Plains of Abraham

Whats in the queu?

fester said:
my buddy has that book and I would like to read it but my queu of books is long right now, and unfortunately its not on the list.
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I am just curiuous what is on your bed side table...personally I am into the reading of some of the Jesuits Relations...Champlain era stuff...lately I viewed the movies Black Robe...and the PBS special on 'The war that made america' etc...I guess i am getting ready for Québec 2008 - 400 anniversary....we know where the remains of Wolfe and Montcalm are...what about Champlain??...somewhere around Kébec...amazing that he disappeared so easily from everyone's attention...after all he did...maybe he was burried in the Augustine cemetary and he would now rest with Moncalm and his troops...speculations!!??

cheers
Jacques
 
Right now, I am on the last few pages of Gates of Fire, by Steven Pressfield, again. I am anticipating 300 which will be out in a week and a half and probably won't come to the theaters here.
I read mostly non-fiction, I love historical fiction though.
I will then be into the Jared Diamond books sitting collecting dust on the shelf and then I will fit in the montcalm and Wolfe.
I will talk about Champlain later, as work is calling.
 
Champlain 1608...and Cartier 1534...

Champlain could be indeed the subject of a long thread...and Jacques Cartier...an other one that has resurface last summer...an archeogical breakthrough when the remains of his fort (1543?) were found last summer on the top of Cap Rouge cliff (a few miles from the plains of Abraham)...the discovery was done just at the base of the impressive Railway thressle that crosses the Cap Rouge river golley...a few millions dollars were immediately invested to ensure the site is preserved...At ThanksGiving, I walked near the fenced site...took a few pictures: First the thressle: (Impressive eh! like the one near Wainwright Alberta!)
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT4286.jpg
Then the base of that thressle...where the archeological find is...on the highest ground on the cliff...
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT4288.jpg
A close up view of the fenced site:
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT4262.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT4266.jpg
..in my younger years I crossed the CN fence and walked the thressle...half way at least...cheap thrill!!
 
More on the Plains of Abraham...battlefield detective

Here is my episode of 'battlefield detective'...I was documenting myself on my newly acquired Ross M10...that search lead me on the Plains of Abraham (no surprise!)....where the factory was located...see picture:
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/21-Ross-Rifle_000.jpg
The first building in the foreground to the left, by the water tower, is the Martello Tower#1...only remaining building in that area since the factory was demolished in around 1931....some of the toolings was moved to some place named Long Branch...to help making some other rifles...(an other story).

A book on the Ross factory/adventure had a picture showing someone shooting at a paper target while using the Martello tower as a backstop!!! I said to myself there must be some marks remaining on the stone wall...and indeed, I was there last summer and this is my best shot (with a camers) at it..
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT3998.jpg
My episode of battlefield detective...

Is anyone interested in these bits of info? I certainly enjoy posting them!
Cheers
jacques
 
Detective part II

JacquesT said:
Here is my episode of 'battlefield detective'...I was documenting myself on my newly acquired Ross M10...that search lead me on the Plains of Abraham (no surprise!)....where the factory was located...see picture:
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/21-Ross-Rifle_000.jpg
The first building in the foreground to the left, by the water tower, is the Martello Tower#1...only remaining building in that area since the factory was demolished in around 1931....some of the toolings was moved to some place named Long Branch...to help making some other rifles...(an other story).

A book on the Ross factory/adventure had a picture showing someone shooting at a paper target while using the Martello tower as a backstop!!! I said to myself there must be some marks remaining on the stone wall...and indeed, I was there last summer and this is my best shot (with a camers) at it..
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT3998.jpg
My episode of battlefield detective...

Is anyone interested in these bits of info? I certainly enjoy posting them!
Cheers
jacques
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Here is a better picture of the Ross Rifle factory that was located on the Plains of Abraham:
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT4926.jpg
The Martello tower#1 is clearly visible to the left of the factory complex...last man standing is the martelo tower,,,now converted in a touristic museum...use to have a telescope for planet observation in the 60s (I was there). The next picture is that fellow that practice shooting...at the door step of the factory:http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT4925.jpg This photo awoke the detective in me...my shot at the tower:http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT3998.jpg

And finally an other addition to the martello tower...these towers are realy polyvalent building!http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT4927.jpg
There were 4 of these Martello towers one was demolished (#4) (Jeffery Hale Hospital), the tower#1 is the easiest to locate as it dominate the battlefield & cliff
Jacques
 
JacquesT said:
Here is my episode of 'battlefield detective'...I was documenting myself on my newly acquired Ross M10...that search lead me on the Plains of Abraham (no surprise!)....where the factory was located...see picture:
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/21-Ross-Rifle_000.jpg
The first building in the foreground to the left, by the water tower, is the Martello Tower#1...only remaining building in that area since the factory was demolished in around 1931....some of the toolings was moved to some place named Long Branch...to help making some other rifles...(an other story).

A book on the Ross factory/adventure had a picture showing someone shooting at a paper target while using the Martello tower as a backstop!!! I said to myself there must be some marks remaining on the stone wall...and indeed, I was there last summer and this is my best shot (with a camers) at it..
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT3998.jpg
My episode of battlefield detective...

