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Physical description
7 p.
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Name of creator
Biographical history
Rear-Admiral Charles Holmes was the sea commander who led a landing party of marines into Quebec at the time of its capture by Major-General James Wolfe in 1759. He was third in command under Wolfe.
Custodial history
This manuscript was formerly in the collection of the Fermor-Hesketh family of Northamptonshire, England. It was sold at auction at Sotheby's and purchased by Val O'Donovan, then Chancellor of the University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ont.
Scope and content
Manuscript report dictated by Rear-Admiral Charles Holmes for his superiors, recounting in detail the events of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Major-General James Wolfe captured Quebec on Sept. 13, 1759, but died on the battlefield. His opponent, the Marquis de Montcalm died the next day. Holmes dictated a detailed account of the battle and sent two copies on separate ships to the British Admiralty. This document is the second copy of that report.
Notes area
Physical condition
This document has no salutation or signature.
Immediate source of acquisition
Donated by Val O'Donovan in 2000.
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Scanned as TIF files January 2026.
Letter has been transcribed.
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Public Domain
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Associated materials
The first copy of this report, with salutation and signature, is held by the British Library.
Accruals
General note
General note
An article about the donation of the letter appeared in the Thursday, September 14, 2000 edition of the Daily Bulletin.
General note
Article "Historic letter on Quebec battle back in Canada; Donated to University of Waterloo" by James Elliott appeared on Page A12 of the September 30, 2000 edition of The Hamilton Spectator. Includes commentary from history professor Geoff Hayes about the importance of the letter.