Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-01-21
The Night Attack on Quebec one
Hundred Years Age.

AS we were paSslllS III ldIe sumihef
through street skirting the heavy cliffs
crowned by the citadel of Quebec, we
noticed high up at the left, fastened to
the massive rock, wooden sign. 1t
carried this inscription, Montgomery
fell December 81, 1775." Only paint
ed strip of wood, but how it arrested our
attention Standing there in the dreary
rain that was dropping, alone amid the
people passing to and fro, we paid
in our silent reverence countryman
tribute to the memory Of a brave
American. At the occurrence of this
one hundredth anniversary of the dar-
ing night attack on Quebec, how con-
spcuously shine out all the events of
Montgomery's campaign !
1t was in the autumn of 1875 that
General Richard Montgomery started at
the head of an American army for the
conquest of Canada. A large hearted,
chivalrous man, cultured and refined in
his tastes, the Irish blood that ran in his
veins gave a dash of enthusiasm to his
character. While Montgomery was
drifting down the Saint Lawrence to-
ward Quebec, another party of Ameri-
cans was moving to meet him, having
made famous march into Canada up
through the woods of Maine. 1t was
Arnold's division. As they toiled up
the Kennebec, autumn swung its Grim
son banners above their heads. From
the Kennebec they crossed over to the
Dead river A land lonely even in the
summer when the woods are noisy with
the songs of the birds, it must be loneli-
er still in the October days that hush
bird and insect, and send rattling down
the dead leaves as a prophecy of the
winters desolateness ahead.
From the Dead River, Arnold moved
to the Chaudiere and so to Quebec.
When Montgomery and Arnold united
their forces, Dec. 3, they could count up
little less than thousand American
troops and about two hundred Canadian
volunteers. Before Quebec they pre-
sented themselves, city with double
the fighting force, with strong walls of
stone, with over two hundred surly can
non ready to growl away at any invader.
The weather was that of the Canada eli
mate. In building battery the Amer
leans could not use earth, as the ground
was frozen solid. 1t is said that they
filled the gabions and interstices of the
fascines with snow, deluging the whole
with water that congealed at once.
While waiting before the walls of Que
bee, Montgomery and his aid-de-camp
went one day to mediate on the spot
where Wolfe had fallen, fighting for
England in friendship with America"
We doubt not the sensitive nature of the
brave Montgomery kindled at the thought
of the formers daring, and the second
hero was prepared to die as worthilv as
the first. There were signs of discomfort
among some of Montgomery's men, The
services of these would be over by the
first of January. Montgomery felt that
before that date Quebec must be at
tackled. Beyond that he was not sure
of the support of all his troops. On
Christmas night it was determined to
make an assault on the lower town.
There the Notifications were slighter.
Night was the time chosen for the attack,
whenever it should be made.
For several nights the Americans
waited in vain for the right opportunity
December 30th arrived. The old year
would soon drop its last sands. Some
thing must be done at once. BY two
o'clock on the morning of the 31st, the
word was passed along for the storming
columns to move out The assault was
to be made from two directions. Arnold
was to hurl his force on the westerly side
of the lower town, Montgomery on the
easterly. About three hundred New
York troops filed out from headquarters
at Holland House in the rear of Quebec
and followed Montgomery. AS they
marched out one by one the light in the
doorway fell on each mans form and
showed piece of white paper pinned
on the cap. 1t was to serve as a sign by
which they might tell one another in the
anticipated melee of battle Some had
written on the paper, Liberty or Death.
That night there was driving snow
storm. 1t seemed as if the storm spirit
had called to the wrathful elements of
Labrador and the Gulf, and marshalling IN
them had sent them in heavy squadrons
Of snow and hail across the wild, wintry
country. But on through the snow. as
if enveloped in death-like shroud,
moved the shadowy columns of Mont
gomery. They struggled along the
rough pathway by the shore, over the
rocks through the drifts, bowing their
heads to the storm and vainly trying to