On 26th June 1759 the invading fleet dropped anchor near the Isle of Orleans some 4 miles from Quebec (The fleets approach and navigation of the St Lawrence river aided by the meticulous surveying activities of the fleets navigator one James Cook). By daybreak of the 27th the whole British army was ashore readying itself for the coming campaign.

Quebec itself stands on a high ridge between the confluence of two rivers, The mighty St Lawrence itself and the St Charles River. Garrisoning the city were 2000 men with some 100 or so cannon was under the command of Commandant de Ramezay. The north bank of the St Lawrence on which Quebec stood was a sheer cliff that stretched several miles westward from the city, presenting a major obstacle in itself, however it was also watched over by Bougainville, Montcalm's aid de camp with a small observation force. To the North of Quebec the approach was protected first by the St Charles River and then by Montcalm's fortifications, the Beauport lines, that stretched almost the six miles Eastwood to the Montmorency falls. Garrisoning these lines were some 15000 French regulars, militia and Indians who could deploy between the city and the lines thanks to a pontoon bridge over the St Charles River.

The initial action by Moncktons Brigade was the capture of Pointe aux Peres, a series of rocky heights on the southern bank of the St Lawrence opposite Quebec and where the river narrowed to only 1000 yards. By the 12th of July Monckton had managed to build a number of batteries on the site and these were soon inflicting heavy damage to Quebec's outer buildings.

On 9th July Wolfe had also sent Townsend's and Murray's Brigades to land at the Eastern end of the Montmorency falls. (At the extreme eastern end of Montcalm's fortifications on the north bank of the St Lawrence) The aim being of setting up batteries that would command all of the French positions and their garrisons. On the 31st July an attack was made on the nearest of the fortifications by massed grenadiers, including those from the 35th, which was beaten back at some cost, the 35th Regiment of Foot loosing twenty five officers and men killed and three missing. But all was not gloom and doom for the soldiers of the 35th it was around this time that several sentries from the regiment earnt themselves shares in the five guineas given to them by Wolfe for their capture of an Indian bent on acquiring their scalps.

By now the noose around Quebec had also been drawn tighter with several warships slipping past the guns of Quebec on the 18th July under the cover of darkness and preventing movement by French river craft further up river. Meanwhile patrols were sent out to the surrounding countryside not only to secure provisions but also to lay waste Quebec's rear and cause the Montcalm to send troops to protect these outposts and thereby weaken the centre of French operations, Quebec itself.

The plan against Quebec's rear was extended on the 29th of August with the troops at Montmorency abandoning the camp and being transferred to Monkton's camp at Point Levi. On the 12th September both Monkton and Murray's brigades were marched up river on the Southern bank and there embarked in flat bottomed river craft in order to launch an attack on the north bank.

Meanwhile Montcalm had transferred 4000 troops from his "Beauport" lines (following the abandoning of the British camp at Montmorency) sending them to reinforce the town. Montcalm firmly believed that he could rush further troops across his pontoon with time to spare if the British managed to force a landing anywhere along the north bank of the St Lawrence.

Wolfe had either through personal surveying, the diligence of others, informers or deserters, discovered only one and a half miles from Quebec, a rugged track that ran from a small cove to the top of the cliffs. Although protected by a barricade it was thought by the French to be an impossible attack route. It was this path that Wolfe intended to use.

The advance party was lead by in person by Wolfe and consisted of the 28th,43rd,47th Foot, plus  detachments of the 60th and the highlanders. The second wave including the 35th soon followed and the boats sent to ferry further troops--the 48th Foot and another battalion of the 60th from the southern bank of the St Lawrence.

The small guard at the top of the cliff was quickly over come by the light infantry, the noise masked by diversionary fire by the fleet on the Beauport lines and the batteries on Pointe aux Peres. By 6a.m. Wolfe's force of 4.500 men and (eventually) two cannon were being formed into position for the undoubted battle.

In a line running from the cliffs stood the 35th, "the Louisbourg Grenadiers" (a composite battalion drawn from the Grenadiers of the regiments garrisoning Louisbourg ---22nd Foot,40th Foot and 45th Foot, plus volunteers),then the 28th,43rd, 47th , the Highlanders, 58th and on the extreme left 15th Foot.

The combined light infantry (including those from the 35th were drawn up in the rear of the 15th Foot facing North from where an expected attack might materialise, a reserve consisting of  the 48th and one battalion 60th  stood a little to right of centre and a further battalion of the 60th guarded the landing site and cliff path. With his men deployed in a two deep line (in order to maximise weight of firepower) Wolfe ordered his men to load with double shot.

It was not until after 6 o'clock that Montcalm, at his camp in the Beauport lines, was informed not only of the British landing but that they were formed and ready for battle only a mile and a half from Quebec. Soon troops were rapidly crossing the pontoon bridge and deployed by Montcalm onto the Plains of Abraham.
 

