[Footnote 801:  Bigot au Ministre, 15 Oct. 1759.  Malartic a Bourlamaque, 28 Sept. 1759.]

[Footnote 802:  “Je fus bien charme,” etc. Vaudreuil au Ministre, 5 Oct. 1759.]

Levis, on his part, wrote:  “The condition in which I found the army, bereft of everything, did not discourage me, because M. de Vaudreuil told me that Quebec was not taken, and that he had left there a sufficiently numerous garrison; I therefore resolved, in order to repair the fault that had been committed, to engage M. de Vaudreuil to march the army back to the relief of the place.  I represented to him that this was the only way to prevent the complete defection of the Canadians and Indians; that our knowledge of the country would enable us to approach very near the enemy, whom we knew to be intrenching themselves on the heights of Quebec and constructing batteries to breach the walls; that if we found their army ill posted, we could attack them, or, at any rate, could prolong the siege by throwing men and supplies into the town; and that if we could not save it, we could evacuate and burn it, so that the enemy could not possibly winter there."[803]

[Footnote 803:  Levis au Ministre, 10 Nov. 1759.]

Levis quickly made his presence felt in the military chaos about him.  Bigot bestirred himself with his usual vigor to collect provisions; and before the next morning all was ready.[804] Bougainville had taken no part in the retreat, but sturdily held his ground at Cap-Rouge while the fugitive mob swept by him.  A hundred of the mounted Canadians who formed part of his command were now sent to Quebec, each with a bag of biscuit across his saddle.  They were to circle round to the Beauport side, where there was no enemy, and whence they could cross the St. Charles in canoes to the town.  Bougainville followed close with a larger supply.  Vaudreuil sent Ramesay a message, revoking his order to surrender if threatened with assault, telling him to hold out to the last, and assuring him that the whole army was coming to his relief.  Levis hastened to be gone; but first he found time to write a few lines to Bourlamaque.  “We have had a very great loss, for we have lost M. de Montcalm.  I regret him as my general and my friend.  I found our army here.  It is now on the march to retrieve our fortunes.  I can trust you to hold your position; as I have not M. de Montcalm’s talents, I look to you to second me and advise me.  Put a good face on it.  Hide this business as long as you can.  I am mounting my horse this moment.  Write me all the news."[805]

[Footnote 804:  Livre d’Ordres, Ordre du 17-18 Sept. 1759.]

[Footnote 805:  Levis a Bourlamaque, 18 Sept. 1759.]