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Image Archive 19th CENTURY SEAPORTS 7.07 QUEBEC CITY HARBOR < PLYMOUTH HARBOR 2 . . . . . . . . >HAMBURG HARBOR |
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| Several three masted barques anchored in the St. Lawrence River and several of the extensive harbor warehouses are visible in this old stereo view. Wooden, three masted barques were the 'workhorse' cargo carriers in the latter half of the 19th century.
The cliffs opposite Quebec on the far side of the St. Lawrence River are the Levis Heights which featured prominently in the British capture of Quebec city from the French in 1759. General James Wolfe led the finest army and naval force yet assembled by the British Crown. "The fleet was the greatest that had ever sailed across the seas. It included one-quarter of the whole Royal Navy. There were 49 men-of-war manned by 14,000 sailors and marines. There were also more than 200 vessel transports, store ships, provision ships, etc. manned by about 7000 merchant seamen. {When together on the St.Lawrence, this great fleet was spread out for 20 miles.] There were at least twice as many sailors as soldiers at the taking of Quebec. Saunders was a most capable admiral" - Wood, 1915. What further serves to make this battle fascinating is that several English captains who commanded Ship of the Line went on to become some of England's most skilled and brilliant Admirals. Most noteworthy is Jervis who was to become Lord Nelson's Commander in Chief. The legendary Captain James Cook was present, indeed it was his charts of Canadian waters that were used by the British fleet. They were so superior to those of the French that Wolfe's fleet dispensed with French pilots. Wolfe's French counterpart, General Marquis de Montcalm, was experienced and exceptional in his own right and had placed artillery batteries on the Levis Heights. The St. Lawrence below was barely 1,000 yards wide and thus ships crowded with infantry were an easy and helpless target. Shortly after Wolfe's fleet arrived at Quebec on June 26 they narrowly escaped loosing important ships and weaponry to a fierce storm, then had to cope with blazing French ships loaded with mines that broke loose from their moorings and careened down the St. Lawrence. Surprisingly, Vaudreuil was ordered by Montcalm to abandon the Levis Heights. Wolfe did the obvious and quickly positioned most of his troops and much artillery on this most important position. The bombardment that followed lasted two months and while it reduced Quebec to ruins, it did not allow for capture of the city. In subsequent weeks, the Levis Heights played a less important role. Quebec was finally taken by the British on September 13 in a battle on the Plains of Abraham during which both Wolfe and Montcalm were fatally wounded. I can't resist recommending this history of the Battle of Quebec: A Chronicle of Wolfe - Battle of Quebec 1759 |
| Resolution is 993(width) x 1043(height), 225 dpi for the digital file available for commercial license. The orginal stereo card photo has surface damage, is faded, and slightly out of focus The presentation digital image on this page has been edited. We can provide both the original digital file and a copy that is enhanced. |
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