"Character and Chance at Grips with Destiny." Topic

"At just a tiny spot on the world map – the Heights of Abraham – two generals died on the field of honour and the political face of the world was changed forever. The battle on the Plains of Abraham lasted only twenty minutes, but that brief phase of fighting is looked on as a turning-point in history, an epoch-making milestone. This great eighteenth century event resulted in half of North America being lost and won. In a stroke Britain had taken possession of a continent.

The conflict has echoed and re-echoed down through modern history and the battle and its battlers subjected to a plethora of post mortems. What transpired on that battlefield was so legendary that fact and fancy have collided and colluded ever since. The plains are laden with history where Francophones and Anglophonbes have shared emotions. Personalities, chance, blunders and bravery shaped the outcome and as soon as the fighting finished, the manufacture of mythologies began. Through the altering miracle of myths the leaders were lionized and their actions and accomplishments embellished and exaggerated with each telling. It is said that to do justice to a great man discriminating criticism is always necessary and such certainly has been the case with our heroes in this instance.

Because time with its eradicating eraser diminishes and then obliterates all earthly fame, Herodotus, the father of historians, sought to maintain the memory of the military by "preserving from decay the remembrance of what men have done" in the grit and grime of human suffering. Like Herodotus succeeding historians cull and dissect details from historical records as they seek to vilify or vindicate commanders who lost or won…."
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Amicalement
Armand

Nice article my friend.

A nice find T. Thanks.

A well written article…or rather narrative…a most interesting read. However, the author (echoing Herodotus) deliberately dispensed with the use of footnotes, so, it is difficult to verify facts or expand research in a particular area.

The article is but one of a series on Canadian History contained on the web site. Some interesting articles on the War of 1812, but again no footnotes.

A votre service mes amis!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand