They had hardly more than a thousand effective troops, together with a few hundred Canadians, upon whom no reliance could be placed.Carleton, commanding at Quebec, sat tight and would hold no communication with despised "rebels." "They all pretend to be gentlemen," said an astonished British officer in Quebec, when he heard that among the American officers now captured by the British there were a former blacksmith, a butcher, a shoemaker, and an innkeeper.Montgomery was stung to violent threats by Carleton's contempt, but never could he draw from Carleton a reply.At last Montgomery tried, in the dark of early morning of New Year's Day, 1776, to carry Quebec by storm.He was to lead an attack on the Lower Town from the west side, while Arnold was to enter from the opposite side.When they met in the center they were to storm the citadel on the heights above.They counted on the help of the French inhabitants, from whom Carleton said bitterly enough that he had nothing to fear in prosperity and nothing to hope for in adversity.Arnold pressed his part of the attack with vigor and penetrated to the streets of the Lower Town where he fell wounded.Captain Daniel Morgan, who took over the command, was made prisoner.
Montgomery's fate was more tragic.In spite of protests from his officers, he led in person the attack from the west side of the fortress.The advance was along a narrow road under the towering cliffs of a great precipice.The attack was expected by the British and the guard at the barrier was ordered to hold its fire until the enemy was near.Suddenly there was a roar of cannon and the assailants not swept down fled in panic.With the morning light the dead head of Montgomery was found protruding from the snow.He was mourned by Washington and with reason.He had talents and character which might have made him one of the chief leaders of the revolutionary army.Elsewhere, too, was he mourned.His father, an Irish landowner, had been a member of the British Parliament, and he himself was a Whig, known to Fox and Burke.When news of his death reached England eulogies upon him came from the Whig benches in Parliament which could not have been stronger had he died fighting for the King.
While the outlook in Canada grew steadily darker, the American cause prospered before Boston.There Howe was not at ease.If it was really to be war, which he still doubted, it would be well to seek some other base.Washington helped Howe to take action.
Dorchester Heights commanded Boston as critically from the south as did Bunker Hill from the north.By the end of February Washington had British cannon, brought with heavy labor from Ticonderoga, and then he lost no time.On the morning of March 5, 1776, Howe awoke to find that, under cover of a heavy bombardment, American troops had occupied Dorchester Heights and that if he would dislodge them he must make another attack similar to that at Bunker Hill.The alternative of stiff fighting was the evacuation of Boston.Howe, though dilatory, was a good fighting soldier.His defects as a general in America sprang in part from his belief that the war was unjust and that delay might bring counsels making for peace and save bloodshed.His first decision was to attack, but a furious gale thwarted his purpose, and he then prepared for the inevitable step.
Washington divined Howe's purpose and there was a tacit agreement that the retiring army should not be molested.Howe destroyed munitions of war which he could not take away but he left intact the powerful defenses of Boston, defenses reared at the cost of Britain.Many of the better class of the inhabitants, British in their sympathies, were now face to face with bitter sorrow and sacrifice.Passions were so aroused that a hard fate awaited them should they remain in Boston and they decided to leave with the British army.Travel by land was blocked; they could go only by sea.When the time came to depart, laden carriages, trucks, and wheelbarrows crowded to the quays through the narrow streets and a sad procession of exiles went out from their homes.A profane critic said that they moved "as if the very devil was after them." No doubt many of them would have been arrogant and merciless to "rebels" had theirs been the triumph.But the day was above all a day of sorrow.Edward Winslow, a strong leader among them, tells of his tears "at leaving our once happy town of Boston." The ships, a forest of masts, set sail and, crowded with soldiers and refugees, headed straight out to sea for Halifax.
Abigail, wife of John Adams, a clever woman, watched the departure of the fleet with gladness in her heart.She thought that never before had been seen in America so many ships bearing so many people.Washington's army marched joyously into Boston.
Joyous it might well be since, for the moment, powerful Britain was not secure in a single foot of territory in the former colonies.If Quebec should fall the continent would be almost conquered.
