Both Leaders Intimately Knew Its Highways And By-Ways.
Brigadier General Richard Montgomery, Before Settling Near New York,
Had Held A Lieutenant's Commission In His Britannic Majesty's 17th
Foot, Had Taken Part In The War Of The Conquest, In 1759, And Had
Visited Quebec.
Col.
Benedict Arnold, attracted by the fame of our
Norman horses, had more than once been in the city with the object of
trading in them.
Benedict Arnold was indeed a daring commander. His successful journey
through trackless forests between Cambridge and Quebec - his descent in
boats through rivers choked with ice, and through dangerous rapids;
the cold, hunger and exposure endured by himself and his soldiers,
were feats of endurance of which any nation might justly feel proud.
Major-General Sir James Carmichael Smyth, a high authority on such
matters, says of this winter campaign: "It is, perhaps, one of the
most wonderful instances of perseverance and spirit upon record." So
much for the endurance and bravery of our foes. I am compelled to pass
unnoticed many important incidents of the campaign in order to reach
sooner the main facts.
What was the real state of the Colony on that identical 31st December,
one hundred years ago? Why, it was simply desperate. The wave of
invasion had surged over our border. Fort after fort, city after city,
had capitulated - Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Fort St. John, Fort
Chambly, Montreal, Sorel, Three Rivers. Montgomery with his victorious
bands had borne everything before him like a tornado. The Canadian
peasantry dreaded the very sight of warriors who must be ball-proof,
as they were supposed, by a curious mistake, to be "incased in plate-
iron," vetus de tole, instead de toile. [54] The red [54a] and
black flag of successful rebellion floated over the suburbs of Quebec.
Morgan's and Humphries' riflemen were thundering at the very gates of
the city, those dear old walls - (loud applause) - which some Vandals
are longing to demolish, alone kept away the wolf.
Levi, Sillery, Ste Foye, Lorette, Charlesbourg, the Island of Orleans,
Beauport and every inch of British territory around the city were in
possession of the invaders, every house in the suburbs sheltered an
enemy - every bush in the country might conceal a deadly foe. Treachery
stalked within the camp - disaffection was busy inside and outside of
the walls. At first many of the citizens, English as well as French,
seemed disinclined to take part in the great family quarrel which had
originated at Boston - the British of New England pitted against the
British of Canada. The confusion of ideas and opinions must at first
have been great. Several old British officers who had served in the
wars of the conquest of Canada, had turned their swords against their
old messmates - their brothers-in-arms - amongst others, Richard
Montgomery, Moses Hazen and Donald Campbell. Quebec, denuded of its
regulars, had indeed a most gloomy prospect to look upon. No soldiers
to man her walls except her citizens unaccustomed to warfare - no
succour to expect from England till the following spring - scantiness
of provisions and a terrified peasantry who had not the power, often
no desire, to penetrate into the beleaguered city during winter.
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