![[Major-General James Wolfe (1727-1759)]](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2005/CKS/2005_CKS_07073_0222_000(104106).jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Monckton was one of Wolfe's three senior brigadiers (with Murray and Townshend) at Quebec. He commanded the forces during the night landing at Anse au Foulon and the British right on the plains of Abraham, on 13 September, 1859. Although he 'received a ball through his lungs' at the battle, he went on to command the city of Quebec and its environs after the British victory. He was depicted at Wolfe's side in West's 'Death of Wolfe', and 'Wolfe thought much of Monckton "having bequeathed his camp equipage to Monckton"' (G.E. Hart, The Fall of New France: 1755-1760, Montreal, 1888, p.170), the bequest presumably including the present relic.
James Wolfe took a leading part in the siege of Louisbourg in 1758, Walpole writing that he had 'great merit, spirit, and alacrity, and shone extremely at Louisbourg', and he urged Amherst to to make an attempt on Quebec at the end of the year, writing that he strongly advised 'an offensive daring kind of war' adding 'if you will attempt to cut up New France by the roots, I will come back with pleasure to assist.' (30 September, 1858). Back in England, at Christmas he was appointed to command the force to be sent up the St. Lawrence against Quebec. He arrived in Nova Scotia on 30 April 1859 and by late June had taken nearly nine thousand men (in ten batallions, forming three brigades under Monckton, Townshend and Murray, along with three companies of grenadiers and three of light infantry, with six companies of New England Rangers) to the Isle of Orleans, just below Quebec. By the 10th of September, Wolfe had found his audacious landing point at Anse au Foulon (now Wolfe's Cove), a place of steep wooded cliffs just a mile and a half above Quebec. The landing here surprised the French under Montcalm, and allowed the British forces to attack the French army and Canadians on the plains of Abraham on 13 September. Wolfe's bold offensive strategy, his last orders ('The officers and men will remember what their country expects of them...') and his death by French sharpshooters on the battlefield anticipate Nelson at Trafalgar.
James Wolfe took a leading part in the siege of Louisbourg in 1758, Walpole writing that he had 'great merit, spirit, and alacrity, and shone extremely at Louisbourg', and he urged Amherst to to make an attempt on Quebec at the end of the year, writing that he strongly advised 'an offensive daring kind of war' adding 'if you will attempt to cut up New France by the roots, I will come back with pleasure to assist.' (30 September, 1858). Back in England, at Christmas he was appointed to command the force to be sent up the St. Lawrence against Quebec. He arrived in Nova Scotia on 30 April 1859 and by late June had taken nearly nine thousand men (in ten batallions, forming three brigades under Monckton, Townshend and Murray, along with three companies of grenadiers and three of light infantry, with six companies of New England Rangers) to the Isle of Orleans, just below Quebec. By the 10th of September, Wolfe had found his audacious landing point at Anse au Foulon (now Wolfe's Cove), a place of steep wooded cliffs just a mile and a half above Quebec. The landing here surprised the French under Montcalm, and allowed the British forces to attack the French army and Canadians on the plains of Abraham on 13 September. Wolfe's bold offensive strategy, his last orders ('The officers and men will remember what their country expects of them...') and his death by French sharpshooters on the battlefield anticipate Nelson at Trafalgar.