The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-11-28
Miscellaneous.
ATTACK ON QUEBEC.
A LEGEND OF THE REVOLUTION.
BY G. LIPPARD.


en- sky glooms above; band of brave men
are gathered; yes while the British are ban
0leting in Quebec; here, on this tremendous
rock in silent array, stands the Heroes of
Wilderness, Joined with their brothers, the
Continehsals from Montreal. i,s1aasr' SO
That little army of one thousand have de-
termned to attack the Gibralter of America.
with its rocks, ia I0s"ifirations, its two thou
sand British soldiers. N IRE on the very rocl,
where sixteen years ago, Montcalm and
Wolf poured forth their blood, now are gath
cred band of brave men who are seen i'm
the darkness ofthis hour, extending like dim
shadowy forms, around two figures, standing
alone in the centre of the host. .. ... L.. 40
1t is silent and sad as death. The roaring
ofthe ST. Lawrence alone is heard, above the
leaden sky-around the rock extending lies a
plan-yonder, far through the gloom,a misty
light struggles into the sky. That light
CLEANS from the fireside ofQuebec.
Who are these, that stand side by side in
the centre ofthe band? ..Ia.. -Ff. .....
That muscular form, with hunting shirt,
thrown over his breast, that form standing
there with folded arms aud head dropped low,
while the eye glares ont from beneath the
tanning brow, that is the Patriot Hero of the
wilderness, Benedict Arnold. na. ..f. I..'I
By his side stands graceful form. with
strength and beauty mingled in its outlines,
clad i'll the uniform of q general, while that
chEalrous countenance,w with his eyes of sum-
merblue, turns anXionsly from face TO face.
lie has come from Montreal, he has Joined
me little band with the Iron Men of Benedict
Arnold. ..'''" .
Whose are those that gather round. with
hunting shirt and rifle and knife? Who are
these with fur caps upon each brow. tnoca-
SINS upon each foot; who are these wild men,
that now await the signal wordp You NAV
know them by their leader, who, with his
form of iron, stands leaning on his rifie-the
brave Daniel Morgan. .-.. "0
Inc daybreak wears on; the sky grows
dark, the snow begins to fail.
Arnold turns to his brothers in arms
They clasp ca Oh other by the hand. Their
lips move but you hear no sound. '.a 1
arnold" whispers Montgomery, 4 will
lead my division along the ST. Lawrence, I'M
der the rock of Cape Diamond. Twill meet
you in the centre ofQuebec-or der
Montgomery, will attack the barrier on
the opposite side. There is my hand! l
will meet you yonder-yonder in the centre
Of Quebec, or perishp
1t an oath, the word is given. Look
there, and behold the two divisions, separa
ting over the rocks, this with Montgomery to-
wards the st. Lawrence; that with Arnold
and Morgan, towards the ST. Charles!
All is still. The rocks grow white with
snow. All isstill and dark, but grim shad-
ows are moving oc every side. '.
Silence along the lines. Not a word on the
peril otyour lives! Do You behold this mar
row pass, leading to the first barrier, grim
with cannon, commands every inch Of the
pass. On one side, the St. Charles heaps IN
lis rocks OF ice; on the other are piled the
rocks ofgranite. 'Hr tJ5.n u1IHil0U rI''
Silence along the lines! The night is dark,
the way is difficult, but Quebec is yonder!-
soldiers, beware of those piles of rock-a
single misplaced footstep may arouse the
Sleeping soldier on yonder barrier. Ifhe a.
wakes we are lost. ,.. 9I ta..r.I
On, brave band, with stealthy footstep and
rifle to each shoulder; on, men of the wider
ness, in your shirts ofbne ana fur. Ir
Att the he ad of the column, with his drawn
sword cleaning through the night, Benedict
Arnold silently advances 1i DO
ihen single cannon mounted on a sled, |
aiu dragged forward by stout arms. .a
Last OF all Daniel Morgan with the riflemen
OF the wilderness. ~ -,.narI lFr.lT
In this order along the narrow pass with
,cc on one side and rocks on the other, the
nero banG advanced The pass crows mar
fower-the battery nearer. Arnold can now
count the cannon, nay the soldiers who are
Watching there. Terrible suspense. Every
breath is hushed-stout hearts now swell the
manly chest DIV - - '' 0'' '''o
oa lips compressed, eyesg laring, ri6es cench-
'"-the IRON men move softly on
AFhoic silently turns to his men, boo ...r.
s,,h nna yonder through the gloom, over the
60 VI mat tyover the rocks oftllat city's
,,; 1t ua'IIer there frowned the battery grim
voI'l; nere wait the sentinel and his brother
sUni', They hear no sound. The fallen
din, s boIoes no footstep, aud yet there are
on u junuows moving along the rocks, moving
n LOOK Those shadows move up the rocks.
soa1 very muzzle ofthe cannon. Now the
bo " ta starts up from his reclining posture
HI. "ears That stealthy tread. He springs 10
the night. ','a' s'ares OUT upon
ems ns tn's ;, tnagic' There disclosed bv that
n, ,,'oh nash, long lines oflbod riflemen start
"t :, view, and there ~ 49, 80
c,. 1lauldlng in front ofthe cannon. his tall
ono ai rising IN the red glare, with sword in
-th nalu' the Banner ofthe stars in the other
wo mei r. with that wild look which he ever
s,0n J ~ battle, cleaning from his eyes-there
n the Patriot Benedict Arnold I
bpt ho enner side there is mangled corse-
c "u' he stands firm. Before him vawns H.
% "To ne turns TO his men, he bids them on
,ios-nlght we will feast in Quebec -, L
den ,pu lhe hail ofrifie balls lays the British
SIS oe upon their own cannon. Now the cri-
nj M the conflict comes. yI
blood. 0'u ''is horrid scene ofdeath and
dead Mo 'I3 the snow falls upon the face of the
inc h,. mn'le the blood ofthe dead and the dy-
'''ns the snow to scarlet. gather aroutIid {