The Irish standard., 1900-01-06
Very Interesting Sketch of the
Distinguished Irishman.
EULOGIzED BY HISTORIAN HEADLEY
The Great British Orators Paid
Tributes to His Memory.

The distinguished part taken by the
brave 1rish-Amcrican General, Richard
Montgomery, in the War for American
Independence is one which commands
the admiration OF all lovers OF freedom,
says writer i'll the Irish World. In
accepting the commission OF brigadicr-
general in the patriot army, "an unc-
qulvocal mark OF distinction" says the
historian, Sparks conferred by the
highest authority oi the country, with
out solicitation or priviy on his part,
was received by him with homage
mingled with regret, apparently fore
hoding the catastrophe which was soon
to follow
In accepting his commission to be
one OF the eight brigadicr- generals, he
thus wrote: Tho Congress having
done me the honor OF clecting me a
brigadicrg general in their service is an
event which must put an end for Il
while. perhaps forever. TO the quiet
scheme OF life | had prescribed for my
self, for, though entirely unexpected
and undesired by me, the will OF an
oppressed people. compelled to choose
between liberty and slavery, must be
obcycd.
The Revolution had now commenced
in earnest. Bunker Hill was fought
about the time Montgomery received
his commission. Washington was be-
sicging Boston, and John Sullivan had
captured as many pieces Of cannon as
would cncirclc it. Morgan, witt, five
hundred Irish riflcmcn, had marched
from Virginia to take part in the siege
of Boston, and the whole country was
in blaze.
For the capture OF Montreal and
other English strongholds in Canada he
received the thanks OF Congress. Gen
Schuyler, in reporting these transac-
tions to Congress, says: Il cannot cs-
innate the obligations I lie under to
Gen. Montgomery for the many I'M
portant services he has done, and daily
does, in which he had little assistance
from me-"
All Canada, with the exception OF
Quebec, was now in possession OF the
Americans, the inhabitants OF which.
owing to the courtesy and respect OF
the American general and soldiers,
soon made friends with their conquer
ors By the skill, dash and bravery OF
Richard Montgomery, the English were
driven from every fort and stronghold,
one by one, until they were pent up in
their last solitary refuge-Quebcc. And
against this city and its famous citadel,
Montgomery determined to march; for
while it remained in possession OF the
enemy, the Americans could not call
themselves masters Of Canada. His
next move was to form a junction with
Arnold, who was now closely invest
ing Quebec
Montgomery hearing OF this, immedi-
atcly put himself at the head OF only
three hundred men and began his
march. 1t was the latter part OF No
vcmber, and winter, in that latitude, had
already set in, yet through the driving
snow and over the frozen ground he led
his little band, keeping alive their cour-
age by cheering words, and melting
them to effort by his noble example.
Demanding no toll to which he did not
himself chccrfully submit, pointing to
no danger where he was not ready first
to so. he kept his undisciplined and
suffering troops about him with firm
ness that kindlcs both Our admiration
and our astonishmcnt. He must have
known it was we'll nigh 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 a 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. Situated
upon a rocky promontory, three hun
dred and fifty feet above the St. Law
renee, and at the confluence of that
river and the ST. Charles, stands the
"Gibraltar of America" Guarded
against surprise by steep natural ac-
clivities on three sides, and so strongly
fortified by art that, except on the rear,
it is absolutely i1npregnable to any
known implements of modern warfare.