december december irish born soldier served british_army later major general continental_army american revolutionary war famous leading failed invasion canada montgomery born raised ireland enrolled dublin years later joined british_army fight french indian war steadily rose ranks serving north_america caribbean war stationed fort detroit war following returned britain health reasons montgomery returned married began farming american revolutionary war broke montgomery took patriot cause elected june commissioned brigadier general continental_army ill lead invasion canada montgomery took captured fort montreal november advanced joined force command december led attack city killed battle british found body gave honorable burial moved new_york_city early life montgomery born near swords north county dublin ireland born scots gentry family county father british_army officer member parliament rotten borough nonetheless returned members brother colonel cousin colonel members cousin named died east branch clan montgomery spent childhood house near swords learned hunt ride shoot fence sure sons received good education richard attended school learned french latin rhetoric entered despite great love knowledge montgomery receive degree urged father oldest brother alexander join military september father purchased ensign commission montgomery joined seven years war north_america february 17th foot ordered march garrison prepare deployed overseas montgomery 17th foot sailed halifax nova scotia arriving july british planned attempt operation called sailed instead winter quarters new_york 17th foot sent halifax goal taking british commanders drew plan assault french located atlantic coast north halifax french garrison consisted men british force troops supported ships line frigates june attack fort began montgomery landed beach heavy fire ordered troops advance fixed outer french defenses withdrew city montgomery unit rest british force chased french point outside fort guns point british prepared city bad weather artillery materials needed siege took weeks arrive onshore montgomery men dig build ordering men stay alert possibility french attack july french attempted breakout failed july following series actions resulting destruction fleet french surrendered general impressed montgomery action siege promoted lieutenant july attacked fort repelled heavy losses august montgomery 17th foot sailed boston marched join forces albany moved november recalled replaced commander chief british high command campaign developed plan attack canada forces including 17th foot assault capture fort near crown point new_york command montgomery 17th foot participated capture fort army gathering prior battle montgomery company guard duty ordered men remain french indian ambush parties suspicions proved correct men 17th attacked montgomery 17th met stiff resistance montgomery ordered men fire night fearing shoot comrades july army began movement 26th position outside fort walls french withdrawn forces fort night exchange cannon fire day french blew powder magazine fort day withdrew far end 17th placed command major general late spent winter garrison duty valley named montgomery regimental adjutant position awarded commanding officer promising lieutenant regiment august 17th foot joined set crown point participate attack montreal 17th foot captured fort meeting divisions outside montreal canada french governor seeing city defended surrendered city fight fall montreal canada fell british hands summer montgomery 17th foot marched montreal caribbean conquering canada british government plan defeat french west_indies november montgomery 17th set sail barbados joined units north_america january force left barbados headed french island martinique arriving mid january french having received word impending attack built defenses quickly established main offensive began january french outer defenses overrun survivors fled capital fort royal british prepared launch assault fort french seeing situation hopeless surrendered february entire island surrendered fall martinique rest fell british fight reward actions martinique lieutenant colonel promoted montgomery captain gave command companies 17th foot spain entered war ally france british high command believed capturing havana destroy lines communication spain colonial empire june assaulting british forces arrived seven miles shore havana 17th foot including montgomery company capture key spanish defense city british battleships bombarded fort spanish guns july montgomery 17th foot stormed captured fort late august montgomery 17th foot sent new_york remained rest war conflict ended signing treaty paris february war angered french surrender unhappy british policies affected ottawa chief named organized native american tribes attacked british military civilian settlements beginning april tribes captured british forts forced evacuation general ordered 17th albany june assist outbreak hostilities route albany ship carrying montgomery hudson_river ran aground near seat politically powerful family ship refloated played host officers aboard vessel montgomery time introduced year old daughter exactly happened time noticed young montgomery regiment having given leave return england early returned new_york 17th assigned garrison duty fort montgomery remained montgomery applied colonel campbell general leave return england service caribbean taken toll health granted leave directing colonel campbell soon possible campbell officer ranks depleted caribbean campaign grant leave upcoming expedition british organized expeditions combat native uprising montgomery 17th expeditions commanded went july stationed month sir organized held major conference natives great lakes conference drew natives forces stayed rumored native attacks marched fort detroit subject surprise attack earlier arriving august weeks montgomery stayed fort helping improve defenses gaining understanding interact natives september left fort detroit meet delaware 17th remained garrison duty fort detroit montgomery leave granted accompanied october montgomery officers met chief king accompanied detachment men operations illinois reported natives hostile recommended military action days later larger conference leaders explained british attacking delaware released montgomery traveled new_york delivered dispatches departing england