Chapter II: Preface

“AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL” is a compete story in itself, but forms the third volume of a line known by the general title of “Colonial Series.”

The first volume of this series, entitled “With Washington in the West,” related the fortunes of David Morris, the son of a pioneer who settled at Wills’ Creek, now known as Cumberland, Va. David became well acquainted with Washington while the latter was a surveyor, and later on served under the young commander during the fateful Braddock expedition against Fort Duquesne.

The defeat of General Braddock left the English frontier at the mercy of the French and Indians, and in the second volume of the series, entitled “Marching on Niagara,” were given the particulars of General Forbes’s advance on Fort Duquesne, and also the particulars of the advance on Fort Niagara under General’s Prideaux and Johnson, leading up to a decisive victory which gave the English control of all the vast territory lying between the great lakes and what was then the Louisiana Territory.

The French hold on North America was now badly shaken, but not altogether broken; and in the present volume are related the particulars of General Wolfe’s brilliant scaling of the Heights of Quebec, the battle on the Plains of Abraham, and the capture of the city itself.

Following the surrender of Quebec came a winter of dreary waiting for both sides in this great conflict. Each army looked for re-enforcements, and early in the spring the French made an attack, hoping to regain the ground lost. But this attack was repulsed, and then the French concentrated at Montreal, and hither were hurried the three divisions of the English army, including a goodly number of Colonial troops. With these forces was David Morris, doing his duty to the end, until the fall of Montreal brought this important and far-reaching war with France to a close.

As in his previous works, the author has sought to be as accurate as possible in historical detail—no easy task where American, English, and French historians differ so widely in their statements.

Once again I thank my young friends for the interest they have shown in my books. May the present volume prove both pleasing and profitable to them.

EDWARD STRATEMEYER.

_June 1, 1903._

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ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

As the weapon rang out, the red man 53
leaped upward and fell in a heap
(_Frontispiece_)

As the catamount left the ground, White 46
Buffalo fired a second arrow

A short distance away was a 109
broad-sterned brig

He gave it a vigorous kick, which sent 146
it spinning away from the dangerous
spot

“B’ar meat!” yelled Barringford 180

Four troopers were in hot pursuit 222

Dave’s musket was up in an instant 268

“Stand where you are,” ordered the sick 297
man

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AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL.

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