Re: About Montcalm and Chereau. I was wondering

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: Diana,

: Good day.  I'm not the best person to answer your questions but I will make an attempt.  I'm sure Malcolm and Seamus will know more and I hope they too will comment.

: Montcalm was generally (no pun intended) believed to be an excellent general, although like all men of history he did have his detractors.  He had many victories, especially in the early years of the war when the colonies could not/would not unite, the Pennsylvanian Quakers were in denial, and the British were not yet at their peak.  One of his greatest victories was his defense of Fort Ticonderoga in the summer of 1758 over dramatically overwhelming odds.  If you search the Board archives for June 2000, you will read and exchange of historical information between Seamus, Malcolm, myself and others about this same Ticonderoga battle in 1758.  It is definitely worth reviewing.  But also, this past summer for the first and only time we reenacted a particular part of that battle and you can read about it (with some historical details) via the link below.  The British defeat was due in part to bad luck, British incompetency, and also to Montcalm's rapidly deployed defensive tactics.  He did have other victories, including Fort Louisbourg in Quebec.


: As for picking Chereau, I remember reading something about that once, and I believe it was because he was a rather famous Frenchman in the theatrical world.  He had made a name for himself in the 70s with an alarming production of one of Wagner's operas (I could do the research and find out which, but I can still see the pictures in my mind), and has produced theatre, opera and movies for the past two+ decades.  I remember reading that he didn't know exactly what was going on during LOTM, because he doesn't speak any English at all!!  Still, I think he was marvelous!

: If you want to find out more about Montcalm and the French, I would recommend my two favourites books for starters:  "Montcalm and Wolfe" by Francis Parkman, a 19th C historian.  As the Federicis will note, some of Parkman's work has been corrected through time, but tha majority of it is correct, the writing is extraordinary, and if you forget minor details as I do, the whole will give you the right picture.  Also, do read Bougainville's Journals.  Visit this website's book list (from the main page, I believe).

: Hope that helps.

: YOHS,
: Pvt. Chauncey

: 
: : Greetings to all:

: : What was considered to be his greatest victory?  His greatest defeat before the battle on the Plains of Abraham?  Does anyone know of any biographies?

: : Now about Patrie Chereau, how did he come to be chosen for the part?

: : Thanks.

: : Diana


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