[Extract]

General Montgomery soon arriving from Montreal, and joining the Force under Genl [Colonel] Arnold, with a large body of Men, formed the Blockade of the Town, and began the Seige by raising Batteries against it. ² ー But impatient of delay, and relying on the superiority of his numbers, the activity and the courage of his men, and knowing that the Garrison was weak, considering the great extent of the Works, determined to make a bold attack upon the Town in the night, in the belief that he shoud carry it by a Coup de Main ー This plan was carried into execution in the night of the 31 of December 1775, in the middle of a heavy Snow Storm ー To distract the attention of the Garrison, feigned attacks were made upon the several parts, at the same time that the principal assault was given to the lower Town ー The Enemy surprizd an out Post of a Captain's Guard, and had entered the Town before the Alarm was communicated, and had passed the first Barrier. On their attempting to force the second Barrier, an action took place, in which they were repulsed with great loss ー Some Guns judiciously placed in a house, formed a kind of masked Battery, which raked the Street which the Rebels occupied, and being loaded with grape Shot, they did effectual execution; many of them were killed and wounded, among the former was their General Montgomery, & among the latter was Genl Arnold ー While these things were performing, Sir Guy Carleton ordered a detachment to make a Sorti at a Gate, & march round to the place where the Enemy had entered, which cutting off their retreat, about 400 of. them were made prisoners ー The number of their kiled and wounded cou'd never be exactly ascertained, as many of them fell among the snow, which covering them during the winter, their bodies were found scattered about, upon the melting of it as the summer approached. ー