Archeologists believe they have made a "major" discovery of remains dating back to the famed 1759 Battle of the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City.
Photograph by: John Major/Canwest News Service,
Posted on 10/10/2011 6:28:34 PM PDT by Pharmboy
Archeologists believe they have made a "major" discovery of remains dating back to the famed 1759 Battle of the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City.
Photograph by: John Major/Canwest News Service,
QUEBEC — Archeologists believe they have made a "major" discovery of remains dating back to the famed 1759 Battle of the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City.
The human bones and other artifacts were found last week during excavations conducted ahead of the expansion of the Museum of Fine Arts located on the battlefield where one of the most important battles in Canadian history — the fall of Quebec — unfolded.
"All the signs point to a major archeological discovery," Rene Bouchard, head of the heritage and museology department at the province's Culture ministry, said Thursday. "There are very few concrete remnants of this period, especially so if they are still in place."
Further tests and investigations will be conducted on the bones and artifacts to try and confirm the archeologists' assumptions.
The remains were found near artifacts of a military building known as the Wolfe redoubt. It was built by British General James Murray in 1760, after the famous battle, because they feared a new French attack. The dwelling lasted until 1840, Bouchard noted.
He said the digging area near the museum is likely to be expanded to look for more war vestiges.
"This could give us very precious indications on the defence system put in place at the time and the people associated with it," he said.
The Sept. 13, 1759 battle — won by British general James Wolfe over French general Louis Joseph Montcalm — was a key victory for Britain in extending its empire across North America.
Historians know that most of both countries' combatants who died in the battle were buried in a cemetery next to Quebec City's General Hospital, located in the lower part of town.
Bouchard said if the remains do date back to 1759, they will likely be reburied in that cemetery.
The RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list...
Yes...this took place in Canada, but this battle had a huge effect on the entire continent. And once again, thanks to SunkenCiv...
Here died Wolfe victorious
What a memory of youth.
Historian Francis Parkman described the death of Wolfe this way:
“They asked him [Wolfe] if he would have a surgeon; but he shook his head, and answered that all was over with him. His eyes closed with the torpor of approaching death, and those around sustained his fainting form. Yet they could not withhold their gaze from the wild turmoil before them, and the charging ranks of their companions rushing though the line of sire and smoke.
“See how they run.” one of the officers exclaimed, as the French fled in confusion before the leveled bayonets.
“Who run?” demanded Wolfe, opening his eyes like a man aroused from sleep.
“The enemy, sire,” was the reply; “they give way everywhere.”
“Then,” said the dying general, “tell Colonel River, to cut off their retreat from the bridge. Now, God be praised, I die contented,” he murmured; and, turning on his side, he calmly breathed his last breath.
Great timing, I just finished reading The French and Indian War 1754 - 1763
by Seymour Schwartz (picked up at a yard sale ((in pristine condition)).
Rather than be so mysterious,
let me explain.
At 19 I spent a summer traveling from TO to Halifax.
Canada had wonderful hostel accomadations.
At QC it was an old prison on the Plains of Abraham.
The monument I described was just outside.
Spent a week there with a German girl.
I figured it all out from your previous post...I just thought the girl was Dutch. (;-D
I used to live in upstate NY and would visit Ticonderoga and Lake George where much F&IW history reside...I have not read as much as I would like on that period. Thanks for the recommendation...
The fellow in the green Ranger jacket in the West painting is Sir William Johnson, clearly identified on the powder horn, who wasn’t even there.
AWESOME!!!
Thanks Pharmboy.
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