The Siege of Quebec: Week Two

July 4, 1759. This morning a flag of truce sent into town. In the afternoon another sent from town ; the business not known ; excessive rain and thunder, succeeding by lightning. The Light Infantry under orders of marching all this day. 5th. Colonel Burton, with the 48th regiment and Major Dalling's Light Infantry, took post opposite the south side of the town. The General and Admiral (Saunders)...

The Siege of Quebec: Week One

JOURNAL OF THE PARTICULAR TRANSACTIONS DURING THE SIEGE OF QUEBEC AT ANCHOR OPPOSITE THE ISLAND OF ORLEANS JULY 26TH 1759 BY AN OFFICER OF FRASER'S REGT Prefatory note: The name of the author of this journal is not known, but it is supposed to have been an officer, or non-commissioned officer in "Fraser's Highlanders." The original manuscript is property of Mr. Galloway, of Inverness....

Lt. Hugh Fraser Transfers to the 78th Regiment, Oct. 1761

Writing from Staten Island in the fall of 1761, General Jeffrey Amherst informs the Honorable Governor James Murray regarding the recent commission sold to Lieutenant Hugh Fraser, 27th Inniskilling Regiment, and his impending transfer to the 78th Regiment. Military transfers of this nature were often necessary to maintain the proper distribution of troop levels across the regiments during the campaign. Staten...

General Forbes' Letter to Colonel Simon Fraser, Sep. 1757

New York Septr. 16th 1757.~ Sir, I am commanded by the Earl of Loudoun, to acquaint you, that as your Regiment is ordered directly to New York, that you will order Returns to be made out, to be deliver'd in upon your Arrival there. - 1st: A General Return of the Battalion, with the Numbers of your Supernumeraries. - 2d: A Copy of your Recruiting Accounts, stating the Time from Whence the Pay...

Payroll Account of Thomas Russell, 1758

Much like today, accounting books were used in the eighteenth century for documenting military pay and other related expenses accrued over periods of time. The payroll account of Private Thomas Russell, 78th Regiment, covers the period of July 5, 1757, through April 24, 1758.  Note: Category headers and bracketed script have been added for clarification and do not appear in the original...