About two o'clock
Wolfe had , that day , gained some intelligence which would assist him to deceive the enemy , for he learned that a number of boats , laden with provisions from Quebec , were coming down with the tide . Wolfe was on board the Sutherland . He was somewhat stronger than he had been for some days , but felt a presentiment that he would die in the approaching battle . About two o'clock , the tide began to ebb , and two lanterns -- the signal for the troops to put off -- were shown in the rigging of the Sutherland . Fortune favoured the English . Bougainville had watched the vessels , until he saw them begin to drift down again with the stream , and , thinking that they would return again with the flood , as they had done for the last seven days , allowed his weary troops to retire to their camp . The battalion of Guienne , instead of encamping near the heights , had remained on the Saint Charles ; and Vergor , an incapable and cowardly officer , had gone quietly to bed , and had allowed a number of the Canadians under him to go away to their village , to assist in getting in the harvest .