The English, though fighting desperately, were for a time driven back; but, being reinforced, they drove the French back into the town.
Each day the English lines drew closer to the town.

The French frigate Echo, under cover of a fog, had been sent to Quebec for aid, but she was chased and captured.

The frigate Arethuse, on the night of the 14th of July, was towed through the obstructions at the mouth of the harbour, and, passing through the English ships in a fog, succeeded in getting away.

Only five vessels of the French fleet now remained in the harbour, and these were but feebly manned, as 2000 of the officers and seamen had landed, and were encamped in the town.
On the afternoon of the 16th a party of English, led by Wolfe, suddenly dashed forward, and, driving back a company of French, seized some rising ground within three hundred yards of the ramparts, and began to intrench themselves there.

All night, the French kept up a furious fire at the spot, but, by morning, the English had completed their intrenchment, and from this point pushed on, until they had reached the foot of the glacis.
On the 21st, the French man of war Celebre was set on fire by the explosion of a shell.