Wolfe (JAMES an English military)

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

JAMES, an English military officer; born in Westerham vicarage, Kent, Jan. 2, 1727; was educated at Westerham and Greenwich. From the first he was bent upon following his father's profession of arms; and, balked by illness at 13 of a share of the unfortunate Cathagena expedition, in 1742 he received an ensign's commission in a foot regiment. In 1743 he took part in the famous battle of Dettingen, boy though he was, as adjutant of his regiment; in 1744 he obtained his captaincy; and in 1745-1746 he served against the Scotch, being present at the battles of Falkirk and Culloden. Again abroad on service in 1747, he was wounded, though not seriously, at the battle of Lawfeld, and so distinguished himself that he was publicly thanked by the Duke of Cumberland. From 1749 to 1757, with occasional interruptions, such as a six months' residence in Paris, he was engaged in garrison duty in Scotland and England; his interesting correspondence with his mother shows that he had no great liking for the former country and its inhabitants. In the mismanaged expedition against Rochefort (1757) Wolfe acted as quartermaster-general. The total failure of the operations brought disgrace to nearly all concerned; but it became known that had Wolfe's counsels been followed the result would almost certainly have been different. Pitt's attention was now first decisively drawn to him as an officer of whom great things might be expected; and in 1758, with the full rank of colonel, he was appointed to the command of a brigade in the expedition against Cape Breton under General Amherst. A brilliant success was obtained in the capture of the strong fortress of Louisberg, after a seven weeks' siege, and he became popularly known as the "Hero of Louisburg." Pitt was now organizing his grand scheme for expelling the French from Canada; he sought for merit wherever it was to be found; and the expedition which had for its object the capture of Quebec, the enemy's capital, he confided to Wolfe's command, allowing him, as far as possible, a carte blanche in the choice of his subordinate officers. Advanced to the rank of Major-General, and commanding 9,000 men, Wolfe sailed from England on Feb. 17, 1759, and on June 26 landed his forces on the Isle of Orleans, opposite Quebec. The system of defense adopted by his adversary, the skillful and wary Montcalm, was such as to offer no point of advantage. The season wore fast away during which operations could be continued; but at last, having dropped down the river, and scaled the cliffs at a point insufficiently guarded -a feat of such frightful risk as in war has scarcely a parallel-at daybreak of Sept. 13, Wolfe found himself on the RAW MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES WOLFE Plains of Abraham, where, his supplies thus cut off, Montcalm had no choice but to give battle. After a short struggle the French were driven from the field in rout; Montcalm 500 impetroupon weber for was one of killed; lowed five days after and its fall decided the fate of Canada. Wolfe died in the hours of victory, Sept. 13, 1759. In person he led the right, till thrice wounded, he was carried to the rear. He lived to hear the cry, "They run; see how they run!" and expired with the words, "Now God be praised, I will die in peace." His body was taken home and buried in Greenwich church, and a monument was erected to him in Westminster Abbey. WOLFENBÜTTEL, an old town of Brunswick, Germany; on the Oker; 7 Brunswick. One of the old churches contains many of the tombs of the princes of Brunswick. The old castle now accommodates a seminary for teachers and a theater. The library opposite, built in 1723 in the form of the Pantheon at Rome, became famous for its literary wealth and for the fact that Lessing was its librarian. It was Lessing who edited the "Wolfenbüttel Fragments," professedly from anonymous MSS. under his his charge, but really from the pen of his friend Reimarus, which startled the theological world of Ger- The Pantheon building had bemany. come so rickety and dangerous that it had to be taken down, being superseded in 1887 by a handsome new edifice. There are in the town manufactures of copper goods, flax, cloth, cork, leather, preserves, tobacco, etc. The place is very ancient, and dates from 1046; it was besieged and taken in 1193 and 1542; and during the Thirty Years' War a battle was fought here. Pop. about 20,000.