Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-07-14


fifty yards or less from the mouths of the can
non which were loaded with grapeshot. Barns
fare discharged them with deadly aim. Mont
gomery, his aid Macpherson, the Young and
gallant Cheesman, and ten others fell dead ;
Montgomery from three wounds. With him
the soul Of the expedition fled. Mott was eager
TO go forwards but some Of the men complained
that their arms were wet one or more of the
officers thought nothing further could be at
tempted with weared troops and no arm but
the bayonet; fre-bas were thrown by the enc
my to light up the scene; their muskcteers be-
gan to fire from the loopholes Of the block
house and Donald Campbell who assumed the
command OF the Workers, encountered the re-
proach of ordering an immediate retreat, which
was effected without further loss
On the northeastern side of the lower town,
Arnold led the forlorn hope, which consisted of
more than twice as many troops as followed
Montgomery. The path along the st. Charles
had been narrowed by masses of ice thrown up
from the river; and the battery by which it was
commanded might have rakcd every inch of it
with grape shot, while their flank was exposed
to musketry from the walls. As they reached
Palace Gate, the bells of the city were rung, the
drums beat general alarm, and the cannon be-
gan to play The Americans ran along in sin
gle file, holding down their heads on account of
the storm, and covering their guns with their
coats. Lamb and his company of artillery fol-
lowed, with field piece on sled the field
piece was soon abandoned, but he and his men
took part in the assault.
The first barricade was at the Sault au Mate
lot, juttng rock which left little space between
the river beach and the precipice Near this
spot Arnold was severely wounded in the leg
by musket-ball and carried off disabled but
Morgan's men, who formed the van, rushed
forward to the portfolios and fired into them
while others, Charles Porterfield the first, Nor
gan himself the second, mounted the ladders,
carried the battery, and took its captain and
guard prisoners. But Morgan was at first fol-
lowed only by his own company and few
Pennsylyanians. 1t was still very dark; he
had no guide; and he knew nothing of the de-
fences of the town. The cold was extreme, so
that the men were hoar with icicles. Their
muskets were made useless by the storm. The
glow of attack began to subside, and the dam
ger OF their position to appear. They were
soon joined by Greene, Bigelow and Meigs, so
that there were at least two hundred Americans
in the town; and they all fearlessly pressed on
in the narrow way in the second barricade, at
the eastern extremity of Sultan Matelot Street.
where the defenses extended from the rock to
the river. Under the direction of Greene, he
roic efforts were made to carry them. With
voice louder than the northeast gale, Morgan
cheercd on his rifiemen but though Hcth and
Porterheld, and n few others in the front files
assembled the sealing ladders, it was only to see
on the other side rows of troops prepared to
receive them on hedges of bayonets if they had
leapcd down. Here was the greatest loss of
iiie some of the American officers fell ; others
received several balls in their clothes and the
assailants, of whose arms nine out of ten had
been rendered useless by the storm, were ex-
posed i'll the narrow street to heavy fire from
houses on both sides. A retreat was thought.
of but the moment for it soon went BY, though
some few escaped passing over shoal ice on the
St. Charles Near daylight, about two hundred
of the Americans withdrew from the streets,
and found shelter in houses of stonc from
tifTtI'tnh, IivuuituAs, ,i,i.J "..." ..rt,
shot through the heart. But the retreat of
Campbell, and the certainty that the other at
tacks were only feints, left Carleton free to con-
centrate all his force against the party Of Ar
mold. BY his orders a sally was now made from
Palace Gate, in the rear Of the Americans, by
Capt. Laws, with two hundred men; they found
Dearborn's company divided into two parties,
each OF which successfully surrendered and
then the remnant Of the assailants, "the flower
of the rebel army" "was coopcd up" within the
town. Morgan proposed that they should cut
their way through their enemies but retreat
had become impracticable; and after maintain
ing the struggle till the last hope was gone, at
ten o'clock they surrendered. Thus Greene,
Megs, Morgan, Hendricks, the hardy men who
had passed the wilderness with purposes of
conquest, made for themselves heroic name,
but found their way only to death or prison.
To the captivcs Carleton was a humane and
generous enemy. The loss of the British was
inconsderable; that of the Americans, in killed
laI ha
tween three and four hundred.
When the battle was over, thirteen bodies
were found at that place, now known as Pres
de-Nille. The body of Cheesman, whose Ca
reer had been brief but gallant one, had fall
en- over the rocks. In the pathway lay Mae
pherson, youth, as spotless as the new-fallen
snow which was his winding sheet full of
genius for war, lovely in temper, honored by
the affection and confidence Of his chief, dear
to the army, leaving not his like behind him.
There, too by his side, lay Richard Montgomery
on the spot where he fell. At his death he was
in the first month of his fortieth year. He
was tall and slender, well-limbed, of graceful
address and strong and active frame. lie
could endure fatigue and all changes and Sc
veritcs of climate. His judgment was cool, al
though he kindled in action, imparting conf
dence and sympathetic courage. Never himself
eliminating and enegetic he had the power Of
conducting freemen by their voluntary love and
esteem. An experienced soldier, he was also
well versed in letters. particularly in natural
science. In private life he was good husband
brother and son, an amable and faithful friend
The rectitude of his heart shone forth in his
actions, which were habitualy and unaliectedly
directed by nice moral sense. He overcamt
difficulties which others stunned to encounter
Foes and friends paid tribute to his worth. The
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Council
of Qubec, and all the principal officers Of The
garrison, buried him and his aide-de-camp
Macpherson, with the honors of war. At the
news of his death "the whole city of Philadel
pho was in tears; every person seemed to have
lost his nearest relative or heart friend" Con
gress proclaimed for him "their grateful re
membrance, profound respect, and high venera
ton and desiring to transmit to future ages
truly worthy example of patriotism, conduct
bodnes of enterprise, insuperable perseverance
and contempt of danger and death" they rearec
marble monument "to the glory of RicharC
Montgomery"
In the British Parliament, the great defenders
of liberty We'd with each other in his praise
Barre, his veteran fellow-soldier in the late war
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