The first French forces onto the field were some 1500 plus Militia and Indians who immediately started to work round the British flanks where some encountered the men of the 35th Foot. It is something of a quirk of history that the 35th during the largest pitched battle fought in Canada during this war, would encounter a number of adversaries, including five of the six French regular Regiments from the disaster at Fort William Henry. As to how this affected the men can only be guessed at but memory of Fort William Henry and revenge was certainly on the mind of a good few soldiers on both sides throughout the battle.

Montcalm deployed his men in line from the St Lawrence river with Troupes de la Marine, then the Royal Roussillon Regiment, followed by Guienne, Bearn, Languedoc, La Sarre and more Troupes de la Marine. Up until 10 o'clock the French and Indian allies kept up a steady fire on the British line but these were driven off by Colonel Howe with detachments of light infantry.

At about 10 o'clock the whole French line was ordered to advance by Montcalm resplendent in his Lieutenant Generals uniform including his cuirass and mounted on his black thoroughbred. Advancing to about one hundred and fifty yards the French line opened fire with a series of uncontrolled volleys. The British line stood, as they had been ordered, silent and motionless. About this time Wolfe received a wound in the wrist but continued his duties urging the men to reserve their fire

As the nearest French soldiers closed to about forty yards Wolfe gave the order to fire and the fully controlled doubled shotted volley roared out. When the smoke thinned a little, it was clear that the leading ranks in the French battalions had ceased to exist. Meanwhile the British reloaded advanced twenty paces and added another volley into the carnage. The French Army began to break.  Wolfe gave the order for a general advance and shortly after was shot twice while leading the 28th Foot and Louisbourg Grenadiers forward, being helped to his feet he was struck a third time. Despite his wounds he was able to order the 48th Foot to march to the Charles river to try to cut of the escape route to the French pontoon bridge. On the right the 35th  Foot encountered the Royal Roussillon Regiment who they charged at bayonet point and overwhelmed.

Meanwhile Montcalm desperately trying to rally his men was mortally wounded but despite his wounds managed to get several of the regular French battalions to safety across the St Charles river.It now became clear that many of the French being taken prisoner were also remembering amongst others, Fort William Henry "and extremely apprehensive" as to their fate "asking over and over again for quarter". Montcalm its seems was also thinking of Fort William Henry for despite the agony of his death bed (in Quebec) he dictated a letter to the British commander begging clemency for his men taken prisoner. This brave and honourable soldier passed away just before dawn on the 14th September.

With the British soldiers chasing the French army practically to the walls of Quebec Brigadier George Townsend took over command. Expecting at the very least a demonstration in force from fresh French forces under Bougainville. Townsend recalled the British regiments from their chase and ordered the army into a line that might serve both as a defensive line and as a siege line. Further cannon were bought across the St Lawrence while outlying houses were fortified and incorporated into the defence scheme. (This threat actually materialised at about 11.a.m. a force of about 3000 men under Bougainville approached the British rear, being fired upon by the light infantry and the 48th Foot it retreated westwards).

By now the British could count the cost, all told there were 55 dead with some 607 wounded---the 35th Foot having 6 dead and 35 wounded. For the French there were some 500 dead and over 1000 wounded or prisoners.

Siege preparations were undertaken but before the advancing batteries could open fire Quebec was surrendered. The British army now spent a miserable winter in Quebec while rumours mounted of a French attempt to recapture the city and actually occupied St Augustine some three miles from Quebec. By 26th April Brigadier Francois Gaston de Levis was able to assemble a force of 7000 plus sent down river from Montreal and attempt a surprise attack.

The now commander Brigadier James Murray heard of this attack and decided on fighting in the open (almost in the same position as the French army several months earlier). During the battle which followed both sides lost about 1000 men with the 35th Foot called into action at an early stage to check a French flanking movement, loosing 13 dead and 48 wounded. Fought in deep snow the French were the eventual victors of the engagement but not before the British had retreated in good order into the city. On this occasion the French allowed the fate of many of the captured and wounded to be decided by their Indian allies.

The French now pressed forward with siege works but were forced to abandon this effort with the arrival of the British fleet between 9th and 16th May finally securing the city.

On 12th July Murray rearranged the men of his command into composite battalions the 35th's Grenadiers joining a Grenadier battalion, four centre companies attached to the third composite battalion with 4 companies of the 60th Foot replacing them. This force embarked on river vessels and proceeded up the river "pacifying" the countryside as it went. On 12th August while at anchor the 35th Foot were reunited with one of its drummers who had been captured at Fort William Henry over three years earlier.

The whole force was part of a three pronged attack under General Amherst (The other two being via Oswego or Ticonderoga/Crown Point/Lake Champlain) and on the 8th September after a number of small engagements Montreal was forced to surrender.