DEATH OF GENERAL MONTGOMERY

eTC. “The first Congre of what is now called “The United States,” met in Philadelphia, on the 5th of September, 1774. It is remarkable that one of their first objects, after obtaining their own independence, was to attempt to seize on the country they had a isted England to conquer. It is a singular fact that the money, which it was endeavoured to levy upon the New England ers and their fellow-colonists, and which, in a great measure, caused the rupture, was for the expre purpose of defraying the great expenses incurred by England in the capture of Canada. Having resolved to invade Canada, the Americans entered it in the fall of 1775, in two directions—by Lake Cham plain and by the sources of the Kennebec River. The first division, under General Montgomery, was very succe ful. After obtaining po e ion of Ticonderoga, Crown Point, and St. Johns, he advanced towards Montreal. His force was very considerable, while there were but few British soldiers in Canada. General Car let on, who succeeded General Murray in the military command, had been repulsed at Longueuil; so that Montgomery had only to take po e ion of the city, which he did on the 19th of November. The naval force in the river, and all the military stores and provisions, were surrendered into his hands, and General Pre scott, with the volunteers and soldiers, became prisoners of war. Finding plenty of woollen cloth in the city, General Montgomery took the opportunity of new-clothing his troops, who had suffered much from the severity of the weather. The second division of the American army, under General Arnold, reached the St. Lawrence on the 9th of November. They had traversed, with dreadful fatigue, the forests and swamps in the District of Maine, and arrived at Point Levi, opposite Quebec, worn out and dispirited. Quebec was at this time defencele ; and had General Arnold been able to cro the river, that capital, and with it the territory of Canada, must have pa ed into the hands of the Americans. Fortunately all the shipping had been removed to the other side, and it was not until the 14th that he was able to cro over. He landed 500 men at Wolfe’s Cove, and waited near that place in the hope of being joined by Montgomery from Montreal. General Car let on, the British Governor, was at this time occupied, with his troops near Montreal, in endeavouring to repulse Montgomery. The latter wished to effect a junction with General Arnold, that they might unitedly attack the fortre . Perceiving that the safety of the country depended upon the po e ion of Quebec, Car let on effected a masterly movement to reach that place. In this, he was a isted by Captain Bouchette, R.N., who conveyed him through the American forces by night, in a canoe with muffled paddles. He arrived at the citadel of Quebec on the 19th, whilst the Americans thought him busily engaged with Montgomery, near Montreal. General Car let on’s arrival at Quebec was hailed with great joy by the Canadians, who vied with the oldest British soldiers in preparations for defence. The force under his command amounted to only 1800 men. Not more than 350 were regulars—of whom 230 were Frazer’s Highlanders, who had settled in the country, and were re-embodied under Colonel McLean. The remainder were 450 seamen, and a gallant band composed of Canadian militia and artificers. The American Generals had now effected a junction of their forces, and summoned the fortre to surrender. This was at once rejected. After pushing the siege during the month of December, without any prospect of succe , Montgomery determined upon making a night-attack. This intention soon became known to General Car let on, who made every preparation to defeat the enemy. The Governor, with the officers and gentlemen off duty, took up their quarters for several days at the Recollet Convent, where they slept in their clothes. During this month’s siege, the American riflemen kept up an unintermitting fire upon the sentinels, and threw from forty to fifty shells every night into the city. The inhabitants became so accustomed to the occurrences of a siege that they ceased to regard them with alarm, all joining cheerfully in bearing arms and performing the duty of soldiers. Two strong parties were formed on the 31st of December—one under Montgomery, the other under Arnold, whose local knowledge of Quebec was accurate. They were to advance from opposite sides and meet at the foot of Mountain street; then force Pre scott gate and reach the Upper Town. The besiegers approached the city with the most careful silence, aided by the raging of a furious storm. Advancing by the road which winds round the face of the rock, the army was crowded into the narrow pa which led to the gate. Notwithstanding every precaution the confused noise of the approaching troops rose above the conflict of the elements, and struck the watchful ear of the outer sentinel, who, receiving no answer to his challenge, roused the British guard. The party who defended the battery, consisted of Canadian militia, with nine British seamen to work the guns. They kept a close watch, and, as soon as the day broke, discovered the troops marching in the snow. Orders were given to make no movement; and the Americans, having halted at the distance of fifty yards, sent forward an officer to reconnoitre. On his return the troops marched forward with a quickne and precision deserving the highest praise. The English then opened a tremendous fire from the artillery which commanded the path; the groans which succeeded plainly revealed the enemy; and it was not until every sound in answer to their fire had died away, that they ceased their cannonade. The enemy having retired, thirteen bodies were found in the snow. Montgomery’s orderly sergeant, desperately wounded, but yet alive, was found and brought into the guard-room. On being asked if the General himself had been killed, he evaded the question by replying that he had not seen him for some time. This faithful sergeant died in about an hour afterwards. It was not ascertained that the American General had been killed, until General Car let on, anxious to learn the truth, sent to inquire if any of the prisoners would identify the body. An officer consenting accompanied the aide-de-camp to the “ Près de Ville ” guard, and pointed out the body, pronouncing over it a glowing eulogium on Montgomery’s bravery. His two aides-de-camp were also recognised among the slain. This brave man had fought by the side of Wolfe on the Plains of Abraham; but, marrying an American lady, the daughter of Judge Livings ton, he imbibed the politics of his father-in-law’s family, and joined the cause of the colonists against the Mother Country. The excellence of his qualities and disposition procured him an uncommon share of private affection and esteem. After his death the Continental Congre ordered a magnificent cenotaph to be erected to his memory in St. Paul’s Church, N.Y. Thither his remains were removed in 1818, by the desire of his widow, and with the permi ion of the then British Governor, Sir John Sherbrooke. In the meantime, Arnold, who had been repulsed at the opposite side of the town, took the command, and attempted still to maintain his ground; but the dispirited state of his men rendered him unable to keep up more than an imperfect blockade at a distance of three miles, which he at last abandoned. In the whole attack upon Quebec the Americans lost about 100 killed and wounded, and six officers of Arnold’s division, inclusive of the lo at Près de Ville . The British had one officer and seventeen men killed and wounded. The number of those who surrendered was 426.” QUEENS TON.— Upper Canada. —This town, on the River Niagara, was taken by the United States troops in the American war of 1812, October 13th, but was retaken by the British, who defeated the Americans with lo . The following is a succinct account of the battle and death of general Brock, the Hero of Upper Canada: