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The April 1760 battle of Sainte-Foy was a fierce one, but the British army was defeated. General Murray was able to retreat back into the city of Quebec in good order, despite his army having taken twice the casualties of the French force under General Lévis.

In April 1760, General Lévis advanced on Quebec. General Murray, commanding the defending British garrison, forced out the civilian population and destroyed suburbs that masked the fortifications. Then, to prevent the French from establishing themselves outside the city, Murray attacked.

The image is a rather romantic one, but François-Gaston de Lévis did play a large role in restoring the morale of the French army after its defeat on the Plains of Abraham. Some referred to his plan to retake Quebec in the early spring of 1760 as 'Lévis's folly', but the project gave the dispirited men something to struggle for. It is ironic that the French won the battle of Sainte-Foy but were unable to retake the city by siege before the Royal Navy arrived with British reinforcements.

Battle of Sainte-Foy, 28 April 1760. The French troops are shown attacking the British during the battle of Sainte-Foy. The British grenadiers can be seen defending the area near Jean-Baptiste Dumont's windmill, which was hotly contested. Although some uniform details are inaccurate, this is nevertheless a good action print. It is from the 1925 edition of Aubert de Gaspé's early Québecois novel 'Les Anciens Canadiens'. Overshadowed by the previous years’ battle of the Plains of Abraham, this battle has rarely been depicted.

At the battle of Ste. Foy, British General James Murray's troops fought French General Francois-Gaston de Lévis' soldiers. In a two-hour battle, the verdict of the Plains of Abraham was reversed. The French were victorious, but the British remained in control of Quebec. From the television series "Canada: A People's History." Includes links to educational resources, bibliography, games, puzzles, and video clips.