Chapter I
Date: July 1758
Location: Lake George
The chapter introduces the two central characters, John à Cleeve of Cleeve Court in Devon and his cousin, Richard Montgomery of Ireland. They are ensigns taking part in the British conquest of New France on the St. Lawrence. This begins with expeditions against Louisbourg on Cape Breton and Fort Carillon at Ticonderoga. Fort Carillon is situated on a narrow peninsula created by Lake Champlain and an unnavigable waterway connecting it to Lake George.
Montgomery is an Ensign in the 17th Regiment of Foot heading for Louisbourg, while John à Cleeve is an Ensign in the 46th Regiment of Foot advancing from New York to Lake George. Its commander is General James Abercromby although Brigadier Lord Howe is effectively in charge. The force sails from the southern shore of Lake George on 5 July and arrives on the northern shore, near the outflow to Lake Champlain, on 6 July. Leading the subsequent advance Howe is killed by a chance shot, leaving the army in the hands of the incompetent Abercromby.
The soldiers hear a song, ‘Malbrouck’, sung by a French songster later identified as Bateese Guyon of Boisveyrac (also called Chameau, in Chapter IV).
Chapter II
Date: 7 July, 1758
Location: Fort Carillon at Ticonderoga
When presented with the British landing Montcalm withdraws his forces to a refortified peninsula called Crown Point. Abercromby advances his forces to a saw-mill two miles from Fort Carillon. He fails to reconnoitre the area or to observe the potential artillery position on Rattlesnake Mountain, expecting an immediate French withdrawal, which does not take place. With the French are a small contingent of Ojibway Indians from Lake Huron under Menehwehna.
Chapter III
Date: 8 July, 1758
Location: Fort Carillon on Crown Point
Abercromby remains at the saw-mills but orders a frontal attack. This is repulsed but has to be repeated at intervals during the day, thus increasing the casualty list to no purpose. John à Cleeve is captured amongst the wounded while Abercromby leads his still superior force back to Lake George.
Chapter IV
Date: 9 July, 1758
Location: Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River
A flotilla of boats with the wounded leave Fort Carillon for the St. Lawrence River and Montreal. This includes an Indian canoe carrying a wounded John à Cleeve, who is fluent in French, Corporal Hugh McQuarters (see Chapter XXVII), two Ojibway chiefs, Bateese Guyon of Boisveyrac, who as a hunchback is nicknamed Le Chameau or the camel, and Sergeant Barboux of the Bearn and Royal Roussilon, who carries a secret message from Montcalm to the Intendant at Montreal. Barboux and Menehwehna are in frequent conflict, with serious consequences (see Chapter IX). Menehwehna tells Barboux a warning story.
Story 1: Manabozho’s Toe, part one.
Chapter V
Date: July 1758
Location: Salmon fishing
Story 1: Manabozho’s Toe, part two.
Chapter VI
Date: July 1758
Location: A tributary of the Richelieu RiverOn the advice of Bateese Guyon and against the wishes of Menehwehna, Sergeant Barboux takes a short cut up the tributary of the Richelieu to a pass in the Adirondack Mountains.
Conversation between John à Cleeve and Bateese Guyon.
Chapter VII
Date: July 1758
Location: The upper reaches of the tributary and the high pass in the Adirondack Mountains.
The hunting of a moose. The party divides with Barboux, the Indians and John à Cleeve going on ahead, while Guyon and McQuarters follow with the baggage. At the pass the advance party discover the body of a French Canadian killed by the Iroquois.
Chapter VIII
Date: July 1758
Location: The Adirondack Mountains
The advance party flee westwards towards the St. Lawrence leaving the baggage train to take care of itself. They hear the cry of a dying man, M. Armand des Noel-Tilly.
Chapter IX
Date: July 1758
Location: The Adirondack Mountains
On reaching the upper reaches of the St. Lawrence tributary John à Cleeve tries to escape to the Iroquois, allies of the British, but is knocked unconscious by Muskingon. The party is attacked by the Iroquois and Muskingon is killed through the cowardice of Barboux. Menehwehna and à Cleeve escape by canoe but Barboux is killed by Menehwehna although his jacket, carrying the secret message, is retained.
Chapter X
Date: Late July 1758
Location: Boisveyrac, a Seigniory on the St. Lawrence River
An introduction to the French colonial community of Boisveyrac. The Seignior is also the commandant of Fort Amitié, a few miles upstream.
Father Launoy, a Jesuit, hears of the French victory at Fort Carillon from John à Cleeve and Menehwehna who arrive safely on the far bank of the St. Lawrence River. John à Cleeve is disguised in Barboux’s tunic and is taken for a wounded Frenchman of the Bearn Regiment.
Father Launoy intends travelling with Dominique Guyon downstream to Montreal with news of the victory. On the following day he wishes for Dominique to take à Cleeve and Menehwehna upstream to Fort Amity.
Chapter XI
Date: Late July 1758
Location: The St. Lawrence River
An account of the arrival of à Cleeve and Menehwehna on the bank of the St. Lawrence River opposite Boisveyrac and their questioning by Fr. Launoy at the Seigniory.
