mounted with cannon, and there were other similar works on the strand a quarter of a mile nearer the cataract.  Wolfe could not see from the river that these redoubts were commanded by the musketry of the intrenchments along the brink of the heights above.  These intrenchments were so constructed that they swept with cross-fires the whole face of the declivity, which was covered with grass, and was very steep.  Wolfe hoped that, if he attacked one of the redoubts, the French would come down to defend it, and so bring on a general engagement; or, if they did not, that he should gain an opportunity of reconnoitring the heights to find some point where they could be stormed with a chance of success.

In front of the gorge of the Montmorenci there was a ford during several hours of low tide, so that troops from the adjoining English camp might cross to co-operate with their comrades landing in boats from Point Levi and the Island of Orleans.  On the morning of the thirty-first of July, the tide then being at the flood, the French saw the ship “Centurion,” of sixty-four guns, anchor near the Montmorenci and open fire on the redoubts.  Then two armed transports, each of fourteen guns, stood in as close as possible to the first redoubt and fired upon it, stranding as the tide went out, till in the afternoon they lay bare upon the mud.  At the same time a battery of more than forty heavy pieces, planted on the lofty promontory beyond the Montmorenci, began a furious cannonade upon the flank of the French intrenchments.  It did no great harm, however, for the works were protected by a great number of traverses, which stopped the shot; and the Canadians, who manned this part of the lines, held their ground with excellent steadiness.

About eleven o’clock a fleet of boats filled with troops, chiefly from Point Levi, appeared in the river and hovered off the shore west of the parish church of Beauport, as if meaning to land there.  Montcalm was perplexed, doubting whether the real attack was to be made here, or toward the Montmorenci.  Hour after hour the boats moved to and fro, to increase his doubts and hide the real design; but he soon became convinced that the camp of Levis at the Montmorenci was the true object of his enemy; and about two o’clock he went thither, greeted as he rode along the lines by shouts of Vive notre General! Levis had already made preparations for defence with his usual skill.  His Canadians were reinforced by the battalions of Bearn, Guienne, and Royal Roussillon; and, as the intentions of Wolfe became certain, the right of the camp was nearly abandoned, the main strength of the army being gathered between the river of Beauport and the Montmorenci, where, according to a French writer, there were, towards the end of the afternoon, about twelve thousand men.[721]

[Footnote 721:  Panet, Journal.]