the latter fell the duty of taking the necessary soundings for the
position to be occupied by the cats, and Wolfe refers in a despatch to a
conversation he had with Cook upon the matter. The attack took place on
31st July, aided by the fire of the Pembroke, Trent, and Richmond, which
were "anchored clear over to the north shore before Beauport, a brisk
firing on both sides," but the boats were thrown into confusion by a reef
(marked on the chart as visible at low water), and were some time before
they could effect a landing, then a heavy storm of rain came on,
rendering the ground, which was steep, very slippery. The troops occupied
one redoubt, but were so dominated by the French musketry that they could
get no further, and Wolfe deemed it desirable to recall them and to stop
the advance across the ford. The two cats were burnt to prevent them
falling into the hands of the enemy, and the losses of the English in
killed, wounded, and missing were 443, those of the French being
estimated at 200. Cook says the repulse was solely owing to the heavy
fire from the entrenchments, "which soon obliged our Troops to retreat
back to the Boats and Montmorency"; whilst Wolfe, in a general order,
throws the blame on the Louisburg Grenadiers, a picked body of men from
several regiments, whom he considers got out of hand. He also, in a
despatch submitted to Saunders, threw some amount of blame on the Navy,
but to this the Admiral strongly objected, and it was withdrawn, Wolfe
saying: "I see clearly wherein I have been deficient; and think a little
more or less blame to a man that must necessarily be ruined, of little or
no consequence."

It has been asserted that Cook led the boats to the attack, but as this
was done by Wolfe himself, according to his own letters, and as Saunders
was also out with them, both officers having narrow escapes, it seems
more probable that Cook would be on his own ship, where, as she was
engaged, his services would be wanted, for it was one of the Master's