(Route: Boisveyrac – Bout de l’Isle – Roches Fendues – Cascades – Le Chine – Montreal)
On his journey to Montreal Fr. Launoy expresses to Dominique Guyon his doubts about what he has been told by à Cleeve. He also expresses his concern over the safety of M. Armand (who is already dead) as he was following the same route as à Cleeve. He also warns Dominique regarding his love for Diane des Noel-Tilly.
On his return from Montreal Dominique soliloquises regarding the ‘old noblesse’, their reactionary nature and the need for more commercially minded individuals who can raise the people out of their poverty.
Chapter XII
Date: Late July 1758
Location: Boisveyrac
Father Launoy questions à Cleeve further but without success. Menehwehna suggests escape to Ojibway territory until the British take Quebec. Dominique informs them of the proposed move to Fort Amitié. À Cleeve is tortured by his conscience.
Chapter XIII
Date: August 1758
Location: Fort Amitié
The Commandant, M. Etienne his brother and Diane his daughter, greet John à Cleeve and Menehwehna on their arrival in the evening. Diane, believing à Cleeve to be a wounded French soldier, falls in love with him. This infatuation increases à Cleeve’s discomfiture. A jealous Dominique asks permission to leave in the morning.
On waking in the morning John à Cleeve discovers a sealed message in Barboux’s tunic but hides it with the entry of Menehwehna, who is almost certainly aware of the missive.
Chapter XIV
Date: August 1758
Location: Fort Amitié
The Commandant explains the military position of Fort Amitié. Diane brings to John à Cleeve the old and a new tunic. He falls in love with her. Dominique retires with the Commandant to the orderly room.
Chapter XV
Date: August 1758
Location: Fort Amitié
Dominique Guyon leaves Fort Amitié for Boisveyrac.
One week passes.
Father Joly, the local priest, and Diane relate the histories of the fort, the area and the Seigneur’s family. John à Cleeve learns of Dominique’s financial hold over the Seigneur and that the accident which bent Bateese’s back was the result of Dominique’s jealousy regarding Diane. Diane discovers a second dispatch in the tunic, almost certainly put there by Menehwehna, but in demanding it John à Cleeve realises that his identity has been compromised. The dispatch is taken to the Commandant.
Chapter XVI
Date: 28 August, 1758
Location: Fort Amitié
John à Cleeve attends the Commandant who is in possession of the dispatch from Montcalm at Fort Carillon to the Marquis de Vaudreuil at Montreal. The Commandant assumes that Montcalm is ordering the reinforcement of Fort Amitié and Fort Frontenac, unaware that Frontenac had fallen the day before. At that moment a flotilla carrying the parolled garrison of Frontenac, under Payan de Noyan, pass silently down river to Montreal.
As John à Cleeve and Diane des Noel-Tilly declare their love, Fr. Launoy lands with Dominique and Bateese Guyon, who can identify à Cleeve. À Cleeve is forced to reveal to Diane his true identity. Diane refuses John but arranges for a canoe, to be brought by Bateese, to be made available for the escape of à Cleeve and Menehwehna but wants an assurance that à Cleeve did not know that the man murdered by the Iroquois was her brother M. Armand and had kept information from her.
Chapter XVII
Date: September 1758
Location: Great Lakes
The journey of John à Cleeve and Menehwehna:
Fort Amitié on the St. Lawrence River – Thousand Islands – Fort Frontenac, ruins of – Fort Rouille at Toronto, the Tobacco Indians – Lake aux Claies or Lake Simcoe – Lake Huron – Michillimackinac
Story 2: Daimeka
Chapter XVIII
Date: October 1758
Location: Michillimackinac
John à Cleeve assumes the Indian name of Netawis. Menehwehna, chief of the local Ojibway tribe, introduces him to his daughter, Azoka, who falls in love with him although she is loved by Ononwe.
The life of the Ojibway Indians.
Story 3: The Beau-man
Chapter XIX
Date: Winter of 1758 to 25 July 1759
Location: Michillimackinac area
Scenes from Indian life.
News of the fall of Fort Niagara to the British, leaving all French outposts, including the fort at Michillimackinac, isolated.
Chapter XX
Date: August 1759
Location: Fort Niagara (Toronto)
John à Cleeve agrees to be the translator for the Ojibway at the Council in Fort Niagara of the British and the Indians of the Great Lakes. The 46th Regiment hold the fort, but John à Cleeve is not recognised.
Chapter XXI
Date: Summer 1759 to summer 1760
Location: Various
The British campaign to take Quebec and Montreal, incorporating New France into the British Empire.
A three pronged advance:
1. General Murray from Louisbourg to Quebec;
2. General Haviland from Fort Carillon and the Richelieu River to the St. Lawrence River;
3. General Amherst from Oswego on Lake Ontario to the southern end of the St. Lawrence River.
General Amherst gathers his forces at Oswego on 10th August, enters the St. Lawrence at the Thousand Islands and approaches Fort Amitié with a force of British and Iroquois Indians. Murray invests Quebec and takes it on 18th September, 1759, with Montreal as his destination.
