Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-02-14

Montreal but Montgomery succeeded wi,
his iiotllla IN driving them up the river, upo,.
which Montreal eapitulated. Carlton was now
compelled to effect his escape in the night bv
gliding down the stream with muffied oars
lie reached Quebec in perfect safety, but Gen.
rfescot ana his armed craft was obliged to
surrender to Montgomery
Whilst this distinguished officer wa. NAH
ing regular conquest of Canada above Que
bee, Arnold was detached in the middle az
september, from Boston, with 1900 New
Englanders. After enduring incredible hard
ships, he penetrated the wilderness. and an
peared on the banks of the ST I.awrcnce an
posite Quebec, on the 9th of November. His
arrival was so prompt and unexpected that
he seized five fishing boats on that side Of tho
river, and although the English had two fri
gates and some smaller vessels in the river
Yet he contrived to ferry all of his men over
during dark night
| at the same time that Arnold arrived be.
fore Quebec, gen. Carlton Joined the garrison
from Montreal
/ The garrison consisted of about 500 recu-
| lars and 500 seamen and marines. collected
from all the vessels in the river. TO these
were added about as many provincials and
English inhabitants The whole force was
insufficient to man half the works
Inc winter had now set in Montgomery
however, marched from Montreal and Joined
Arnold before Quebec on the 5th of Decen
ber
The town was first summoned, but Cavlson y
would not suffer the flag Of truce to approa1;,|E
the wall. The Americans then opeocd a Xix
i gun battery against the works, .Mnilst ffes
threw shells into the town from FONT Lssi
but this proving mere childrens play agssnss
such fortress, and the weather becomnc.,..
sufierably severe, il was resolved to,attem,t
the town by escalade. The assault took place
the last morning of the year il75, during a
heavy fall of snow
1t must be observed, that both the upper
and lower towns, OH the side next the water.
were at that time open, and only protected bv
occasional temporary defences
: Montgomery formed four divisions of his
, little army Two of these were to make de-
monstrances of an assault from the plains OF
Abraham, in order to draw the strength of
the garrison to that quarter, whilst the other
two divisions, headed by Montgomery and
Arnold, made the real attack The first led
on his round the base of the rock, with view
of gaining the upper town by Prescott Gate.
which was then only barrier of PALISADES.
The other attacked by the suburbs of ST.
: Rocquet
i The path Montgomery took was not moro
than or s feet broad, with the perpendicu-
lar rock on one side, and the water on the o.
Their. Across this path, about halfway round
the base of the rock, a breast work was
thrown up, mounted with two 9 Founders.
1t was commanded by captain of an armed
| vessel and party of seamen.
/ The morning just began to dawn the snow
| fell so thick and so constant that the steps Of
the assailants in the new fallen snow made
no noise. As they approached within a few
/ yards of the works doubtful and indistinct
noise was heard and the defenders challenged.
| No answer was returned. A short and awful
pause ensued, whilst it is probable Montgome-
ry was preparing for an assault Then with.
out seeing single person, the two guns load
ed with grape shot were fred
AS the attacking party could scarcely form
four abreast, and were in close ORDER the eff.
fects OF the discharge were terribly destruc-
tive. Groans and confusion now exposed the
attack, which few more charges entirely
dispersed. Yet for two hours after the de-
tenders did not venture out from behind their
breastwork, nor did they imagine the destruc-
ton they had made Montgomery and his
principal officers fell
Meanwhile Arnold stormed and took bat
terry of four guns, tho obstinately defended:
but he had his leg shattered in the attack. and
was obliged to be carried off, The garrison
now recovered from its alarm; party sailed
out, and attacked gen Arnold's division in
the rear, who after brasely defending itself.
became prisoners of war
Montgomery's fate was not yet known--The
snow had covered the bodies of the killed and
wounded, and they were at length discovered.
by an arm and leg here and there project.
ing above the surface. Altbo' Carlton held
tie revolutonists in the utmost contempt and
hatred, yet his esteem for the general was
such that he granted military honours to his !.
remains. which are inferred near Port Ion;s