Part 12 (1/2)

MR. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

”The event which we intend commemorating this evening, is one at peculiar interest to us as Canadians, and more especially so to us as Quebecers, the narrow, I may say, the providential escape of the whole Province from foreign subjugation one century ago. It is less a chapter of Canadian annals I purpose to read to you this night, than some minute details little known, and gleaned from the journals left by eye witnesses of the thrilling hand to hand fight which took place a few hundred yards from where you sit, under our walls, on the 31st December, 1775, between Col. Arnold's New England soldiery and our own garrison.

Possibly, you may not all realize the critical position of the city on that memorable morning. Next day, a Sunday, ushered in the new year.

Think you there was much ”visiting,” much festivity, on that new year's day? alas! though victory crowned our banner, there was mourning in too many Canadian homes; we, too, had to bury our dead.

Let us take a rapid glimpse of what had proceeded the a.s.sault.

Two formidable parties, under experienced leaders, in execution of the campaign planned by George Was.h.i.+ngton and our former Deputy Post Master General, the able Benjamin Franklin, had united under the walls of Quebec. Both leaders intimately knew its highways and by-ways.

Brigadier General Richard Montgomery, before settling near New York, had held a lieutenant's commission in His Britannic Majesty's 17th Foot, had taken part in the war of the conquest, in 1759, and had visited Quebec. Col. Benedict Arnold, attracted by the fame of our Norman horses, had more than once been in the city with the object of trading in them.

Benedict Arnold was indeed a daring commander. His successful journey through trackless forests between Cambridge and Quebec--his descent in boats through rivers choked with ice, and through dangerous rapids; the cold, hunger and exposure endured by himself and his soldiers, were feats of endurance of which any nation might justly feel proud.

Major-General Sir James Carmichael Smyth, a high authority on such matters, says of this winter campaign: ”It is, perhaps, one of the most wonderful instances of perseverance and spirit upon record.” So much for the endurance and bravery of our foes. I am compelled to pa.s.s unnoticed many important incidents of the campaign in order to reach sooner the main facts.

What was the real state of the Colony on that identical 31st December, one hundred years ago? Why, it was simply desperate. The wave of invasion had surged over our border. Fort after fort, city after city, had capitulated--Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Fort St. John, Fort Chambly, Montreal, Sorel, Three Rivers. Montgomery with his victorious bands had borne everything before him like a tornado. The Canadian peasantry dreaded the very sight of warriors who must be ball-proof, as they were supposed, by a curious mistake, to be ”incased in plate- iron,” _vetus de tole_, instead _de toile_. [54] The red [54a] and black flag of successful rebellion floated over the suburbs of Quebec.

Morgan's and Humphries' riflemen were thundering at the very gates of the city, those dear old walls--(loud applause)--which some Vandals are longing to demolish, alone kept away the wolf.

Levi, Sillery, Ste Foye, Lorette, Charlesbourg, the Island of Orleans, Beauport and every inch of British territory around the city were in possession of the invaders, every house in the suburbs sheltered an enemy--every bush in the country might conceal a deadly foe. Treachery stalked within the camp--disaffection was busy inside and outside of the walls. At first many of the citizens, English as well as French, seemed disinclined to take part in the great family quarrel which had originated at Boston--the British of New England pitted against the British of Canada. The confusion of ideas and opinions must at first have been great. Several old British officers who had served in the wars of the conquest of Canada, had turned their swords against their old messmates--their brothers-in-arms--amongst others, Richard Montgomery, Moses Hazen and Donald Campbell. Quebec, denuded of its regulars, had indeed a most gloomy prospect to look upon. No soldiers to man her walls except her citizens unaccustomed to warfare--no succour to expect from England till the following spring--scantiness of provisions and a terrified peasantry who had not the power, often no desire, to penetrate into the beleaguered city during winter.

Were not these trying times for our worthy sires?

Such was the posture of affairs, when to the general joy, our gallant Governor Guy Carleton, returned and rejoined his dauntless little army at Quebec, having succeeded, thanks to Captain Bouchette and other brave men, in eluding the vigilance of the enemy in possession of Three Rivers, Sorel and Montreal. Turn over the records of those days and yon will see the importance our fathers attached to the results of the Sault-au-Matelot and Pres-de-Ville engagements.

For more than twenty-five years, the 31st December, 1775, was annually commemorated, generally by a club dinner given at Ferguson's Hotel, (Freemasons' Hall?) or at some other hotel of note--sometimes a Chateau ball was added by the Governor of the Province. In 1778, we find in the old _Quebec Gazette_, a grand _fete champetre_, given by Lady Maria Carleton and her gallant partner Sir Guy, at the Red House, a fas.h.i.+onable rustic Hostelry, kept by Alex. Menut, the prince of Canadian _Soyers_ of those days, who had been _Maitre d'Hotel_ to General Murray, and selected that year by Their Excellencies. It stood on the Little River road, (the land is now owned by Mr. Tozer) about two miles from Quebec. It reads thus in the _Gazette_ of 8th January, 1778:

Quebec, 8th January, 1778._

”Yesterday, seventh night, being the anniversary of the victory obtained over the Rebels in their attack upon this City in the year 1775, a most elegant Ball and Supper were given at Menut's Tavern by the Gentlemen who served in the Garrison during that Memorable Winter.

