Murray went forward to reconnoitre.  Immediately before him was a rising ground, and, beyond it, a tract of forest called Sillery Wood, a mile or more distant.  Nearer, on the left, he could see two blockhouses built by the English in the last autumn, not far from the brink of the plateau above the Anse du Foulon where Wolfe climbed the heights.  On the right, at the opposite brink of the plateau, was a house and a fortified wind mill belonging to one Dumont.  The blockhouses, the mill, and the rising ground between them were occupied by the vanguard of Levis’ army; while, behind, he could descry the main body moving along the road from Ste.-Foy, then turning, battalion after battalion, and rapidly marching across the plateau along the edge of Sillery Wood.  The two brigades of the leading column had already reached the blockhouses by the Anse du Foulon, and formed themselves as the right wing of the French line of battle; but those behind were not yet in position.

Murray, kindling at the sight, thought that so favorable a moment was not to be lost, and ordered an advance.  His line consisted of eight battalions, numbering a little above two thousand.  In the intervals between them the cannon were dragged through slush and mud by five hundred men; and, at a little distance behind, the remaining two battalions followed as a reserve.  The right flank was covered by Dalling’s light infantry; the left by Hazen’s company of rangers and a hundred volunteers under Major MacDonald.  They all moved forward till they were on nearly the same ground where Wolfe’s army had been drawn up.  Then the cannon unlimbered, andopened on the French with such effect that Levis, who was on horseback in the middle of the field, sent orders to the corpsof his left to fall back to the cover of the woods.  The movement caused some disorder.  Murray mistook it for retreat, and commanded a farther advance.  The whole British line, extending itself towards the right, pushed eagerly forward:  in doing which it lost the advantage of the favorable position it had occupied; and the battalions of the right soon found themselves on low grounds, wading in half-melted snow, which in some parts was knee deep.  Here the cannon could no longer be worked with effect.  Just in front, a small brook ran along the hollow, through soft mud and saturated snowdrifts, then gurgled down the slope on the right, to lose itself in the meadows of the St. Charles.  A few rods before this brook stood the house and windmill of Dumont, occupied by five companies of French grenadiers.  The light infantry at once attacked them.  A furious struggle ensued, till at length the French gave way, and the victors dashed forward to follow up their advantage.  Their ardor cost them dear.  The corps on the French left, which had fallen back into the woods, now advanced again as the cannon ceased to play, rushing on without order but with the utmost impetuosity, led by a gallant old officer, Colonel