Editing James Wolfe (section)

===Rochefort===
{{Further|Raid on Rochefort}}
In 1757, Wolfe participated in the British [[amphibious warfare|amphibious assault]] on [[Rochefort, Charente-Maritime|Rochefort]], a seaport on the French Atlantic coast. A major naval descent, it was designed to capture the town, and relieve pressure on Britain's German allies who were under French attack in Northern Europe. Wolfe was selected to take part in the expedition partly because of his friendship with its commander, [[John Mordaunt (British Army officer)|Sir John Mordaunt]]. In addition to his regimental duties, Wolfe also served as [[Quartermaster General]] for the whole expedition.<ref>{{cite book |last=Corbett |first=Julian S. |title=England in the Seven Years' War: a study in combined strategy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tQsyAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA202 |year=1907 |volume=I |publisher=Longmans, Green, and Co. |page=202}}</ref> The force was assembled on the [[Isle of Wight]] and after weeks of delay finally sailed on 7 September.

The attempt failed as, after capturing an island offshore, the British made no attempt to land on the mainland and press on to Rochefort and instead withdrew home. While their sudden appearance off the French coast had spread panic throughout France, it had little practical effect. Mordaunt was [[court-martial]]ed for his failure to attack Rochefort, although acquitted.<ref>{{cite book |last=Black |first=Jeremy |title=Pitt the Elder |publisher=Cambridge University Press |date=1992 |page=[https://archive.org/details/pittelder00blac/page/171 171] |isbn=978-0-5115-6035-4 |doi=10.1017/CBO9780511560354 |url=https://archive.org/details/pittelder00blac|url-access=registration }}</ref> Nonetheless, Wolfe was one of the few military leaders who had distinguished himself in the raid – having gone ashore to scout the terrain, and having constantly urged Mordaunt into action.<ref>{{cite book|last=Johnston|first=A. J. B.|title=Endgame 1758: The Promise, the Glory, and the Despair of Louisbourg's Last Decade|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m73Le-o2NygC&pg=PA138|year=2007|publisher=University of Nebraska Press|isbn=978-0-8032-0986-2|page=138}}</ref> He had at one point told the General that he could capture Rochefort if he was given just 500 men but Mordaunt refused him permission.<ref>{{cite book |last=Stanhope |first=Philip Henry |author-link=Philip Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope |title=History of England from the peace of Utrecht to the peace of Versailles, 1713–1783 |publisher=J. Murray |date=1844 |volume=IV |page=110 |url=https://archive.org/stream/historyenglandstan04stan#page/110/mode/2up}}</ref> While Wolfe was irritated by the failure, believing that they should have used the advantage of surprise and attacked and taken the town immediately, he was able to draw valuable lessons about amphibious warfare that influenced his later operations at Louisbourg and Quebec.

As a result of his actions at Rochefort, Wolfe was brought to the notice of the Prime Minister, [[William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham|William Pitt the Elder]]. Pitt had determined that the best gains in the war were to be made in North America where France was vulnerable, and planned to launch an assault on [[French Canada]]. Pitt now decided to promote Wolfe over the heads of a number of senior officers.