French Players Briefing

General Du Gourmand immediately after learning his strategic situation. Careful observers will notice that his hair has turned white.

From the pen of General Louis-Joseph de Montcalm-Gozon, Marquis de Saint-Veran in quarters at Louisbourg 1^th of March 1757

To General Du Gourmand at his camp at St. Elizabeth.

General Du Gourmand,

Louisbourg is in great peril and I need not (nor could I, if I wished) conceal from you, a hardened campaigner, the extremity of our situation. The English have driven us back beyond the Allegheny mountains and are at present gathering their strength to push through the passes and on to Louisbourg. Our forces are few and their strength is considerable, therefore it is imperative that we have early warning of which passes they are attempting to traverse, that we may concentrate our forces against them.

You are instructed to take under your command those forces now present in the Montmerency Pass. You are to provide early warning of English movements, strengths and intentions, sending word by messenger as soon as they are sighted and providing a daily report of any contact that you have with them to me at Louisbourg.

In the event of an English attempt on the Montemerency pass, you are at all costs to hold the town of St. Elizabeth which commands the northern exit of the pass and harass, mystify and delay their advance by all those means at your disposal.

I remain,

General Louis-Joseph de Montcalm-Gozon, Marquis de Saint-Veran

You must:-

1. Write orders for each of these bodies and any detachments. They should include.

• instructions for each body.

• Action to be taken on spotting the enemy.

Any body that you are with personally may of course act as you wish, but any body of troops not under your direct command will act in accordance with their orders and the character of their brigadier, until orders arrive to do otherwise.

2) Write any other orders regarding scouting, logistics, spies, bribing local Indians, burning buildings, building bridges, etc.

NOTE: I will not call you back for clarification regarding your written orders, if I feel the order is unclear or ambiguous and I will act in accordance with the Brigadiers character and what I believe he would be in the circumstances.

The Theatre of War