RELATION DE L'ASSAUT DE QUÉBEC

Voici comment le Juge Henry raconte le combat du Saut-au-Matelot :

‘It was not until the night of the 31st (30th) of December, 1775, that such kind of weather ensued as was considered favorable for the assault..….…. By 2 o’elock we were accoutred and began our march. The storm was outrageous, and tbe cold wind extremely biting. In this northern country the snow is blown horizontally into the faces of travellers on most oc ‘asions, this was our ase.

. January 1st.— When we came to Craig’s house, near

Palace gate, a horrible roar of cannon took place, and a ringing of all the bells of the city, which are very numerous, and of all sizes. Arnold, heading the forlorn hope, advanced perhaps one hundred yards before the main body. After these followed Lamb's artillerists. Morgan’s company led in the secondary part of the column of infantry. Smith’'3 followed, headed by Steele ; the captain, from particular causes, being absent. Hendricks’ company succeeded, and the eastern men, 80 far as known to me, followed in due order...

In these intervals we received a tremendous fire of musketry from the ramparts above us. Here we lost

some brave men, when powerless to return the salutes we received, as the enemy was covered by his imyregnable defenses. They were even sightless to us—we could see nothing but the blaze from the muzzles of their muskets....…..

“ We proceeded rapidly, exposed to a long line of fire from the garrison, for now we were nnprotected by any buildings. The fire had slackened in a small degree. The enemy had been partly called off to resist the General, and strengthen the party opposed to Arnold in our front. Now we saw colonel Arnold returning, wounded in the leg, and supported by two gentlemen ; a parson Spring was one, and in my belief, a Mr. Ogden the other, Arnold called to the troops in a cheerit g voice as we passed, urging us forward ; yet it was observable among the soldiery, with whom it was my misfortune to be now placed, that the Colonel’s retiring” damped their spirits. A cant phrase, “ We are sold,” was repeatedly heard in many parts throughout the line. Thus proceeding, enfiladed by an animated but lessened fire, we came to the first barrier, where Arnold had been wounded in the onset: This contest had lasted but a few minutes, and was somewhat severe ; but the energy of our men prevailed. The embrasures were entered when the enemy were discharging their guns. The guard, consisting of thirty persons, where either taken, or fled, leaving their arms behind them. At this time it was discovered that our gris were useless, because of the dampness. The snow, which lodged in our ficecy coats, was melted by the warmth of our bodies. Thence came that disaster. Many of the party, knowing the cireumstance, threw aside their own, and sized the British API,

‘ From the first barrier to the second, there was a circtular course along the sides of houses, and partly through a street, probably of three hundred yards, or more. This second barrier was erected across, and near the mouth of a narrow street, adjacent to the foot of the hill, which opened into a larger, leading soon into the main bodÿ of the lower town. Here it was that the most serious contention took place; this became the bone of strife. The admirable Montgomery | y this time {though it was