self right valiantly. Louisburg had fallen, Acadia had been conquered, but to the northwest, above the rock-bound fortresses of Quebec and Montreal, the Bourbon banner of the fleur-de-lis still floated in triumph. France still held the key to the continent and in the great valleys of the west the blue uniforms of her guardsmen garrisoned all the rapidly-growing outposts. The governors of New France were energetic and aggressive. To the grim and martial Frontenac had succeeded the politic De Callieres, the warlike Vaudreuil, the energetic Beauharnais, the wily Galissonière and La Jonquiere, admiral of France. Following him came, in turn, the impetuous Duquesne and yet another Vaudreuil- the last of the French governors. Equal in valor, though ever at odds with their official superiors, stood the royal commandants, than whom none were braver in fight than the last: Dieskau, who fell at Lake George, and Montcalm, the noble and heroic Montcalm, whose career in Canada has been pronounced "a wonderful struggle against destiny."

England opposed but inferior leaders to these energetic sons of France. Braddock, the obstinate, fell in utter and almost ignominious defeat; Shirley and Johnston had neither the pluck nor the ability to follow up the advantages of success. Loudon was a pompous do-nothing, Abercrombie a slow and heavy-witted incapable, Amherst was a stolid and over-cautious. martinet, Webb a timid and dilatory tactician. Only with Wolfe young, brilliant, energetic and intrepid - did anything like real success come to the arms of England.

Sailing from conquered Louisburg, where his great ability had already displayed itself, Wolfe, in June, 1759, headed toward Quebec. The slow methods of England had enabled France to succor her principal stronghold in Canada and when Wolfe landed on the Island of Orleans Amherst's twelve thousand men still

"The whole mass

lingered on the shores of Lake Champlain. of the people of Canada," says Bancroft, "had been called to arms," and Wolfe, with his less than eight thousand men, found himself fronted by Montcalm with a force of fourteen thousand, not counting the Indian allies." The entire summer was wasted in ineffectual attempts on either side to obtain the advantage; Amherst and his expected reinforcements did not appear and at last on the third of September Wolfe decided upon a movement as adventurous as it was hazardous.

Sick in body but intrepid in spirit he ordered his men to scale the precipitous heights above Quebec. Here was the one weak point of the enemy; here must the assault be made. Once determined upon this was quickly done. Aided by “sheer good luck quite as much as by skill and courage" Wolfe and his little force- exactly four thousand eight hundred and twenty-six in number-in the gray of a September morning, silently pulled themselves up the steep incline and at sunrise, says Mr. Clinton, “looked down from the Heights of Abraham upon the city which for nearly three months they had wearily watched across the water."

Thus outgeneraled and surprised Montcalm saw that instant action was his only salvation. With his seventy-five hundred fighting men he marched to meet the enemy. The battle was joined at once. On came the French; but not until they were within forty yards of the "thin red line" of England was their fire returned. Then the iron hail burst from the English ranks; another volley quickly followed and, as the smoke cleared away, Wolfe charged the wavering French line. The blue coats broke in panic; alike English and French commander fell mortally wounded and as the French battalions turned in flight the fate of Canada was sealed. One of the decisive

battles of the world was fought and won in precisely ten minutes by the watch.

Montreal fell in the following summer. Rogers and his American rangers captured the western posts and with the close of 1760 the last hope of France was extinguished. The lilies of the French king fell in surrender; the red cross of St. George waved over conquered fortresses and captured posts, and America was English from the St. Lawrence to the Gulf.

The thirteen colonies were wild with joy. They were saved. The always-present danger of French conquest was over forever and its final overthrow was due as much to American valor as to English discipline. Though British councillors and commanders might sniff and sneer, the people knew in how great measure they had helped to the end. "Provincials," says Bancroft, "had saved the remnants of Braddock's army; provincials had conquered Acadia; provincials had defeated Dieskau." And provincials, too, had captured invulnerable Louisburg, had destroyed Fort Frontenac, reduced Niagara and planted the English flag in victory on the ruined bastions of Duquesne.

Such a schooling in warfare as that was not to go unheeded. Alike ranger and forester, militiaman and volunteer gained the inspiration of victory from this, the last stand against France. The day for yet greater deeds was close at hand and the colonial fighting-man was to become the defender and the deliverer of his home-land. English contempt was to develop into English tyranny and at the call of their leaders the despised provincials of the past were to become the patriots of the future. From the ranks of the village train-bands and the colonial militiamen was to step ready and armed for resistance the determined and now immortal Minute-man. The real American soldier was ready at last.

CHAPTER IV.

MINUTE-MEN AND CONTINENTALS.

AM
MR his Duty

R. BRATTLE presents his Duty to his Excellency Gov. Gage, he apprehends it his Duty to acquaint his Excellency from Time to Time with every Thing he hears and knows to be true and is of Importance in these troublesome Times, which is the Apology Mr.

Brattle makes for troubling the General with this Letter. Capt. Minot of Concord, a very worthy Man, this Minute informed Mr. Brattle that there had been repeatedly made pressing Applications to him to warn his Company to meet at One Minutes Warning, equipt with Arms and Ammunition, according to Law; he had constantly denied them, adding, if he did not gratify them he should be constrained to quit his Farms and Town; Mr. Brattle told him he had better do that than lose his Life and be hanged for a Rebel."

Thus, on the twenty-ninth of August, 1774, ran the opening

of a letter addressed to the commanding officer of the British troops in Boston by William Brattle, the brigadier in command of the provincial militia. For Boston was garrisoned by the troops of King George. The temper of her people was hot and aggressive toward England and the authorities across the water had determined to nip rebellion in the bud.

It was a note of warning, but it came too late. Military rule in America meant an increase of oppression; and to further oppression men were unalterably opposed. Resistance was duty. To this duty the colonists were urged and those especially who enrolled in the militia were implored to hold themselves ready for any emergency. And at last the emergency came.

For years the relations between king and colonists had been growing more and more strained. Freedom from absolute influence of the kingly authority had for more than a generation been creating in men a desire for greater personal freedom. There is a mighty impetus toward emancipation in the un-bridged distance of three thousand miles of sea.

So at last out of dispute came action. Tyranny on the one side and unyielding opposition on the other ended as it only could end in blows, and when the clash came the "minute's warning" had its full effect. The Minute-men were ready and

alert.

The first shock of arms came in the Massachusetts colony. When the British government sent orders to General Gage, the commander in Boston, that he should bid his troops fire upon the people when he should deem it necessary, the match was put to the tinder. The people's protest showed itself in the storing of munitions of war for their own defense and in the drill and continual readiness of the Minute-men. In 1775 came the climax.