[lb moine] assault on QUEBEC in 1775 461 



parents if he did not survive the assault, and as he did not, it was for- 

 warded by General Philii) Schuyler. The letter is dated and reads : 



' Headquarters before Quebec, December 30, 1775. 

 ' My dear Father, — If you receive this, it will be the last this hand will ever 

 write you. Orders are given for a general storm of Quebec this niglit, and heaven 

 only knows what maj- be my fate. * * * Should Providence, in its wisdom, 

 call me from rendering the little assistance I might to ray country', I could wish my 

 brotlier did not continue in the service of her enemies. ' 



"This letter, copied from the 'Philadelphia Press,' October 30, 1830, 

 will be found in full in the 'Historical Magazine,' second series, vol. viii, 

 July, 1870, p. 53. 



" In the two preceding extracts we have a letter from Bainfair 

 (Barnesfair), who participated in the fight on the British side, and a 

 letter from MacPherson, who was killed. The former distinctly gives 

 December 31st as the date of the battle. The latter, writing on the 30th, 

 says orders are given ' to storm Queboc this evening." That points to 

 the 31st as the day of the battle as plainly as possible. 



" Turning to those who kej)t diaries or journals, I take up that 

 which I find in the 'Publications of the New York Historical Society' 

 for the year 1880. It is entitled, ' Journal of the Most Eemarkable Occur- 

 rences in Quebec from the 24th of November, 1775, to the 7th of Alay, 

 1776. By One of the Garrison.' The author of the journal I do not 

 know, but will quote part of one day and part of another. 



' December 30. — * * * In tlie night a deserter came in from tlie rebels. 

 He reports that the army under ]Mr. ]\Iontgomery amounts to between two and 

 three thousand men, including Canadians ; that they have been newly clothed, 

 and are most plentifully supplied by the country people, who are paid in hard 

 money. * * * The wliole army was assembled at headquarters, by the General's 

 order, lately. It was given out that they were to attack the town that night. * * * 



' December 31. — About four o'clock this morning Captain Malcolm Fraser, of 

 Colonel IVIaclean's Regiment, in going his rounds, perceived signals not far from 

 St. Jolm's Gate ; and finding the weather such as the enemy wished for, by the 

 last deserter's report, he alarmed the guards and picquets, who stood to their 

 arms. All the sentries between Cape Diamond and Palace Gate saw manj^ and 

 repeated flashes like lightning. On the Heights of Abraham lights like lanthorns 

 were placed on poles at regular distances.' * * * 



"The above gives December 31st, tells that the deserter gave them 

 information that the city was to be attacked, and the kind of weather 

 Montgomery desired he had. 



" I next turn to the ' Journal of Eeturn J. Meigs from September 9, 

 1775, to January 1, 1776,' as it is given in the ' Collections of the Massa- 

 chusetts Historical Society,' second series, vol. ii, pp. 227-247, and find : 



'December 31. — The troops assembled at two o'clock this morning. Those 

 that were to make the attack by way of Cape Diamond assembled at the General's 

 quarters upon the Heights of Abraliam, and were headed by General Montgomery.' 



