The battles of the world : $b or, cyclopedia of battles, sieges, and important military eventsBorthwick, J. Douglas (John Douglas)
History
The battles of the world : $b or, cyclopedia of battles, sieges, and important military events
Borthwick, J. Douglas (John Douglas)
Battles; Military history
The besiegers approached the city with the most careful silence,
aided by the raging of a furious storm. Advancing by the road
which winds round the face of the rock, the army was crowded
into the narrow pass which led to the gate. Notwithstanding every
precaution the confused noise of the approaching troops rose
above the conflict of the elements, and struck the watchful ear
of the outer sentinel, who, receiving no answer to his challenge,
roused the British guard. The party who defended the battery,
consisted of Canadian militia, with nine British seamen to work
the guns. They kept a close watch, and, as soon as the day broke,
discovered the troops marching in the snow. Orders were given to
make no movement; and the Americans, having halted at the distance
of fifty yards, sent forward an officer to reconnoitre. On his
return the troops marched forward with a quickness and precision
deserving the highest praise. The English then opened a tremendous
fire from the artillery which commanded the path; the groans which
succeeded plainly revealed the enemy; and it was not until every
sound in answer to their fire had died away, that they ceased
their cannonade. The enemy having retired, thirteen bodies were
found in the snow. Montgomery’s orderly sergeant, desperately
wounded, but yet alive, was found and brought into the guard-room.
On being asked if the General himself had been killed, he evaded
the question by replying that he had not seen him for some time.
This faithful sergeant died in about an hour afterwards. It was
not ascertained that the American General had been killed, until
General Carleton, anxious to learn the truth, sent to inquire if
any of the prisoners would identify the body. An officer consenting
accompanied the aide-de-camp to the “_Près de Ville_” guard, and
pointed out the body, pronouncing over it a glowing eulogium on
Montgomery’s bravery. His two aides-de-camp were also recognised
among the slain. This brave man had fought by the side of Wolfe on
the Plains of Abraham; but, marrying an American lady, the daughter
of Judge Livingston, he imbibed the politics of his father-in-law’s
family, and joined the cause of the colonists against the Mother
Country. The excellence of his qualities and disposition procured
him an uncommon share of private affection and esteem. After his
death the Continental Congress ordered a magnificent cenotaph to
be erected to his memory in St. Paul’s Church, N.Y. Thither his
remains were removed in 1818, by the desire of his widow, and with
the permission of the then British Governor, Sir John Sherbrooke.
In the meantime, Arnold, who had been repulsed at the opposite side
of the town, took the command, and attempted still to maintain his
ground; but the dispirited state of his men rendered him unable to
keep up more than an imperfect blockade at a distance of three
miles, which he at last abandoned. In the whole attack upon Quebec
the Americans lost about 100 killed and wounded, and six officers
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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