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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1776
A letter from the committee of Trentons dated January 23, was read.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 68, folio 41.]
The secretary brought in an account of the repulse our troops met with in their attempt on Quebec, ∥the 31st of December;∥ which was read:
An account of the repulse our troops met with in their attempt on Quebec, the 31 December, 1775, published by Congress.
The letters from Canada bring an Account of an unsuccessful attempt made to gain possession of Quebec by storm, on the 31 of December last, between the hours of two and seven in the morning.
The General finding his cannon too light to effect a breach, and that the enemy would not hearken to terms of capitulation, formed a design for carrying the town by escalade. In this he was encouraged by the extensiveness of the works and the weakness of the garrison. When every thing was prepared while he was waiting the opportunity of a snow storm to carry the design into execution, several men deserted to the enemy. His plan at first was to have attacked the upper and lower town at the same time, depending principally for success against the upper town. But discovering from the motions of the enemy, that they were apprized of his design, he altered his plan; and having divided his little army into four detachments, ordered two feints to be made against the upper town, one by Col. Livingston, at the head of the Canadians against St. John's gate; the other by Captain Brown, at the head of a small detachment against cape Diamond; reserving to himself and Colonel Arnold the two principal attacks against the lower town.
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At five o'clock the hour appointed for the attack, the general, at the head of the New York troops, advanced against the lower town at Aunce de Mere. Being obliged to take a circuit, the signal for the attack was given and the garrison alarmed before he reached the place. However pressing on he passed the first barrier, and was just opening to attempt the second, when by the first fire from the enemy he was unfortunately killed, together with his Aid de camp, Captain John Macpherson, Captain Cheeseman and two or three more. This so dispirited the men that Colonel Campbell, on whom the command devolved found himself under the disagreeable necessity of drawing them off.
In the mean while Colonel Arnold, at the head of about 350 of those brave troops, who with unparalleled fatigue had penetrated Canada under his command, and Capt Lamb's company of Artillery, had passed through St. Roques, and approached near a two gun battery without being discovered. This he attacked and though it was well defended for about an hour, carried it with the loss of a number of men. In this attack Colonel Arnold had the misfortune to have his leg splintered by a shot, and was obliged to be carried to the hospital. After gaining the battery his detachment passed on to a second barrier, which they took possession of. By this time the enemy, relieved from the other attacks by our troops being drawn off, directed their whole force against this detachment, and a party sallying out from Palace gate attacked them in the rear.
These brave men sustained the force of the whole garrison for three hours, but finding themselves hemmed in, and no hopes of relief, they were obliged to yield to numbers and the advantageous situation the garrison had over them.
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No regular return is yet come to hand but by the advices received, we learn, that our loss in killed and wounded amounts to about 60, and 300 taken prisoners, who are treated very humanely. Among the slain are Capt. Kendricks and Lieutenant Humphreys, of the rifflemen, and lieutenant Cooper.
After this unfortunate repulse the remainder of the army retired about three miles from the city, where they have posted themselves advantageously and are continuing the blockade, waiting for reinforcements which are now on their march to join them:
Every possible mark of distinction was shewn to the corpse of General Montgomery, who was interred in Quebec on the 2 January.
Published by Order of the Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 Printed in thePennsylvania Gazette, 31 January, 1776.]
Resolved, That such of the soldiers, ordered to Canada, as are married, and are desirous of having part of their pay given to their wives, be indulged; and that the captains ∥or pay master∥ be directed, in future payment of such soldiers, to deduct such part of their monthly pay.
Resolved, That the president be desired to inform General Schuyler, that the return of cannon mentioned in his letter of December 21, is mislaid, and therefore that he is desired to make a return, to Congress as soon as may be, of all the cannon and artillery at Crown Point and Ticonderoga, exclusive of those, taken by Colonel Knox, for General Washington.
Resolved, That Mr. [John] Bankson be appointed a first lieutenant in the room of Mr. [John] Morgan, who is in the country.
