from sleep? The Officer answered, 'The enemy, Sir; Egad they give way every-where.' There upon the General rejoined, ' Go one of you, my lads, to Colonel Burton — ; tell him to march Webb s regiment with all speed down to Charles's river, to cut off the retreat of the fugitives from the bridge! 'Then, turning on his side, he added, ' Now, God be praised, I will die in peace : ' and thus expired.