Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-10-08
General Mentgomeru-About one


hundred Yards from the lower end OF
the RAD way, general Montgomery |
and his aids, with other men, were |
killed on the morning Of December
81, IT'S. when proceeding TO the as.
sault of @ uebec. The place may be
easily recognized, notwithstanding the
alterations which have occurred At
that period, a narrow path only was
made between the foot OF the bill and
the river, SO that vessels were fastened
to the rock by large iron boits-one of
which still remains, near the very spot
where the American general and his
advanced party were discomtited.-I
The wharves, houses, &c. all have
been long since constructed. At the
top of the small ascent on the street
Immediately below, The small battery
had been crested, near the place where
the southerly forge is now stationed.
Few circumstances more wildly
teach Us the casualties Of war, and the
minute occurrences upon which SO ma
nv important results depend That the
success Of the assault would have es.
sentially altered the whole course of
the events connected with the History
OF Canada is self evident; but few per-
| sons have reflected that all this depen-
ded upon the simple fact whether
Montgomery should be few steps
tn or south of certain place at a
given moment. The rock jutted but
SO as to form species of barrier in
the road--and it was necessary that The
point should have been turned before
any shot could have been Effected
Had the gun been loaded with sin
gle ball only, it might have struck one
or two of the party who were jnst at
the point, and must have left all the
others uninjured-but being filled with
grape, the scattering discharge killed
or wounded the whole group who had
passed the corner OF the rock, as the
| gun was stationed expressly to sweep
that narrow approach on the top.
The following additional crcum
stances connected with the death, buri
al and disinterment of the re mains of
| general Montgomery, were furnished
by Mr.. James Thompson at the period
when the request was made that the
relques might be removed TO N York
where they now repose near the mar
bic monument erected in front Of St
PAui's church, on Broad way. Mr.
Thompson is still living, ninety six
years Of age, and, it is believed, is the
sole survivor of all the English and
French troops who were engaged eth
er in the capture or defence Of G uebec,
during The campaign OF 1859
/ 81, James Thompson, Of the city
of Quebec, do testify and declare: that
| served in the capacity of an assistant
engineer, during the siege Of this city,
invested during the years 1875 and
i776 by the American forces under
the command OF the late Major Gene
raj Richard Montgomery. That in
an attack made by the American
troops under the immediate command
of general Montgomery in the night of
the 3lst December, l775, on q British
post at the sou'hernmost extremity of
The city, near Press &c Vale, the gen
eral received mortal ~ ound and with
him were killed his tw aides de camp,
M Pberson and Cheesemsn. who
were found on The morning Of the LIST
January, 1916. almost covered over
with snow, That Mrs Prentice who
kept an Hotel at Quebec and with
when general Montgomery had pre-.
viousiy boarded. was brought to view
the body after it was placed in the
guard room, and which she recogniz
ed By particular mark which he had
on the side OF bis head, to be the gene
RAILS
That the body was then conveyed to
a house Immediately opposite 10 the
presidents residence, whe provided
genteei coffin for the generals body.
which was lined inside Nth flannel.
and outside Of it with black CLOTH
That in the night ofihe 9TH January, il
was conveyed by me from Gabert's
house, and was Inferred six feet in
front Of the gate, within a wall that
surrounds powder magazine near the
rsmparts bounding on St. Lewis gate
That the funeral service was performed
at The grave by the Reverend Mr..
Montmoiin, then Chaplin OF the gar
rison That his two aids de. camp.
were buried in their clothes without
4 At