SECRET INSTRUCTIONS

FOR BRIG GENERAL WOLFE

FEBY. 5th 1759

GEORGE R.

Secret Instructions for Our Trusty and Welbeloved James Wolfe Esqr., Brigadier General of Our Forces in North America, and Major General and Commander in Chief of a Body of Our Land Forces, to be employed on an Expedition against Quebec by the way of the River St. Laurence. Given at Our Court at St. James's the Fifth Day of February 1759, in the Thirty Second Year of Our Reign.

Whereas We have, by our commission bearing Date the Twelfth Day January last, appointed You to be Major General and Commander in Chief of a considerable Body of Our Land Forces directed to Assemble at Louisburg in our Island of Cape Breton, in order to proceed, by the way of the River St. Lawrence, as early as the Season of the year will admit of operations, by Sea and Land, in those Parts, to attack and reduce Quebec; And whereas We have appointed Rear Admiral Saunders to be Commander in Chief of a Squadron of Our Ships to act in Conjunction, and cooperate, with our said Land Forces, in the execution of the above most important Service; We have thought fit to give you the following Instructions for Your Conduct. And that you may be fully informed of the Number of Our Forces destined for this Expedition against Quebec, and of the several Preparations, directed to be made for that Service; We have ordered to be delivered to you herewith Extracts or Copies of three Letters, wrote, by one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, to Major General Amherst, dated the 29th. of December, and the 12th. & 13th. of

January, last past, together with a List of the said Troops, And of the Additional Artillery and Stores, ordered to be sent to Louisburg; Also Copies of Three Letters to Rear Admiral Saunders, dated the 9th., 12th. and 20th. of January last, and of one to Rear Admiral Durell, dated the 29th. of December last.

I-You are immediately, upon the Receipt of these our Instructions, to repair to Portsmouth, and there embark on board one of our Ships of War, and proceed, without Loss of Time, to Louisbourg in the Island of Cape Breton, where you are to take under your command the Troops we have ordered to rendez vous at that Place, on or about the 20th, of April, if the Season shall happen to permit; And you are, on your Arrival at Louisburg, to use all possible Diligence and Expedition, in concert with Rear Admiral Saunders, or the Commander in Chief of our Ships, in Embarking the Troops, Artillery, Stores, and all the other Requisites for the Expedition against Quebec, and to proceed therewith, at or about the 7th. of May, or as soon as the Season of the year shall permit, up the River St. Lawrence, and attack and endeavour to reduce Quebec : And it is our Will and Pleasure, that you do carry into Execution the said important operation with the utmost Application and Vigor.

2—In case, on your Arrival at Louisburg, you shall find, that the Troops, which we have ordered Major General Amherst to send, with all Expedition, to that Place, together with the Artillery, Stores, and all other Requisites for the Operation directed, shall, contrary to our Expectation, and by any unfavorable accidents, not be yet arrived at Louisburg, you are without Loss of a moment's Time, and by the most expeditious and sure means, to make the most pressing Instances to Major General Amherst, or the Commander in Chief of our Forces in North America, & to Rear Admiral Saunders, or the Commander in Chief of our Ships in North America, in order to quicken and expedite, with the utmost Diligence and Dispatch, all possible measures for most speedily assembling and collecting the said Troops at Louisburg, as well as the Artillery, Stores, and all Requisites, for the Expedition against Quebec.

3-In Case, by the Blessing of God upon Our Arms, you shall make Yourself Master of Quebec, Our Will and Pleasure is, that You do keep Possession of the said Place, for which purpose, You are to appoint, out

of the Troops under Your Command, a sufficient and ample Garrison, under the Command of such careful and able officer, as You shall judge best qualified for so important a Trust, effectually to defend and secure the said Place; And You will immediately make, in the best manner practicable, such Repairs to the Works, as you shall find necessary for the Defence thereof, until you shall receive further orders from Us; And You are forthwith to transmit an exact Account, to be laid before Us, of the State and Condition of the said Place.

4-As it cannot be foreseen, by what Time the attempt against Quebec may have its' Issue, or what the number and State of our Troops and Ships may be, when that Service shall be over; and also considering, in Case, by the Blessing of God upon Our Arms, You should make Yourself Master of that Place, the necessary Garrison, That must be left for the Defence thereof; We judge it expedient to leave it to you, and Rear Admiral Saunders, or the Commander in Chief of Our Ships, to consider the State and Circumstances of things, as they shall then be found, and thereupon to determine what Ulterior operations, higher up the River St. Lawrence, (in Case the Navigation of that River shall be found safe for such Vessels as shall be best suited to the Service,) may be practicable and expedient, for making still farther and effectual Impressions on the Enemy, And in Case any such Ulterior operations, as above, in consequence of the Reduction of Quebec, shall be judged by You, and Rear Admiral Saunders expedient to be undertaken, Our Will and Pleasure is, that you do carry the Same into Execution, in the Manner which You shall think most conducive to the Good of Our Service; And You will not fail, as expeditiously as may be, to inform thereof Major General Amherst, Commander in Chief of Our Forces in North America, and, as far as may be, to concert the same with our said General, in order that the operations, in different Parts, may coincide, and mutually facilitate and strengthen Each other.

5-With regard to such of Our Forces under Your Command, as shall be remaining after the above Services are over (and having first, in Case of Success, left a strong Garrison at Quebec, as well as provided for the Defence of any other Posts, which you shall find necessary to be maintained,) You are to cause the same to be disposed of in such manner as Major General Amherst, or the Commander in Chief of our Forces in North America, shall direct, (for which purpose, You will take all timely

opportunities of corresponding with Major General Amherst ;) But if, from the distant operations, in which the said Major General, or Commander in Chief, may happen to be engaged, Prejudice may arise to our Service, by waiting for such Orders, You are to Use Your best Discretion in disposing of our Troops in the manner the most Conducible to Our Service; And Our Will and Pleasure is, that You do then put Yourself under the Command of Major General Amherst, as Brigadier General in North America

6-Whereas the Success of this Expedition will very much depend upon an entire Good Understanding between Our Land and Sea Officers, We do hereby strictly enjoin and require You, on Your part, to maintain and cultivate such a good Understanding and Agreement, and to Order, that the Soldiers under Your Command, shall man the Ships, when there shall be occasion for them, and when they can be spared from the Land Service, As the Commander in Chief of Our Squadron is instructed, on His Part, to entertain and cultivate the same good Understanding and Agreement, and to order the Sailors and Marines, under His Command, to assist Our Land Forces, and to man the Batteries, when there shall be occasion for them, and when they can be spared from the Sea Service; And in order to establish the strictest Union that may be, between You and the Commander in Chief of Our Ships, You are hereby required to communicate these Instructions to Him, as He is directed to communicate those, He shall receive from Us, to You.

7-You are to send constant and particular Accounts of all Your Proceedings, by Letter to one of Our Principal Secretaries of State; And You are to obey and follow all such orders, as You shall receive from Us under Our Royal Sign Manual, or from One of Our Principal Secretaries of State.

To The Brigadiers

Head Quarters Montmorency

G. R.

Augst. 1759,

That the public Service may not suffer by the generals indisposition, He begs the Brigadiers will be so good to meet, and consult together