The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-12-31
A BRAVE IRISH-AMERICAN GENERAL
OF THE REVOLUTION.
WAS KILLED At THE slEG; OF QUEBEC.
HIS CHARACTER IS SUMMED UP by
HISTORIAN HEADLEY.
MILITARY MAN OF CHivALRIc Cou RAGE.
FREEDOM MOURNED ANOTHER OF
HER INTREPID CHAMPIONS.

The part taken by the brave Irish
American general, Richard Montgomery,
in the war for American independence is
one which commands the admiration of
all people. In accepting the commission
OF brigadier-general in the patriot army,
he wrote: THE congress having done me
the honor of electing me brigadier-gen-
eral in their service, is an event which
must put an end for a while, perhaps
forever, to the quiet scheme of life 1 had
prescribed for myself; for, though en-
tlrely unexpected and undesired by me,
the will of an oppressed people, COM
PEELED to choose between liberty and
slavery, must be obeyed.'
For the capture of Montreal and other
English stlonghods in Canada. he re-
ceived the thanks of congress. All Can
ada, with the exception of Quebec, was
now III possession of the Americans BY
the skill. dash and bravery of Richard
| Montgomery, the enemy was driven from
every fort and stronghold, one by one,
| until they We're pent up in their last
solitary refuge-Quebec. And against this
city and its famous citadel, Montgomery
determined at once to march; for while
| 1t remained in possession Of the enemy
the Americans could not call themselves
| masters OF Canada. His next step was
| to form a junction with Arnold, who,
q
Maine, was now closely investing Que
| bee.
Montgomery hearing of this, immedi-
ately put himself at the head of only 800
men and began his march. 1t was the
| latter part of November, and winter, in
| that latitude, had already set in, yet
7. through the driving snow, and over the
| frozen ground he led his little band,
keeping alive their courage by cheering
words, and melting them to effort by his
noble example Demanding no toll to
which he did not himself cheerfully SUBJ
nit, pointing to no danger where he was
not ready first to go, he kept his undis-
ciplined and suffering troops about him
with a firmness that kindles both our
admiration and our astonishment He
! must have known it was we'll nigh a
hopeless task on which he had entered,
and as his commanding form leads on his
column through the thickly driving snow
there seems around him pre-shadowing
of his doom.
Thus, day after day, did he pursue his
toilsome way, until at length the walls
Of Quebec rose before him. Here he
found Arnold; and, combining their
forces, undertook to reduce the city. Win
ter had now fairly come upon them-the
i ground was covered with snow, and
Montgomery was compelled to place his
guns on blocks of ice. Not being heavy
enough to make an impression on solid
walls, their fire was of little consequence.
In the meantime the troops suffered ter
ribly from the frost and exposure. The
| heavens we're constantly darkened with
snow, which piled up around the Ameri-
can camp in huge drifts Through these
the miserably clad troops would founder,
and with benumbed limbs and stiffened
fingers place themselves in order of bat
| tie.
The diminished columns were mere
black specks amid the smooth white
mass that covered the earth. 1t was i'm
possible to keep any troops long in the
open fields, exposed to such biting cold
and Montgomery began to look anxiously
about him for some way of escape from
the perils that every moment thickened
around his little army. To add to the
horrors of his position, the smallpox
broke out in the camp. and it increased
so fast that despair began to seize the
| troops, and it was evident that even the
power Of Montgomery could not keep
them together much longer.
| In this position of affairs he saw clear
ly that he must carry the city by assault,
or abandon the design of taking it alto
gether. Accordingly, council of war
was called, and the assault proposed
Both men and officers were in favor of
it, desperate as the alternative seemed,
and Montgomery resolved to divide the
army into four columns and make an
attack on the city at four different
points.
Two attacks against the upper town
were the feints to distract attention
while Montgomery and Arnold should
conduct the two real ones against the
lower town.
1t was on the last day of December, be-
fore daylight that this gallant band put
itself in battle array. The wintry morn
ing was dark and gloomy, and driving
snow storm filled the air, weaving be-
forehand winding sheet for the noble
commander and his brave followers. The
tall and graceful form Of Montgomery
was seen gliding through the gloom,
pressed close after by his resolute COL