Information being given to Congress that someof the companies soldiers in the first Pensylvania batallion, now
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ordered to march immediately to Canada, are not supplied with arms:
Resolved, That the commanding officer of the said battalion be directed to make a return of the arms of said battalion, and how many are wanting, to the president of the committee of inspection and observation for the city and liberties of Philadelphia:
That the said committee be desired to use their utmost influence to provide good arms for such of said battalion as may want them.
Resolved, That a committee of 7 be appointed to consider the propriety of establishing a war office, and the powers with which the said office should be vested.
The members, Mr. [Thomas] Lynch, Mr. [Benjamin] Franklin, Mr. E[dward] Rutledge, Mr. [Benjamin] Harrison, Mr. Samuel Ward, Mr. S[amuel] Adams, and Mr. [Robert] Morris.
The committee appointed to prepare a letter to the inhabitants of Canada, reported a draught which being read and considered, was approved, as follows:
The letter to the Inhabitants of the Province of Canada
Friends and Countrymen,
Our former address to you pointed out our rights and grievances, and the means we have in our power, and which we are authorised by the British Constitution to use in the maintenance of the former and to obtain a redress of the latter.
We have also shewn you that your liberty, your honor and your happiness are essentially and necessarily connected with the unhappy contest, which we have been forced into for the defence of our dearest privileges.
We see with inexpressible joy the favourable manner in which you have received the just and equitable remonstrances of your friends and countrymen, who have no other views than those of strengthening and establishing the cause of liberty. The services you have already rendered the common cause deserve our acknowledgments, and we
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feel the just obligation your conduct has imposed on us to make our services reciprocal.
The best of causes are subject to vicissitudes, and disappointments have ever been inevitable. Such is the lot of human nature. But generous souls enlightened and warmed with the sacred fire of liberty become more resolute, as difficulties increase, and surmount with irresistible ardor every obstacle that stands between them and the favorite object of their wishes.
We will never abandon you to the unrelenting fury of your and our enemies. Two batallions have already received orders to march to Canada, a part of which are now on their route. Six additional batallions are raising in the United States for the same service and will receive orders to proceed to your province as soon as possible. The whole of these troops will probably arrive in Canada before the ministerial army under General Carlton can receive any succours. Exclusive of the forces before mentioned, we have directed that measures be immediately taken to embody two regiments in your country. Your assistance in the support and preservation of American liberty affords us the most sensible satisfaction and we flatter ourselves that you will seize with zeal and eagerness the favourable moment to co-operate in the success of so glorious an enterprize; and if more considerable forces should become requisite, they shall not fail being sent.
At this period you must be convinced that nothing is so essential to guard our interests and liberty, as efficacious measures to combine our mutual forces, in order that by such an Union of succour and councils, we may be able to baffle the endeavours of an enemy, who, to weaken, may attempt to divide us. To this effect we advise and exhort you to establish associations in your different parishes of the same nature with those, which have proved so salutary to the United Colonies; to elect deputies to form a provincial Assembly, and that said assembly be instructed to appoint delegates to represent them in this Congress. We flatter ourselves with the prospect of the happy moment, when the standard of tyranny shall no longer appear in this land, and we live in full hopes that it will never hereafter find shelter in North America.
Signed in the name and by Order of Congress,
John Hancock,president.
Philadelphia, January 24, 1776.
Ordered, That it be immediately translated ∥and printed.∥
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Resolved, That an order be drawn on the treasurers in favour of Mr. Carpenter Wharton, for the sum of 1,000 Dollars, to enable him to supply the first Pensylvania battalion with provisions on their march ∥to Albany;∥ he to be accountable.
Resolved, That a committee of 5 be appointed to prepare an address to the inhabitants of the United Colonies.
The members chosen, Mr. [John] Dickinson, Mr. [James] Wilson, Mr. [William] Hooper, Mr. [James] Duane, and Mr. [Robert] Alexander.
Resolved, That an order be drawn on the treasurers in favour of Captain Hazen, for the sum of 533 1/3 dollars, he to be accountable.
That a like order be drawn in favour of Colonel Antil, for the sum of 200 dollars.
Resolved, That the sum of 2,666 2/3 dollars, in specie, be advanced to Colonel Hazen, for the use of the battalion to be by him raised in Canada, ∥he to be accountable.∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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