Live-blogging the siege of Quebec+250 #48

Sunday, August 19, 1759. It is one of the oddities of the siege that the French, beleaguered as they are, continue to attract deserters from the British forces. (And Captain Knox also reports on news and rumours from French soldiers who have deserted to the British, so it evens out.) The supply clerk writes today:

We have just received three deserters brought to us by people from Pointe de Lévy. I don’t know yet what they are reporting….

A fourth deserter also came in. He reports that the English cannot stay here much longer – he heard that from two officers talking to each other. First they must make a general attack, but he does not know where it will be.

This is a pretty accurate report of the state of the campaign, actually.