RICHARD MONTGOMERY.
Richard Montgomery, born in Ireland, on the 2d of December, 1736, educated at Trinity College, Dublin, entered the British army at eighteen as ensign. He performed good service during the French and Indian War, taking an active part in the siege of Louisburg and at the storming of Quebec under Wolfe. At the close of the war, he obtained permission to return to Europe; but in 1772, he resigned his commission in the British army and came to New York, being fully in sympathy with the colonies in their conflict with the mother country. He identified himself with the American colonists by purchasing a farm, and shortly after marrying the daughter of Robert R. Livingston. In 1775, he represented Duchess County in the first New York Provincial Convention. On the 22d of June of the same year, Congress appointed him brigadier-general in the Continental army. Preparations were immediately begun for investing Canada, as Congress appreciated the importance of securing commanding positions, to prevent invasions from that quarter and the alliance of the frontier Indians with our enemies. It being thought best to divide the forces, part were sent by way of the Kennebec, under Arnold, the others, by way of the Sorel River, were intrusted to Montgomery. Both armies had to contend with insufficient provisions and untold hardships of all kinds. Montgomery succeeded, however, in taking the fortresses of St. Johns, Chambly, and Montreal. At St. Johns the colors of the Seventh Fusileers were captured, being the first taken in the Revolution. In sending his report to Congress, Montgomery added, “Until Quebec is taken, Canada is unconquered.” On the 9th of December, 1775, he was advanced by Congress to the rank of major-general. About this time Arnold crossed the St. Lawrence, and at last the two armies were united and ready to act in concert. But cold, privation, and toilsome marches had done their work, and reduced the number of men available for active service to less than one thousand, while Quebec was not only strongly fortified, but amply garrisoned. A summons to surrender was answered by firing upon the bearer of the flag. A siege of three weeks served only to dishearten still further the frost-bitten and half-starved Americans. But the stout hearts of Montgomery and Arnold never quailed. At a council of war, it was decided that their best chance of success lay in attempting to carry the place by assault. Accordingly, on the 31st of December, 1775, in the midst of a blinding snow-storm, the two leaders began the attack before daylight. The city was to be stormed simultaneously at two different points; and Montgomery, leading his division along the river-bank, and often helping with his own hands to push aside the huge blocks of ice that impeded their progress, succeeded in carrying the first barrier. Waving his sword and shouting, “Men of New York, follow where your general leads!” he pressed eagerly forward, when a discharge of grape-shot ended his life, and also killed several of his staff. Dismayed by the death of their leader, and discouraged by the tremendous odds against them, the Americans were at length driven back, and compelled to leave the gallant Montgomery on the field of battle. The victors, appreciating the courage and nobility of the fallen hero, generously offered a resting-place for his remains within the walls of the beleaguered city.
In 1818, by an “Act of honor” passed by the New York Legislature in behalf of Mrs. Montgomery, Sir John Sherbrooke, Governor-General of Canada, was requested to allow her husband’s remains to be disinterred and brought to New York. This was granted, and “her soldier,” as she always called him, now sleeps in St. Paul’s churchyard near the monument that was ordered in France by Benjamin Franklin, in pursuance of a resolution of the Continental Congress.
JOHN THOMAS.
John Thomas, born in Marshfield, Massachusetts, in 1725, was a successful medical practitioner, entering the British army first as a surgeon, in 1746. He took a prominent part in the French and Indian War, but at its close devoted himself to his profession. He was, however, among the first to counsel resistance to British oppression, and having raised a regiment of volunteers, was appointed brigadier-general by the Provincial Congress on the 9th of February, 1775, and afterward received the same appointment from the Continental Congress on the 22d of June of the same year. On the night of the 4th of March, 1776, with three thousand picked men, he took possession of Dorchester Heights, commanding Boston, where the British were intrenched, and before morning had thrown up a formidable line of earth-works,—an advantage which finally led to the evacuation of the town by the enemy on the 17th of March. The death of Montgomery at the storming of Quebec necessitating the appointment of an experienced officer to command the troops in Canada, this duty was assigned to Thomas,—Congress having advanced him to the rank of major-general on the 6th of March, 1776. He promptly repaired to his new post, but while waiting for promised reinforcements, was attacked by small-pox, from which he died on the 2d of June, 1776, universally respected and deeply deplored.
HORATIO GATES.
Horatio Gates, born in Malden, Essex County, England, in 1728, was the godson of Horace Walpole. Entering the military service of Great Britain at an early age, he soon rose to the rank of major. After the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle he was stationed with his regiment at Halifax. At the breaking out of the French and Indian War, he joined General Braddock’s army in the expedition against Fort Duquesne, and received in that battle a severe wound that prevented his taking an active part again until near the close of the war, when he acted in 1762 as aid to General Monckton in the expedition against the island of Martinique. After the peace of Paris in 1763, Major Gates, like many other English officers, settled in America. He purchased a fine tract of land in Berkeley County, Virginia, and devoted himself successfully to agriculture. He had married Mary, the only child of James Valence of Liverpool, and at her father’s death, just before the Revolution, she joined her husband in this country, bringing with her $450,000, which she freely expended. Thaddeus Kosciusko was tenderly nursed by her six months. As his wound was a severe one, he owed his life to her generous care.
When war became inevitable, Gates offered his services to Congress, receiving the appointment of adjutant-general, with the rank of brigadier-general, June[1] 17, 1775. From the first, however, he coveted the position of commander-in-chief, and on more than one occasion showed his jealousy of Washington. Having many powerful friends in Congress, he was advanced to the rank of major-general May 16, 1776, and in June was appointed to the command of the army in Canada with his headquarters at Ticonderoga. Not finding any army in Canada, it having been compelled to retreat to New York, he claimed command of the whole Northern army, then under Schuyler, with his headquarters at Albany. Congress sustained the latter general, but this period marks the beginning of a series of intrigues which culminated in the “Conway cabal” to supplant Washington. Gates’ complicity in this conspiracy will forever tarnish his fame, as it no doubt saddened his life. Demoralized by hard service, insufficient food and clothing, with their pay in arrears, and consequently no money to send to their starving families, the Northern army could accomplish little except to gain in discipline and knowledge of military tactics. At length Schuyler’s prudent measures and wise strategy were beginning to tell in northern New York, and his sacrifices and heroism were about to be rewarded, when at this critical moment General Gates was given command of the Northern army, and arriving on the 21st of August, 1777, assumed the direction of affairs, already in train for a splendid victory. The battles of Stillwater and Saratoga forced Burgoyne to surrender his entire army with all their arms and ammunition on the 17th of the following October. The conduct of Gates during the latter battle has led to the charge of lack of personal courage, as throughout the engagement he remained in a position of safety two miles away, ready to flee with the teamsters and baggage-wagons should the action result in a defeat for the Americans. Burgoyne, on the contrary, was in the thick of the battle, receiving three bullets in his clothing.