as the more so because Montcalm
held no troops in reserve, but launched his whole force at
once against the English. Nevertheless there was some resistance
to the pursuit. It came chiefly from the Canadians, many of whom had
not advanced with the regulars to the attack. Those on the right wing,
instead of doing so, threw themselves into an extensive tract of
bushes that lay in front of the English left; and from this cover
they opened a fire, too distant for much effect, till the victors
advanced in their turn, when the shot of the hidden marksmen told
severely upon them. Two battalions, therefore, deployed before the
bushes, fired volleys into them, and drove their occupants out.

[Footnote 783: _Daine au Ministre, 9 Oct. 1759_.]

Again, those of the Canadians who, before the main battle
began, attacked the English left from the brink of the plateau
towards the St. Charles, withdrew when the rout took place,
and ran along the edge of the declivity till, at the part of it
called Cote Ste.-Genevieve, they came to a place where it
was overgrown with thickets. Into these they threw themselves;
and were no sooner under cover than they faced about to fire upon
the Highlanders, who presently came up. As many of these mountaineers,
according to their old custom, threw down their muskets when they
charged, and had no weapons but their broadswords, they tried in vain
to dislodge the marksmen, and suffered greatly in the attempt. Other
troops came to their aid, cleared the thickets, after stout resistance,
and drove their occupants across the meadow to the bridge of boats.
The conduct of the Canadians at the Cote Ste.-Genevieve went far to
atone for the short-comings of some of them on the battle-field.

A part of the fugitives escaped into the town by the gates
of St. Louis and St. John, while the greater number fled along
the front of the ramparts, rushed down the declivity to the
suburb of St. Roch, and ran over the meadows to the bridge,
protected by the cannon of the town and the two armed hulks
in the river. The rout had but just begun when Vaudreuil
crossed the bridge from the camp of Beauport. It was four
hours since he first heard the alarm, and his quarters were
not much more than two miles from the battle-field. He does
not explain why he did not come sooner; it is certain that his
coming was well timed to throw the blame on Montcalm in
case of defeat, or to claim some of the honor for himself in
case of victory.