History for Fun, Profit, and Insight: General Richard Montgomery, his house, and the American Revolutionary War

As I write, we are in the midst of a lockdown because of the Covid-19 virus pandemic. I hope to use some of this time, to catch up on the blogging and finish up some of many unfinished posts that sit here in draft form. Over the last year or so I have visited many historical sites here in upstate New York as well as in Vietnam and hope to post photos and descriptions of them.

Sometime last spring I drove to Poughkeepsie to study Arnis, a Filipino martial art, under Tom Bolden, an excellent instructor of Arnis, and drove back stopping along the way to see historical sites along the way. (If interested you can learn more about him and what he does here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEAeAWp7qlFvrBSsqnHMrNw/featured -
or here: https://www.youtube.com/user/tbold2001 )

I drove up Route 9, a beautiful drive, skipping the much faster thruway seeing what I could see.

In Rhinebeck, New York, I saw a sign and turned down Livinston Street and found myself outside a house where the American Revolutionary War general Richard Montgomery.

While not among the better known Revolutionary War generals, Montgomery is worth knowing. Born in Ireland, he was a veteran of the French and Indian War who had decided to settle in America and then joined the war on the side of the Rebels. He led American forces in the early war invasion of Quebec. While there, in spectacular fashion, he met his death.

At four in the morning, on New Year's Day, January 1, 1776, he led a charge on the gates of the city of Quebec. There were many reasons for this desperate move. Bad intelligence from local English speaking Canadians who supported the rebel cause and had similar complaints against the crown as the rebels. Enlistments of many American soldiers were coming to a term and many of the dispirited, poorly fed, very cold, at times smallpox exposed soldiers had made it clear that they planned to abandon the army and return home when these enlistments were up. The hope that many of the British defenders of the city would be drunk with New Year's celebrations.

The American troops assembled at the gates. From their front, he cried, "Push on brave boys! Quebec is ours!" and led them forward. Alas, he was quickly mowed down with grapeshot (small rounds fired as a group) and died instantly. The troops retreated, and Daniel Morgan took charge next. (Benedict Arnold, the other leader of the attack, was badly wounded having been shot in the leg.)

And with that Richard Montgomery died in the cause of American Independence and the founding of our democratic system of government.

Although I have not had the chance to have one, the house is maintained by The Daughters of the American Revolution who give tours. Their link is below.

Several Counties, including one in New York, and many cities and towns, including the capital of Alabama, are named after Richard Montgomery. A link to his biography is below as well.