In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

C H A P T E R T E N Attack on Quebec The situation of his army pressed dispatch; snows and frost only quickened his motions. He hoped by one successful stroke, before the arrival of succours to the garrison, to complete his plan.1 But yet, what-reck, he at Quebec, Montgomery-like did fa', man, Wi' sword in hand, before his band, Amang his en'mies a', man.2 Thus fell our worthy and brave General. Weep America! for thou hast lost one of thy most virtuous and dearest sons.3 A fte r receivin g n o satisfactio n i n hi s attempt s t o arrang e a peacefu l /_% capitulatio n of Quebec, Montgomery turne d to an artillery can 1 J L nonad e o f th e city . Erectin g batterie s wit h th e gun s h e ha d brought from Montreal , he emplaced five small mortars behind protectiv e buildings i n St . Roch , a few hundre d yard s fro m th e wall s o f Quebec . Shelling of the city commenced o n December 9 to provide a postscript t o the unanswere d message s o f conciliatio n tha t Montgomer y ha d sen t t o the inhabitants. Several day s o f sustaine d firing, however , faile d t o mak e a seriou s impact o n th e garriso n o r civilia n population . Capt . Thoma s Ainsli e o f r 33 134 * Attack on Quebec the Britis h militi a crowed , "Thei r sho t ha d n o mor e effec t upo n ou r walls, tha n peas e wou' d hav e agains t a plank. " "Befor e the y gav e u s a sample o f thei r savoi r fair e i n th e bombardin g way, " Ainsli e remarked , "the town s peopl e ha d conceive d tha t ever y shel l wou' d inevitabl y kil l a dozen or two of people, & knock down some two or three houses . . . but after the y sa w tha t thei r bombette s a s the y calle d them , di d n o harm , women and children walked the streets laughing at their former fears." 4 The ineffectivenes s o f Montgomery's six- , nine-, and twelve-pounder s was du e largel y t o thei r ligh t weigh t an d limite d range . I t soo n becam e apparent t o th e American s tha t thei r batterie s wer e no t i n a position t o compete wit h th e thirty-two-pounder s i n th e fortress . Thi s Britis h fire superiority manifeste d itsel f in the casualties and damage suffered b y th e Americans fro m counterartiller y fire . A hostil e canno n barrag e drov e Arnold fro m hi s headquarter s i n St . Roc h whe n hi s hous e wa s riddle d with shot . Carleton' s cannoneer s nearl y kille d Montgomer y whe n a shell decapitated hi s hors e an d demolishe d hi s sleig h a fe w minute s afte r h e had alighted to confer wit h his aides.5 Despite the disadvantages from whic h the American artillery endured , Montgomery ordere d th e emplacement o f another batter y tha t hopefull y could giv e a better accoun t o f itself. Th e Plain s of Abraham offere d th e most advantageous firing location , bu t i t offered littl e natural cove r fro m outranging counterbatter y shelling . I n addition , th e har d froze n groun d would not permit digging or the construction of earthworks to protect the guns or gunners. Nevertheless, the Americans accepted the challenge and risk. Captai n Lam b chose a site on the Plains about seve n hundred yard s from St . John' s Gate . Workin g b y nigh t i n th e bitin g cold , hi s me n prepared th e new position. I t took the name of the "ice battery," becaus e its breastwork s wer e constructed wit h sno w tha t ha d bee n wette d dow n with wate r an d...

Share