SIEGE OF QUÉBEC

Opposing Forces

British Army, Americans and Navy The Americans

Rangers :

To protect settlers against attacks and raids by the Canadians and Amerindians, a special unit, the Rangers, was set up as early as the 17^th century. It was however during the Seven Years' War that the Rangers actually had the opportunity to show what they could do, and so they became a powerful tactical weapon. At that time, they were incorporated into the regular army and served alongside the land troops. It was in 1755 that Lord Loudoun became aware that the ambush tactics used by these Rangers, combined with the new tactics and the regular units, could prove a great asset. Henceforth, the Rangers could be found on all British fronts⁷⁷.

During the siege of Québec, Wolfe requested 600 Rangers to serve with his regular troops; such a high number being justified by the fact that the General sought to control the areas around the city. Under the circumstances, six companies – 576 men – under Major George Scott's command, joined the ranks of Wolfe's army. They were the first to land at the Île d'Orléans on June 25, and made a first contact – actually, a skirmish – with the troops already in the area. In July, two regiments were sent out as reinforcements on the east bank of the Montmorency River, while the others participated in raids carried out west of the city. Moreover, the fear campaign led by Wolfe, and the resulting destruction of several villages, was mostly carried out by Rangers. Because of the scattering of the troops during that summer, they did not take part in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Five companies returned to New England after the capture of Québec, while another company remained in Murray's ranks⁷⁸.

Colonial Pioneers :

In addition to the Rangers, the American troops fighting alongside the British at the siege of Québec included Colonial Pioneers. These were "American" land troops, and some of the companies were considered to be as efficient as the British troops. These soldiers were trained by their provincial legislature for eight months of the year, and they were paid and equipped by their respective colonies. It was in Massachusetts, the most highly populated colony, that the highest number of Pioneers could be found: 6,800 of them in 1759, including 300 that had landed in Québec in July of that year. Based on the remaining documents regarding the conflict, these military men did not take part in the battles but were used to build and maintain fortifications, batteries and camps⁷⁹.

We have no information concerning their equipment. As for their uniform, they probably had none⁸⁰.

British Forces in Québec in 1759

Commanders :
Commander in Chief of the British Army in America:		Major General Jeffery Amherst
Commander in Chief of the Québec Expedition:		Major General James Wolfe
Commander of the First Brigade:		Brigadier General Robert Monckton
Commander of the Second Brigade:		Brigadier General George Townshend
Commander of the Third Brigade:		Brigadier General James Murray
	Number of men
15^th Regiment of Foot (Amherst)	594
28^th Regiment of Foot (Bragg)	591
35^th Regiment of Foot (Otway)	899
43^th Regiment of Foot (Kennedy)	715
47^th Regiment of Foot (Lascelles)	679
48^th Regiment of Foot (Webb)	852
58^th Regiment of Foot(Anstruther)	616
78^th Infantry (Fraser)	1,269
2^nd Battalion, 60^th Regiment of Foot (Monckton)	581
3^rd Battalion, 60^th Regiment of Foot (Lawrence)	607
Louisbourg Grenadiers	326
Light Infantry	200
Rangers	570
Colonial Pioneers	300
Royal Artillery	330
Total Land Forces	9,129

Source : André Charbonneau, « Québec, ville assiégée », dans Serge Bernier et al., Québec, ville militaire (1608-2008), Montréal, Art Global, 2007, p. 141.

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Battles of 1759 and 1763