Mixed Game Strategy: Siege of Québec, September 1759
Question 1 – Mixed Game Strategy
Siege of Québec, September 1759
General Wolfe is commander of the English force in New France. He is sieging Québec, capital of New France since last June. He is bombing the fortified city daily from the south shore of the Saint-Laurent river (Lévis).
Step 1 : The Mission
General Wolfe has to take Québec before Winter comes.
Step 2 : Situation and Course of Action
The situation is that winter is coming fast and time might force Wolfe to retreat to Louisbourg until spring before supply route is blocked.
Wolfe as 2 options before him : attempt a landing to the East or to the West of Québec, in order to force battle.
Montcalm, the French Commander, faces a different sets of data. His suppply route from France is blocked by the British Navy. He can only rely on a ragtag team of elite french troops (about 1500), poorly trained local militias and indigenous allies (a total of around 10 000).
If enemy tries a landing to the West, this would bring them right under the walls of the city. Yet the terrain makes it unlikely that the enemy will land that way. On the East flank, the terrain is more favourable, and the British controls the river on both shores of the Orléans Island.
The decision for Montcalm is to how to split his thin forces : he will keep some inside Québec and deploy troops wether to the East or to the West.
Step 3 : Analysis of the Opposing Courses of Action
Wolfe having 2 options to Montcalm two, 4 conflicts could arise. See figure 1.
Step 4 : Comparison of Available Courses of Action
If Wolfe decided on landing to the West, he would land his troops directly at the doorstep of the fortified city. This would force Montcalm into a decisive, final battle. However, if French recce spots the landing force early on, the steep hill to be climbed by a large number of troops with equipments (cannons, riffles, ammunitions) before reaching the « plains of Abraham » can heavily jeopardize chances of success. If Wolfe decided to land to the East, he would meet French resistance upon landing and would still be at some distance from the city walls. This would provide time for the French troops to retreat and reorganize before the final battle.
Wolfe wanted to force a decisive battle within a short period of time. Montcalm desires to keep Wolfe the furthest from the city wall. He wants to gain time in order for Winter to come and force Wolfe out to Louisbourg.
In order to maximize his possibilities of engaging French troops the closest to Québec City within a short time-frame, the West flank is Wolfe best option.
Step 5 : Decision
Wolfe decided to land at l’Anse-aux-foulons, on the West flank of Québec City.
Discussion
If Montcalm decided to send his troops to the East, he exposed himself to a unlikely landing to the West. If he dispatched troops to the West, he exposed himself to a certain landing to the East. Since he sought to protect Québec from a British landing, he had to defend his Eastern flank in priority.
Wolfe did land his troops to the West of Québec in the night of September 12, 1759. By the time Montcalm found it out, 5000 British troops had made it to the Plains of Abraham. In the morning of September 13, the two sides met in a battle at the doors of the city. Within 30 minutes, the British side erupted as victorious. Both Generals were nevertheless fatally wounded in the battle. On September 18, Québec officially capitulated.
The British victory was due to many factors, including good reconnaissance, intelligence, and wit. The troops were experienced, in sharp contrast with the amateurism and lack of cohesion of the French forces.
But it is good planning that made the difference in landing troops on the good flank. The two highest rows of Figure 1 shows that, choosing the West flank, Wolfe was certain of getting into battle close to Québec city. Going to the East, his landing force could meet such resistance that a battle close to the walls was less likely.
Sources :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2497791
Laurier Lapierre, 1759 : The Battle For Canada, (Toronto : McLelland & Stewart, 1990), 305 pages
Jacques Lacoursière, Québec : une histoire populaire – Origines à 1791, (Montréal : Septentrion, 1995), 488 pages
Siege of Québec, September 1759
General Wolfe is commander of the English force in New France. He is sieging Québec, capital of New France since last June. He is bombing the fortified city daily from the south shore of the Saint-Laurent river (Lévis).
Step 1 : The Mission
General Wolfe has to take Québec before Winter comes.
Step 2 : Situation and Course of Action
The situation is that winter is coming fast and time might force Wolfe to retreat to Louisbourg until spring before supply route is blocked.
Wolfe as 2 options before him : attempt a landing to the East or to the West of Québec, in order to force battle.
Montcalm, the French Commander, faces a different sets of data. His suppply route from France is blocked by the British Navy. He can only rely on a ragtag team of elite french troops (about 1500), poorly trained local militias and indigenous allies (a total of around 10 000).
If enemy tries a landing to the West, this would bring them right under the walls of the city. Yet the terrain makes it unlikely that the enemy will land that way. On the East flank, the terrain is more favourable, and the British controls the river on both shores of the Orléans Island.
The decision for Montcalm is to how to split his thin forces : he will keep some inside Québec and deploy troops wether to the East or to the West.
Step 3 : Analysis of the Opposing Courses of Action
Wolfe having 2 options to Montcalm two, 4 conflicts could arise. See figure 1.
Step 4 : Comparison of Available Courses of Action
If Wolfe decided on landing to the West, he would land his troops directly at the doorstep of the fortified city. This would force Montcalm into a decisive, final battle. However, if French recce spots the landing force early on, the steep hill to be climbed by a large number of troops with equipments (cannons, riffles, ammunitions) before reaching the « plains of Abraham » can heavily jeopardize chances of success. If Wolfe decided to land to the East, he would meet French resistance upon landing and would still be at some distance from the city walls. This would provide time for the French troops to retreat and reorganize before the final battle.
Wolfe wanted to force a decisive battle within a short period of time. Montcalm desires to keep Wolfe the furthest from the city wall. He wants to gain time in order for Winter to come and force Wolfe out to Louisbourg.
In order to maximize his possibilities of engaging French troops the closest to Québec City within a short time-frame, the West flank is Wolfe best option.
Step 5 : Decision
Wolfe decided to land at l’Anse-aux-foulons, on the West flank of Québec City.
Discussion
If Montcalm decided to send his troops to the East, he exposed himself to a unlikely landing to the West. If he dispatched troops to the West, he exposed himself to a certain landing to the East. Since he sought to protect Québec from a British landing, he had to defend his Eastern flank in priority.
Wolfe did land his troops to the West of Québec in the night of September 12, 1759. By the time Montcalm found it out, 5000 British troops had made it to the Plains of Abraham. In the morning of September 13, the two sides met in a battle at the doors of the city. Within 30 minutes, the British side erupted as victorious. Both Generals were nevertheless fatally wounded in the battle. On September 18, Québec officially capitulated.
The British victory was due to many factors, including good reconnaissance, intelligence, and wit. The troops were experienced, in sharp contrast with the amateurism and lack of cohesion of the French forces.
But it is good planning that made the difference in landing troops on the good flank. The two highest rows of Figure 1 shows that, choosing the West flank, Wolfe was certain of getting into battle close to Québec city. Going to the East, his landing force could meet such resistance that a battle close to the walls was less likely.
Sources :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2497791
Laurier Lapierre, 1759 : The Battle For Canada, (Toronto : McLelland & Stewart, 1990), 305 pages
Jacques Lacoursière, Québec : une histoire populaire – Origines à 1791, (Montréal : Septentrion, 1995), 488 pages
posted by Jean-Sébastien Lévesque at 8:59 PM
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