Review of Drummer Boy for Montcalm by Wilma Pritchard Hays

Drummer Boy for Montcalm

By Wilma Pritchard Hays, illustrated by Alan Moyler

Published 1959 by The Viking Press

187 pages, hardcover with dust jacket

 

“Word had come to France that England was preparing to besiege Quebec that summer of 1759, and both sides knew it was to be a fight to the finish.  Now as Peter Demo stood on the deck of the French ship bringing recruits, the twelve-year-old stowaway was bursting with excitement over his first view of the walled city built on a sheer cliff two hundred feet above the St. Lawrence.” (description from inside dust jacket)

 

The Story

The book opens with a short prologue: “England and France in the New World,” which tells the story of the English and French settlements in North America up to 1759. 

The story begins with the arrival of Peter Demo at Quebec.  Peter, an orphan, joins a ship of recruits sailing to reinforce General Montcalm’s army in Quebec.  There he befriends a courier du bois named Philippe d’Argons.  Peter wants to be a courier du bois himself, but first he needs money to get started.  He is accepted as a worker for the Grand Company of Associates, which he quickly discovers is a corrupt monopoly.   Peter and Philippe work to return stolen furs to the Indians and Peter has to leave his job with the Grand Company.  He then becomes a drummer boy with Montcalm’s forces, follows the French army during the siege of Quebec, and makes friends with an Indian named Bomazeen.  When Quebec finally surrenders, Peter and Bomazeen become fur traders in the region of Lake Champlain.  An epilogue details what happened to Peter Demo (who was a real person) and the Grand Company of Associates.

 

The History

On the dust jacket, Mrs. Hays states that she “followed closely the true incidents of battle, the details of weather and its effects upon the siege.”  This is a true statement, for her story is impressively researched.  This is no generic fiction that is randomly set in an era; rather this book is steeped in 1759 Quebec.  Commanders’ names and personalities are here.  Songs of the era are sung by the soldiers.  Even the thievery of the pompously named Grand Company of Associates is chronicled.

 

Interestingly, Mrs. Hays uses actual quotes for historic figures whenever possible.  The speech of the Ottawa chief is chronicled by Captain Bougainville in his journal (1).  Nearly all of General Montcalm’s lines are recorded in history.  In addition to its research, this book also has a chronology for the siege of Quebec in the back of the book.

  

Lastly

This book is a labor of love, and a charming look at the 1759 siege of Quebec. 

Highly recommended. 5/5 stars. 

The book’s best quote comes from the Abbe.  When talking to Peter, he says: “Le bon Dieu (the good Lord) did not promise always to do what we ask.  He promised always to be with us—whether it rains or shines.”

 

1. pg. 145, Adventure in the Wilderness: the American Journals of Louis-Antoine de Bougainville (University of Oklahoma: 1990)