164 THE BOROUGH OF THE BRONX 



of the river to annoy him in his retreat. The Governor (Carle- 

 ton) escaped — more's the pity! Prescott, nevertheless, is a prize." 



It was on the 3d of December that Montgomery made a junc- 

 tion with Benedict Arnold, and soon decided to carry Quebec by 

 storm. Arnold with rare boldness and persistence had conducted 

 a detachment of Washington's army thru a tractless wilderness 

 of nearly three hundred miles. Their provisions had fallen short 

 towards the last so that it is said some of the men had eaten their 

 dogs, cartouch-boxes, breeches and shoes. They had lost half their 

 number. 



Montgomery, who had been made a major-general on Decem- 

 ber 9, found it necessary to storm Quebec at once. He was un- 

 provided with means for a prolonged siege; the Canadian winter 

 was drawing on with all its rigor; the army was being reduced by 

 sickness ; the term for which part of the troops had enlisted would 

 expire with the year, and they already talked of returning home. 

 Whatever was to be done would have to be concentrated within the 

 month of December. 



"Till Quebec is taken Canada is unconquered," he wrote to 

 Congress. To his wife he wrote : "They are a good deal alarmed in 

 town (Quebec) and with some reason ... I wish it were well 

 over, with all my heart, and sigh for home like a New-Englander." 



The attack was made at 2 o'clock in the morning of the 31st 

 of December during a heavy snow-storm, Montgomery himself 

 leading his men and rallying them on. "Forward, men of New 

 York!" he cried, "you will not fear to follow where your general 

 leads." They passed the first barrier, and Montgomery paused for 

 a moment to cheer his troops: "Push on, my brave boys. Quebec 

 is ours !" Suddenly he was laid low with his two aides by the first 

 and only discharge of the British artillery. His soldiers, discour- 

 aged by the loss of their leader, retreated in great confusion. 



His death was regarded as a great public calamity and foes and 

 friends alike paid tribute to his valor. The governor, the lieuten- 

 ant-governor of Quebec, and all the principal officers of the garri- 

 son, buried him with the honors of war. At the news of his death 

 "the City of Philadelphia was in tears; every person seemed to 

 have lost his nearest friend." Congress proclaimed for him "their 

 grateful remembrance, respect and high veneration ; and desiring to 

 transmit a truly worthy example of patriotism, conduct, boldness 

 of enterprise insuperable perseverance, and contempt of danger 



