John Knox (British Army officer)

In the spring of 1759, the 43rd were sent to join General Wolfe's troops for the assault on Quebec. Serving under James Murray, Knox was present at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. While surveying the Montmorency Falls on 24 August Knox's journal records how he narrowly avoided being shot when a French soldier's musket misfired.[3] By September, Wolfe was desperate to bring the siege to a conclusion. He called a meeting of his brigadiers and an amphibious assault on the Anse du Foulon was decided upon. Here a narrow pathway provided access to the Plains of Abraham. The landing took place on the night of the 12th-13th. A French-speaking officer named Donald MacDonald fooled the sentry guarding the track, and by morning ten battalions of British troops had formed up on the Plains of Abraham.[4] Knox's regiment was at the centre with the 47th, with orders not to fire until the enemy were within 40 paces. Knox noted how the French released their first full volley at some 136 yards but the enemy's fire was met with "...the greatest intrepidity and firmness".[5] When the British finally returned fire, Knox describes how they did so with "great calmness" and how the resulting discharge was as close and heavy as any performed.[6][7] This short-range volley was one of the most destructive in military history.[4] A second volley was fired and then the British army charged. The French were routed and the city surrendered five days later.[4]

The Duc de Levis, intent on expelling the British, returned to Quebec the following spring with an army of 7,000 men. James Murray felt his depleted force of 4,000 would be unable to hold the city, the defences of which had not been improved over the winter.[8] With insufficient time to entrench, Murray, like Montcalm, decided to go on the offensive and on 28 April 1760 he marched his troops out of the city to do battle with a superior French force.[8] Knox describes how, in order to appear more numerous, certain portions of the British army were drawn up two deep.[9] Murray thought his best chance was to attack the French before they had time to form up; this tactic proved successful at first, due in part to the more numerous British artillery. When the British were required to advance, however, they had to do so without their guns, which had become stuck in the mud and snow.[10] Knox's diary describes how his regiment, the 43rd, together with the 3rd battalion of Americans, captured and briefly held two redoubts before being pushed back.[9] Eventually, the British were forced to retreat to the city, which, despite heavy losses, they were able to hold until reinforcements arrived in May. Levis was then obliged to retire to Montreal. Knox took part in the subsequent Montreal Campaign where, in September, Levis would be compelled to surrender to a much larger British force.[11]