History of the Frasers of Lovat

XIX. GENERAL SIMON FRASER. 493
writing of the campaign says that " the Highlanders seem
particularly calculated for this country and species of war-
fare, requiring great personal exertion. Their patience,
sober habits, and hardihood — their bravery, their agility,
and their dress contribute to adapt them to this climate, and
render them formidable."
The British forces occupied Quebec during the winter
months under General Murray, the senior surviving officer,
General Townshend having returned home. The season
being a very severe one, and the troops having had to
subsist mainly on salt meat, they were so reduced by disease
and scurvy that by the month of April, only 3000 effective
men remained. A large fresh French force again gathered
round them, and it became necessary and it was determined
to try the event of a battle. Accordingly, on the 28th of
April this attenuated and sickly army was marched out by
General Murray to the Heights of Abraham to measure
swords with an army of 10,000 French and 500 Indians,
on the scene of their former victory. Colonel Simon
Fraser commanded on the left, which was formed of his
own Highlanders, along with the 43rd and 47th regiments.
A desperate engagement ensued, which was brilliantly
fought by the British against almost overwhelming odds.
The enemy at one time penetrated into two redoubts, " but
were driven out from both by the Highlanders, sword in
hand." The British had, however, ultimately to retire, but
they had given the enemy such a thorough dressing that
they were allowed to do so without pursuit and permitted
to carry their wounded along with them. They, however,
lost severely, 6 officers and 251 rank and file having been
killed, and 82 officers and 679 non-commissioned officers
and men wounded. Of the killed two officers and 55
privates and pipers belonged to the Fraser Highlanders.
They had no fewer than 156 wounded, of whom 27 were
officers and 129 non-commissioned officers and privates.
Among them were Colonel Fraser himself, Captain Alex-
ander Fraser of Culduthel, Lieutenants Alexander Fraser,
senior, Alexander Fraser, junior, Simon Fraser, senior,