Plains of Abraham

JacquesT said:
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!?
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My buddy found that on the Montreal Archives website, I don't know where it is located currently?
Its crazy how they just move the remains around so much, I am getting burnt for sure so you can throw my ashes to the wind.

I think I went to that cathedral, where was it? In the city walls?
That would be real cool with a metal detector imagine you find something and start a little excavation you would have to get some city uniforms so it looks official! Ha
 
...an object stincking out...see Pic

Here it is, I had to dig it out first...what is it?...it is open to the public 24/7...on Chemin St Louis as you enter the old city by the Gate of the same name...on your right halfway to the Château Frontenac...here is what is there since many years, I saw it when I was little and was eager to point it out to my kids when visiting/pelgimming (is that a word?)....
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT2072.jpg
and a close up...
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT2069.jpg
How this cannon ball got there? would anyone have the answer? or an urban legend...?
J



JacquesT said:
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
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'Basillica' St Anne de Beaupré

Fester, the Basillica is about 30-40 km east of Québec City along the St Lawrence river north shore...past the Montmorency Fall...
St Anne de Beaupré will turn 350 Yrs in 2008!! A nice day circuit...I read a few stories of Wolfe troops visiting the place in summer of 59...
Here is a link to it: http://www.ssadb.qc.ca/en/histoire.htm

Cheers
J


fester said:
My buddy found that on the Montreal Archives website, I don't know where it is located currently?
Its crazy how they just move the remains around so much, I am getting burnt for sure so you can throw my ashes to the wind.

I think I went to that cathedral, where was it? In the city walls?
That would be real cool with a metal detector imagine you find something and start a little excavation you would have to get some city uniforms so it looks official! Ha
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There is a lot of churches in Québec City...

One that you may find interesting or at least a piece of its furniture is the English Cathedral located at Place d'Armes, by the Château Frontenac. It is said that one of the last tree from the primitive forest was in the church yard, it is also said that Champlain planted his tent by that tree when he first arrive in July 1608...in 1846 the tree died and was brought down, some of that wood was used to build the Bishop's throne...that fancy chair is still there...here is the picture I got of it...
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT2057.jpg

I picked that info from the book with all the illustrations from James Patterson Cockburn..A British Officer, in love with the dauther of an habitant, he spent numerous hours sketching the city in the 1830s. He made sketches from so many angles that you get a feel for the way it was...he is known to have had a photographic precisison; here is an example...http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT4940.jpg
Notre Dame des Victoires church at Place Royale...where I got married...
J


fester said:
I have not been there then.
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JacquesT said:
One that you may find interesting or at least a piece of its furniture is the English Cathedral located at Place d'Armes, by the Château Frontenac. It is said that one of the last tree from the primitive forest was in the church yard, it is also said that Champlain planted his tent by that tree when he first arrive in July 1608...in 1846 the tree died and was brought down, some of that wood was used to build the Bishop's throne...that fancy chair is still there...here is the picture I got of it...
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT2057.jpg

I picked that info from the book with all the illustrations from James Patterson Cockburn..A British Officer, in love with the dauther of an habitant, he spent numerous hours sketching the city in the 1830s. He made sketches from so many angles that you get a feel for the way it was...he is known to have had a photographic precisison; here is an example...http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT4940.jpg
Notre Dame des Victoires church at Place Royale...where I got married...
J
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Thats a cool chair and a great story. That book sounds good.
I wish when I was in the city I spent more time on the Plains, my wife and I stayed at a Hotel called ST.Paul (I think)it was right below the city walls and very quaint.
 
Rue St Paul, loaded with history...

That Rue St Pierre and Rue St Paul area is now very popular for the antique stores...walking a short distance toward the river you get to the location (rue du Fort, sault au matelot) where an other tragic siege of Quebec was terminated...Generals Montgomery and Arnold in 1775 (31 dec) fought and loss in that very spot...see plaque...http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT1939.jpg
It is referred in modern terms as FIBUA (Fighting In Built Up Area)...As the american who were besieging the town for some time gave the assault, one of their General (Montgommery) was received by a cannon shot. The cannon was hidden in a house, he died there...an interesting epic that starts in New England...they left by small boat in the fall direction North (trouble)...against the current for the first half...they had a taste of misery and defeat...that winter factor!
j

fester said:
Thats a cool chair and a great story. That book sounds good.
I wish when I was in the city I spent more time on the Plains, my wife and I stayed at a Hotel called ST.Paul (I think)it was right below the city walls and very quaint.
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Where exactly did it happenned...

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 am just back from a 10 day business trip to Quebec city and I took time to investigate the Plains for locating the exact spots where the action took place...yes there are some interesting markers...where Montcalm and Wolfe got hit for example, where their flank regiments stood etc...I have fresh photos I will post shortly...
 
Battlefield Pictures

Here are some pictures I took last weekend on the Plains of Abraham,

First the marker where Montcalm was hit...
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT5027.jpg
Note the relationship with the Martello tower#1,
here is the inscription on the plaque:
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT5026.jpg
Now, about a hundred meters to the west, the Wolfe marker;
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT5034.jpg
This is where Wolfe was mortally hit. Note again the relationship with the Martello tower...to the left far away is the Montcalm marker between the trees. And this is what the plaque says;
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT5033.jpg
Moving further behind the english line (west) here is a general view of the right flank of the English forces...in front of you would be the back of the thin red line and up away on the higher ground would be the French/Canadians/Indians facing you. Again note the relationship with the Martello twr.
General overview:
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT5037.jpg

Finally here is a view of the area where Wolfe manage to climb his troops...near the present Gilmour rd access.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT5052.jpg
There are many more markers indicating units location etc...

Enjoy.
 
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to climb or not to climb...

Claven2 said:
That last pic doesn't make it look like it was all that difficult a climb...?
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Allright then... try this;
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT5051.jpg
and that...
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t76/jacques1952/PICT5045.jpg

At the bottom you can see a double lane divided highway/boulevard...if this can help give some perspective...I believe they climbed a nearby gully which allowed easier access than a direct frontal clinb...the shale/disintrgrating stone is a great obstacle preventing a solid step...but Wolfe troops did it. As Wolfe commanded the opposing cliff in Levis (south shore), he could appreciate first hand the nature of the ground.
 
a few words...

Key words, Defeated...Victorious...an engagement that lasted a few minutes with so dramatic results!...both Generals mortally wounded!
Wish someone made a big budget movie production...could be part I the siege and the battle of the Plains of Abraham,,,and the sequel Part II, the winter of 1759/60 and the return of the French in Ste Foy...


fester said:
great pictures JacquesT. Interesting how it says nothing about the Montcalm battle and loss other then defeated but a big spiel about Wolfe on his plaque. Written by us English I gather.
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