Under cover of a snow storm, the whole moved towards the towns. The British were alarmed, and at their stations. Montgomery had to encounter many natural difficulties, but success for a while attended him. Having gained the first barrier, he pushed on to the second, from which issued forth a tremendous fire of grape shot and musquetry, which closed his days, and the hopes of his detachment; who, strange to say, under the conduct of _A Campbell_, retreated without making one effort to avenge his fall. Soldiers who have been conspicuous for discipline, will most assuredly be ever distinguished by courage when it is called forth. Those faithful fellows who had accompanied Arnold through the desert, without a murmur, followed him to battle and through all its reverses with an unsurpassed bravery. They, too, were early deprived of their leader, by a shot which shattered his leg; when he was carried from the field. But this did not appal them. The garrison, now freed from their distracted duties, levelled their united force against this impetuous detachment, who had advanced too far to retreat with safety, and which became endangered by accumulating difficulties on every side. Their dilemma did not escape the keen eye of the Governor, who pushed a considerable force in their rear. Upwards of three hours did they withstand the unequal combat, when they were at last compelled to surrender prisoners of war. That tribute which justice stretches forth to an enemy must reflect its rays upon those who have had the honor to contend with them. I cannot superadd a higher testimony to the British General and his Garrison, than by thus appreciating the foe whom they had to encounter. It yields me a proud retrospect that the corps of Marines had their proportion of desert in defending Quebec, and by it, maintaining this remnant of America to our Empire. United by the feelings of sympathy, I would remark the spirit of Mr. Vivion, then Purser, I believe, of a small sloop, and now of his Majesty's ship Robust, who most patriotically stepped into the ranks, and served as a private during the whole siege. He too produced a son who yielded not to his father in honourable deeds, whose subsequent fall in the cause of his country and in bravely advancing the glory of his corps, was sensibly deplored by my brethren, and by me. General Carleton sealed and ennobled his gallant defence, by acts of humanity and mercy to the vanquished. A cool prudence in not hazarding his acquired success to the contingencies of fortune, enabled him to preserve the fruits of it for the solid interests of his King. The besiegers retired, but he did not follow them; after which, all their attention was devoted to the interception of supplies for Quebec. Arnold, who now succeeded to the command of the rebels, evinced that resolute mind and ready expediency by which his conduct had been hitherto marked.