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N0KFQ > TODAY 31.12.14 16:43l 59 Lines 2637 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 43550_N0KFQ
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Subj: Today in History - Dec 31
Path: IZ3LSV<IW0QNL<JH4XSY<JM1YTR<JE7YGF<N9PMO<N0KFQ
Sent: 141231/1536Z 43550@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.4.62
Dec 31, 1775:
Patriots are defeated at Quebec
On this day in 1775, Patriot forces under Colonel Benedict Arnold
and General Richard Montgomery attempt to capture the city of
Quebec under cover of darkness and snowfall. They fail, and the
effort costs Montgomery his life.
On December 2, Arnold, Montgomery and their troops met on the
outskirts of Quebec and demanded the surrender of the city.
Governor Sir Guy Carleton rejected their demand, and on December
8 the Patriots commenced a bombardment of Quebec, which was met
by a counter-battery by the British defenders that disabled
several of the Patriots' guns. Facing the year-end expiration of
their troops' enlistment, the Patriot forces advanced on the city
under the cover of a blizzard at approximately 4 a.m. on December
31. The British defenders were ready, however, and when
Montgomery's forces came within 50 yards of the fortified city,
the British opened fire with a barrage of artillery and musket
fire. Montgomery was killed in the first assault, and after
several more attempts at penetrating Quebec's defenses, his men
were forced to retreat.
Meanwhile, Arnold's division suffered a similar fate during their
attack on the northern wall of the city. A two-gun battery opened
fire on the advancing Americans, killing a number of troops and
wounding Benedict Arnold in the leg. Patriot Daniel Morgan
assumed command and made progress against the defenders, but
halted at the second wall of fortifications to wait for
reinforcements. By the time the rest of Arnold's army finally
arrived, the British had reorganized, forcing the Patriots to
call of their attack. Of the 900 Americans who participated in
the siege, 60 were killed or wounded and more than 400 were
captured.
The remaining Patriot forces then retreated from Canada. Benedict
Arnold remained in Canadian territory until the last of his
soldiers had crossed the St. Lawrence River to safety. With the
pursuing British forces almost in firing range, Arnold checked
one last time to make sure all his men had escaped, then shot his
horse and fled down the St. Lawrence in a canoe.
Less than five years later, Benedict Arnold, then commander of
West Point, famously turned traitor when he agreed to surrender
the important Hudson River fort to the British for a bribe of
£20,000. The plot was uncovered after British spy John Andre was
captured with incriminating papers, forcing Arnold to flee to
British protection and join in their fight against the country
that he had once so valiantly served.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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