which his position demanded, lacked decision in times of crisis; and though tenacious of authority, was more jealous in asserting than self-reliant in exercising it.  One of his traits was a sensitive egotism, which made him forward to proclaim his own part in every success, and to throw on others the burden of every failure.  He was facile by nature, and capable of being led by such as had skill and temper for the task.  But the impetuous Montcalm was not of their number; and the fact that he was born in France would in itself have thrown obstacles in his way to the good graces of the Governor.  Vaudreuil, Canadian by birth, loved the colony and its people, and distrusted Old France and all that came out of it.  He had been bred, moreover, to the naval service; and, like other Canadian governors, his official correspondence was with the minister of marine, while that of Montcalm was with the minister of war.  Even had Nature made him less suspicious, his relations with the General would have been critical.  Montcalm commanded the regulars from France, whose very presence was in the eyes of Vaudreuil an evil, though a necessary one.  Their chief was, it is true, subordinate to him in virtue of his office of governor;[368] yet it was clear that for the conduct of the war the trust of the Government was mainly in Montcalm; and the Minister of War had even suggested that he should have the immediate command, not only of the troops from France, but of the colony regulars and the militia.  An order of the King to this effect was sent to Vaudreuil, with instructions to communicate it to Montcalm or withhold it, as he should think best.[369] He lost no time in replying that the General “ought to concern himself with nothing but the command of the troops from France;” and he returned the order to the minister who sent it.[370] The Governor and the General represented the two parties which were soon to divide Canada,—­those of New France and of Old.

[Footnote 366:  Vaudreuil au Ministre, 30 Oct. 1755.]

[Footnote 367:  Ordres du Roy et Depeches des Ministres, Fev. 1756.]

[Footnote 368:  Le Ministre a Vaudreuil, 15 Mars, 1756.  Commission du Marquis de Montcalm.  Memoire du Roy pour servir d’Instruction au Marquis de Montcalm.]

[Footnote 369:  Ordres du Roy et Depeches des Ministres, 1756.  Le Ministre a Vaudreuil, 15 Mars, 1756.]

[Footnote 370:  Vaudreuil au Ministre, 16 Juin, 1756.  “Qu’il ne se mele que du commandement des troupes de terre.”]

A like antagonism was seen in the forces commanded by the two chiefs.  These were of three kinds,—­the troupes de terre, troops of the line, or regulars from France; the troupes de la marine, or colony regulars; and lastly the militia.  The first consisted of the four battalions that had come over with Dieskau and the two that had come with Montcalm, comprising in all a little less than three thousand men.[371]