HISTORICAL EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE ON THIS DAY IN CANADA

31 December

Death of General Montgomery

Montgomery Killed

The year 1775 was brought to a dramatic close in Canada when Generals Montgomery and Arnold launched an all-out attack on Quebec City. The combined American force was about 1,000 men, and their clothing, mainly uniforms captured from the British, was so like that of the British and Canadian defenders of Quebec that Montgomery had his men wear sprigs of hemlock in their caps to distinguish them.

Governor Carleton knew from experience what had happened to Generals Montcalm and Murray when they had tried to fight off invaders by battling on the Plains of Abraham. He resolved to sit tight in the city and force the enemy to do the attacking. If he could hold out until spring, the British navy would arrive and save the situation. This eventually did happen (see May 9).

Montgomery and Arnold saw their army melting away through disease and desertion, so they decided to try a surprise attack. It was carefully planned, preceded by a number of feints and diversionary moves around the city. The assault was launched at 2 a.m. on December 31, 1775. Arnold led one force from the east into Lower Town. Montgomery approached from the west along the river's edge.

The British sentries were alert, and the invading forces were met with heavy gunfire. Arnold was wounded, and Montgomery was killed as he led his men, waving his sword and shouting, "Come on, brave boys, Quebec is ours!" The bitterly fought battle lasted all night. When Arnold was wounded Daniel Morgan took over the leadership and his Virginian riflemen shot the gunners from the platforms. The Americans dragged ladders to the 12-foot walls and tried to climb over. One of the Canadian defenders was a giant named Charland. He would throw down the ladders or even drag them inside the fort.

When daylight came, the Americans were exposed, and Carleton finally drove them off after more fierce fighting. The failure of the attack did not end Washington's resolve to take Quebec and he sent reinforcements. The Americans eventually had 3,000 men outside the walls, but they never launched another attack like the one on the last day of 1775. Soon after, they had to withdraw from Canada.

OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS ON THIS DAY IN CANADIAN HISTORY

31 December

-1814    General Pring was court-martialed for failures at Plattsburg and Lake Champlain.

-1857    The decimal system of currency in public accounts came into effect at midnight.

               Queen Victoria announced the choice of Ottawa as the capital of Canada (see January 27).

-1916    The immigration figure was surprising for a war year: 66,000, of whom 8,500 came from Britain and 52,000 from the United States.

-1923    The wheat crop of 474 million bushels was the largest in history up to that time. Its value was $317 million, and the yield, 21 bushels per acre.

-1954    Ottawa celebrated its centennial year.