Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1885 — Montgomery’s Death. [ARTICLE]

Montgomery’s Death.

It was at i o’clock in the morning of December 31, 1775, during a violent snow-storm, that the attack on Quebec was made. The little American army had undergone inexpressible hardships during the campaign, and the soldiers were half starved and half naked. It took all the magnetic power of Montgomery to stir them into renewed action; “Men of New York,” he exclaimed, “you will not fear to follow where your General leads; march on!” Then placing himself in the front, he almost immediately received the mortal wound which suddenly closed his career. 1 Thus fell Richard Montgomery, at the early age of 37. Three weeks before his death he was promoted to the rank of Major General. Young, gifted, and brave, he was mourned throughout the country, at whose altar he had offered up his life—apparently in vain ; for his fate decided the battle in favor of the British. The story that he was borne from the field of battle by Aaron Burr, under the continued fire of the enemy, has always been received with doubt. It may now, upon the highest authority, be pronounced to be without foundation. It was rumored, but not ascertained by the British for some hours, that the American General had been killed. Anxious to ascertain, General Carleton sent an aid-de-camp to the seminary, where the American prisoners were, to inquire if any of them would identify the body. A field officer, of Arnold’s division, who had been made prisoner near Sault an Matelot barrier, accompanied the aid-de-camp to the Pres de Ville guard, and pointed it out among the other bodies, at the same time pronouncing in accents of grief a glowing eulogium on Montgomery’s bravery and worth. Besides that of the General, the bodies of his two aides-de-camp were recognized among the slain. All were frozen stiff. General Montgomery was shot through the thigh and through the head. “When his body was taken up his features were not in the least distorted, his countenance appeared serene and placid, like the soul that had animated it. His sword, the symbol of his martial honor, lay close beside him on the snow. It was picked up by a drummer-boy, but immediately afterward was given up to James Thompson, Overseer of public works and assistant engineer during the siege, who had been intrusted by General Carleton with the interment of\ the body. Through the courtesy of the British General, Montgomery was buried within the walls of Quebec with the honors of war.— Louise Livingston Hunt, in Harper’s Magazine. In the lead production of different countries Spain'hold the first place, the amount reaching some 120,060 tonsjn one year, or one-sixth more than America, which comes next on the list, while Germany follows with 90,000. Of Spain’s total production, some G 7.000 tons are derived from one district, that of Linares, in which more that 800 mines are registered. '