nce, in a great measure, the
pertinacious loyalists who were to discountenance American appeals for
justice,--the warfare, before the declaration of American Independence,
being "neither against the throne nor the laws of England, but against
a reckless and oppressive ministry."[6] Efforts were, for such reasons,
made to obtain possession of the keys of the Lakes and of the St.
Lawrence at Quebec and Montreal. The old colonists were to make a war
of political propagandism on Canada and they resolved upon the
employment of both force and persuasion. Generals Montgomery, Arnold,
and Allen invaded Canada, and, to a certain point, with complete
success. After the successes of the two latter officers at Ticonderoga
and Crown Point, Arnold pushed on towards Quebec, through the
wilderness, and had ascended the heights of Abraham before Montgomery,
who had proceeded towards Quebec from Montreal, had arrived. Under
these circumstances, Arnold retired about twenty miles above Quebec, to
wait for Montgomery. Meanwhile, the Governor of Canada, Sir Guy
Carleton, had escaped, through Montgomery's army, in the dead of night,
in an open boat, rowed with muffled oars, and guided by Captain
Bouchette, of the Royal Navy, and was now safely lodged in the chief
fortress of America. On the 1st of December, Montgomery effected a
junction with Arnold, and the siege of Quebec was commenced, although
the besiegers were most indifferently provided with camp equipage, and
were poorly clad. Their cannon, too, was of so small a description, as
to be almost useless. The design evidently was to carry the town, which
was not then nearly as strongly fortified as now, and was only
garrisoned by a few troops, militia, and seamen, by assault, in the
full persuasion that the Canadians would be only most happy to be
identified with the American struggle for liberty, or by being neutral,
would show to the ministry of England the formidable animosity of a
united continent, by which the ends of the old colonists would be
gained, and the war nipped in its ripening bud.[7] This, Generals
Montgomery and Arnold were unable to do. The attempt was made on the
31st December, but signally failed. Arnold proceeded with one division
towards Sault-au-Matelot Street, by way of St. Roch's, and succeeded in
establishing himself in some houses at the eastern extremity of that
street, but being attacked in the rear, by a part of the garrison,
directed by General Carleton to mak