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Title
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Taking of Quebec
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Singer
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Unknown
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Notes
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Note 1
Hill, Geoffry: 'This song comes from Durrington, near Stonehenge. We may be morally certain that it was composed by one of the 62nd, for the Wiltshire Regiment was with Wolfe at the taking of Quebec. The statement in the second verse about the relative position of the French and English armies, and the mention of the day of the week on which Wolfe started from England, or on which the battle was fought, point to the author's having been with Wolfe on the heights of Abraham.'
Note 2
Morrison, Jean: - 'This is a more localised version of the printed ballad telling of General Wolfe's death at Quebec. Our version has a few phrases out of it, such as 'The French stood on the mountains high'. But our version is definitely based on actual details.
The 62nd Wiltshire Regiment of Foot sailed in ships of Admiral Boscawen's fleet for an attack on French Canada in January 1758 and fought in several actions before the capture of Quebec and the death of General Wolfe. In the Salisbury Journal I found,
'Gosport, January 27th. On Wednesday three companies of General Amhurst's Regiment of Foot marched through the town to the beach and were directly embarked on board the transports in the harbour and yesterday the remainder of the Regiment came in and were put on board. The whole Regiment were cheerful and went in high spirits.'
So the singer of our song left on Wednesday 25th January 1758. On Thursday 29th November 1759 there was a thanksgiving service for the victory in Salisbury Cathedral, followed by a grand procession of the dignitaries, with the Giant and other pageant figures, Regimental Colours etc through the town.'
Transcribed and edited by Chris Wildridge, 2010.