Dominique and Bateese Guyon arrive at Fort Amitié with the news that no reinforcements are available from Montreal. The British pass the Thousand Islands and refugees of Fort Amitié arrive from La Galette or La Presentation.
Chapter XXII
Date: 15 August 1760
Location: Fort Amitié
General Amherst arrives at La Galette. Diane decides to remain and die in Fort Amitié with her
father. Dominique tries to gain the hand of Diane and to remove her from the fort. He has a financial meeting with the Commandant. The fall of New France is blamed on moral corruption at its centre.
Story 4: Greeks and Persians
Chapter XXIII
Date: 22-26 August 1760
Location: Fort Amitié
The Commandant decides to fight a delaying action at Fort Amitié (Levis). Amherst commences his bombardment on 22 August, with a breach opening to the north-west by 25 August. Amherst plans to attack through the breach with a divisionary attack from the rear by a company of the 46th and a group of Oneida, a tribe of the Iroquois Indians.
The Commandant is killed lowering the flag. It is assumed that the fort is surrendering, with guards descending from the walls. Uncomprehending, the Indians pour over the walls. Diane is trapped in the flagstaff tower but is rescued by John à Cleeve in Indian dress.
Chapter XXIV
Date: 26 August, 1760
Location: Fort Amitié
M. Etienne negotiates the final handover. Dominique and Bateese Guyon agree to pilot the British from Fort Amitié to Montreal, treacherously in the case of Dominique who sees his whole world collapsing.
Chapter XXV
Date: 1 September to 5 September 1760
Location: The St. Lawrence River from Fort Amitié (Levis) to Montreal
Dominique and Bateese Guyon guide the British forces from Fort Amitié to Boisveyrac, where the true identity of John à Cleeve is perceived by Fr. Launoy and Dominique. Dominique realises that he has finally lost Diane. After leaving Boisveyrac the flotilla approaches a divide in the river, one way safe, the other not. Instead of moving to the right, Dominique and Bateese navigate to the left so that the flotilla will be destroyed on the Roches Fendues, but John à Cleeve seizes the helm from Bateese, saving some of the flotilla. 46 boats are lost.
Chapter XXVI
Date: September 1760
Location: Montreal
On 6 September Amherst, Murray and Haviland besiege Montreal, with M. de Vaudreuil surrendering on September. The British and the American colonists, including Philip Schuyler of Albany Gage and Johnson, and the brother of Howe who had all been defeated at Fort Carillon in July 1758, stand in Montreal as victors; while the body of Montcalm, the victor at Fort Carillon, lies in the chapel of the Ursuline convent in Quebec. Diane has been educated at the convent and to it she almost certainly returned.
John à Cleeve meets General Amherst who is in possession of a letter from Diane des Noel-Tilly exonerating him. À Cleeve resigns his commission to work for the new governor, General Murray, in the interest of harmony between the peoples of Canada and the Great Lakes. He meets Richard Montgomery, who has no interest other than in his military career.
Bateese Guyon searches the river and finally discovers the body of Dominique.
Chapter XXVII
Date: December 1775
Location: Quebec
Following the declaration of independence from Great Britain, a military campaign is launched in 1775 to incorporate Canada into the U.S.A. The eastern force is placed under the command of Philip Schuyler, who had fought at Fort Carillon (I, 5), although with Brigadier-General Richard Montgomery in effective command. The route taken is that of the Ticonderoga campaign and then north along the Richelieu River, although with a diversion westwards to take Montreal. On 31st December the united American force stands before Quebec, with Montgomery leading the attack on the Près-de-Ville barrier.
On the British side of the Près-de-Ville are John à Cleeve, Officer of the Works, Sergeant McQuarters, commander of artillery, and Captain Chabot, presumably a Frenchman. Taking advantage of a snowstorm, Montgomery leads his troops to the palisade, only to be mortally wounded, with his body being later discovered by John à Cleeve and conveyed to a log house in St. Louis Street – where Diane des Noel-Tilly is on duty dressed as a Hospitaliere. John and Diane meet and are reconciled. The house might have been the chateau St. Louis where General Murray had had his quarters in 1760. Sergeant Hugh McQuarters appears to also have been killed in the engagement.
Epilogue I
Date: Summer 1818
Location: Rhinebeck, New York
The widow of Brigadier-General Richard Montgomery, formerly Janet Livingstone, is watching with her Livingstone and Schuyler relatives from the window of her house above the Hudson River, as the cortège carrying the body of her husband is conveyed from Quebec to the cenotaph in New York.
Epilogue II
Date: 31 December 1875
Location: Quebec
A ball is held in Quebec to celebrate the victory of British Canada over the American colonists, with the celebrants wearing the dress of 1775 and carrying the sword of Richard Montgomery. At midnight a guard, led by a figure in the Highland costume of Sergeant Hugh McQuarters, proceeds to the house in St. Louis Street where the body of Montgomery lay.
The reader is finally informed that John à Cleeve and Diane des Noel-Tilly married and settled at Boisveyrac, although keeping contact with the Ojibway of Lake Huron.