The Company, consisting of upwards of two hundred and thirty Ladies and Gentlemen, made a grand and brilliant appearance, and nothing but mirth and good humour reigned all night long. About half-past six, His Excellency, Sir Guy Carleton, Knight of the Bath, our worthy Governor and Successful General, dressed in the militia uniform, (which added l.u.s.tre to the Ribbon and Star) as were also all the gentlemen of that corps who served under him during the siege, entered the a.s.sembly room accompanied by Lady Maria, &c., &c., and the Ball was soon opened by her Ladys.h.i.+p and the Honorable Henry Caldwell, Lieutenant Colonel Commandant of the British Militia. The dancing continued until half- past twelve, when the Ladies were conducted into the supper room, where Mr. Menut exhibited fresh proofs of that superior excellence in the _culinary_ art he so justly claims above his Peers.... The company in general broke up about four in the morning, highly satisfied with their entertainment and in perfect good humour with one another. May that disposition prevail until the next and every succeeding 31st of December, and may each return of that glorious day (the event of which was not only the preservation of this garrison; but of the whole Province) be commemorated with the same spirit and unanimity in grateful remembrance of our happy deliverance from the snares of the enemy, and with grateful acknowledgements of those blessings of peace and tranquility of Government and Laws we now enjoy in consequence of that day's success.”

The _Gazette_ of the following year carefully chronicles the gathering of the Veterans of 1775.--”Thursday last being the anniversary of the 31st December, a Day which will be ever famous in the annals of this country for the defeat of Faction and Rebellion, the same was observed with the utmost festivity In the evening a ball and cold Collation was given by the gentlemen who composed the Garrison in the winter of 1775, to His Excellency and a numerous and brilliant a.s.sembly of Ladies and Gentlemen, the satisfaction every one felt in Commemorating so Glorious an event, strongly appeared by the joy which was visible in every contenance.”

In 1790, according to the _Quebec Herald_, the annual dinner was held at the _Merchant's Coffee House_, by about 30 survivors of the Veterans, who agreed to meet twice a year, instead of once, their joviality apparently increasing with their age.

In 1794, [55] the _Gazette_ acquaints us that the Anniversary Dinner was to be held at Ferguson's Hotel, on the 6th May. [56] We find both nationalities fraternising in these loyal demonstrations. M.

DeBonne (afterwards Judge DeBonne) taking his place next to loyal John Coffin, of Pres-de-Ville fame, and probably Simon Fraser and the Hon.

Hugh Finlay, will join Lieutenant Dambourges and Col Dupre, in toasting King George III. under the approving eye of Lt. Col.

Caldwell, Wolfe's Deputy Quarter-Master General. Col. Caldwell, lived to a green old age, and expired in this city in 1810. Our esteemed fellow-citizen, Errol Boyd Lindsay, remembers him well, and in front of whom I stand, a stalwart Volunteer of 1837, Col. Gugy, is now relating how when a lad he once dined with Col. Caldwell, some seventy years ago, at Belmont, amidst excellent cheer.

The _Quebec Gazette_ teems with loyal English and French songs of 1775, for a quarter of a century, and for more than twenty-five years the anniversary banquet, ball or dinner was religiously kept up.

But we must hie away from these ”junketings”--these festive boards, which our loyal ancestors seem to have infinitely enjoyed. We must hie away the long wished for ”snow storm,” the signal of attack has come.

'Tis five o'clock before dawn. Hark to the rattle of the alarm drum.

Hark! Hark to the tolling of every city bell (and you know Quebec bells are numerous) louder! louder even than the voice of the easterly storm. To ARMS! To ARMS! resounds in the Market Place--the _Place d'Armes_--and in the streets of our slumbering city.

Instead of giving you my views on the attack, I shall summon from the silent, the meditative past, one of the stirring actors in this thrilling encounter, an intrepid and youthful Volunteer, under Arnold, then aged seventeen years, John Joseph Henry. He will tell you how his countrymen attacked us:

”It was not,” says Judge Henry, ”until the night of the 31st December, 1775, that such kind of weather ensued as was considered favorable for the a.s.sault. The fore part of the night was admirably enlightened by a luminous moon. Many of us, officers as well as privates, had dispersed in various directions among the farm and tippling houses of the vicinity. We well knew the signal for rallying. This was no other than a ”snow storm.” About 12 o'clock, P.M., the heaven was overcast. We repaired to quarters.