Is anyone interested in these bits of info? I certainly enjoy posting them!
Cheers
jacques
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I agree Jacques, very interesting! My plan is my wife and I will explore the area on our bicycles next summer!
 
By foot, buggy, or bicycle, you will enjoy!

Peace time shooting on the Plains of Abraham...

I read that in 1897 a famous American did some shooting on the P of A...Buffalo Bill that is!! he did 4 representations in 2 days in june of 1897...His camp was established in the large open field near the Wolfe monument. He paraded with his troop of 'commedians' throughout the City's streets.
For himself, he used a buggy pulled by 2 white poneys...entrance ticket to the shows were .50 cents..he performed his shooting act in public...and was applauded...imagine today's reaction!
Not much left of this short episode, no plaque/pictures...I picked that info up in a historical magazine...(Cap aux Diamants)

An other fellow American had a shooting episode on the Plains of Abraham and in the lower part of the City....the siege/attack of Benedic Arnold !...1775...that episode resulted in a few books.
 
And what else happened on the P of A...

1897 was the Buffalo Bill year, a few years earlier there was the creation of the Quebec Golf Club (1874)...The last British troops stationed at the Citadel returned to home base in 1871 leaving empty the large field next to the Citadel therefore opening the possibility for the creation of the Québec Golf Club! It became the 'ROYAL' QGC in 1934 (for its 60th anniversary) although it had moved away from the P of A by then. Originally the QGC had only 14 holes so you had to play again the first 4 ones to complete the 18. Lawn mowing was done by cattle at first.

So Golf was played on the Plains for over 40 yrs...in the first years the annual membership fee was $2!!! In 1915 the rent was not renewed and the Club moved near the Montmorency fall...

So when you visit the Plains of Abraham and you realise that this location would make an ideal Golf course then remember that it was one, a little while ago...

Cheers
 
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Exact spot of the Battle...

y2k said:
Do they know the exact spot where the battle took place? is there a park or marker there now?:)
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I looked a little more into this Q on 'exact location' of the Battle and found a 1959 book by Colonel CP Stacey. He was the Head of the Hist Sect of the Cdn Army. His book coincided with the 200th ann of the battle (1759-1959). Here is a picture taken at the time by the RCAF:http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT4935.jpg
and the brief explanation given by Col Stacey as to the 'exact' location of this Battle:
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT4936-1.jpg
By now some of you may become familiar with the Plains features...Martello tower#1, Jail (now a museum), etc...
I wonder what will be done in 2009 for the 250th Anniversary???Will this remain in the shade of the 2008 celebration (400th ann of foundation of QcCity)?..... time will tell...
 
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P1504-1.jpg


Montcalms skull on display in Quebec.
 
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Montcalm skull???

Fester, some explanation please...I heard of the heart of frère André at the Oratory in Montréal ...but this one is a shock to me...what is the story behind this picture...I will try to get some info on this from my contacts...but there must be some very interesting timbits of info pertaining to this, please share...

J


fester said:
P1504-1.jpg


Montcalms skull on display in Quebec.
Click to expand...
 
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some explanation...

Here what an encyclopedie states...
''He was buried in the convent of the Ursuline nuns in Quebec, supposedly in a hole caused by the British shelling. Today, his skull is on display at the convent.''
Wikepedia...''His remains, consisting of a skull and a leg bone, were exhumed in the 1800s and was put on display at the covenant in a stone crypt alongside a plaque commemorating him. In a ceremony that took place during September 2001, Montcalm's remains were buried in the cemetery of the Quebec General Hospital, where hundreds of casualties from both sides of the battle were buried 242 years ago.''
I had mentionned this reburrial earlier...
some more info...
''The remains -- described as only a skull and leg bone -- were placed in a grey stone crypt in a small cemetery in the Lower Town...''

That Google is hard to beat for quick info...

I remember being very impressed when visiting the St Anne de Beaupré Cathedrale where all the prothesis and artificial limbs from miracles healing are laid on the colums sky high...apparently a lot of miracles happened there and the excess baggage was left behind for display...Strange displays, skull, limbs!! i don't know!?




JacquesT said:
Fester, some explanation please...I heard of the heart of frère André at the Oratory in Montréal ...but this one is a shock to me...what is the story behind this picture...I will try to get some info on this from my contacts...but there must be some very interesting timbits of info pertaining to this, please share...

J
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Treasure hunt...

Good point...although there are a few spots where the ground was modified extensively...for example the area near the Martello tower#1 (where Montcalm assembled his troops) was the location where the Ross Rifle factory stood, then when the factory was demolished in 1931, the same ground became a giant construction site where they built the city underground water reservoir (wonder if they decontaminated the site first??!!)...next to it is the 'parc Jeanne D'Arc'...sort of a sunken garden all man made. The ground is also sort of shallow at many places as the rock/shale is sticking out at many places...bald spots!...still I am sure there are artefacts all over, if not from the battle itself at least from human presence of some sort...over the years...
(I have a picture of an object sticking out...more to follow...)
Got to get those Xray goggle!..an other item to pack for your visit to the Plains of Abraham.
Cheers
Jacques



RobSmith said:
Kinda makes you wonder if people ever walk the plains with metal detectors looking for remnants of the battle. ..
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