recovery britain montgomery recovered health associated whig members parliament generally supported colonists demands political freedom montgomery friends prominent stationed britain montgomery spent time discussing politics men began question policies 17th foot england began recruitment drive began company men engaged proved engagement broken passed promotion likely political sold commission left military bought scientific instruments surveying tools tools sailed america july year decided marry arms gentleman farmer settling new_york bought farm king bridge miles north new_york_city adjusting surroundings montgomery renewed acquaintance later recounted led visit receiving permission father married july marriage montgomery leased farm tenant wife grandfather judge gave cottage post road north reside montgomery bought surrounding land set work fencing fields building grain mill laying foundation larger home called completed time death tiny cottage residence said happy life followed saying months marriage told dream montgomery killed duel brother montgomery replied saying told happiness lasting let enjoy long leave rest god montgomery tied family supported patriot cause began turn british government seeing american instead englishman came believe british government oppressive acting like parent state montgomery elected deputies represent montgomery lived new_york years sought political involvement known respected area felt obliged attend reluctant nonetheless went new_york_city miles south session began delegates including montgomery signed resolution authority montgomery views moderate patriot believed wrong hoped honorable reconciliation gradually faction congress remained loyal king lost influence participating regular basis montgomery selected serve site selection committee decide placement military defensive positions new_york involved organizing provincial militia securing supplies american revolution appointment appointment george_washington commander chief newly formed continental_army june asked select men service army major general brigadier general assembly favored major general montgomery expressed concern believe combat experience appointment montgomery wrote mentioned consequence province makes fit subject important trust strong nerves wish point respect man employed montgomery knew consideration brigadier general publicly desire appointment nonetheless appointed major general montgomery brigadier general june montgomery ranked second command brigadier generals view appointment said congress having honor brigadier general service event end quiet scheme life prescribed entirely unexpected oppressed people compelled choose liberty slavery plan june george_washington passed new_york_city way boston washington assigned montgomery deputy commander days later received orders invade canada idea army invade quebec hudson_river northern lakes supply army force quickly assembled fort left command army july montgomery stayed albany weeks making final arrangements invasion wife followed far north told shall cause montgomery july early august montgomery continued organize force raising men materials needed invasion organized washington decided expand invasion ordering lead invasion force invade quebec maine join army outside launch joint attack city august left meet representatives order neutral invasion leaving montgomery command forces fort away montgomery received intelligence british building complete british military access lake asking permission moved men north schooner liberty sloop enterprise montgomery wrote letter explaining situation returned august ordered additional men reinforce montgomery despite ill set join montgomery caught montgomery september assumed command ordered advance continue small island health poor drafted proclamation called canadians friends asking help expel british canada september montgomery led force fort key british defense montreal montgomery led main body troops fort heavily wooded area flanking party led captain ambushed native americans allied british party held ground forcing natives fall fort montgomery fearing british force larger anticipated called operations rest day withdrew force spot range british guns believing fort captured quickly recalled montgomery force fortified health declined montgomery assumed command daily functions army september larger force men led montgomery moved fort area fort dark parties americans ran feared british fled montgomery ran intercept ended flight advanced fort force came british fire party americans attacked british inflicting casualties fell morning montgomery called council war agreed attack fort word spread british warship advancing river half new_england troops fled montgomery believing force longer fort retreated montgomery furious flight new_england troops asked appoint court martial board health improved left 16th recover giving control operation montgomery siege outside fort saint jean quebec montgomery continued receive reinforcements granted leaves commanders felt fit position said hope shall left fighting men rely september montgomery organized expedition british fort total men sent naval component schooner sloop troops counter british warship montgomery took rest force sailed river landing near september british garrison men commanded major years earlier montgomery superior officer british_army montgomery troops spent night near landing area light fire british guns morning ordered major occupy position north fort montgomery saw men chose lead mission montgomery led troops came fight british troops american party montgomery took command skirmish forced british party fort montgomery sent force mile north fort montgomery troops fort began siege preston british forces guns ammunition americans achieved firepower advantage weeks montgomery concentrated forces improving siege works days erected batteries consistent fire fort september montgomery nearly killed fort shot past skirt knocking landed feet troops observed hurt americans continued receive armaments guns arriving september october artillery positioned far away damage fort arrival new guns montgomery planned emphasis bombardment east fort north closer officers unanimously rejected plan fearing men desert increased danger montgomery ordered new battery built threatened october battery completed sink british ship mid october american living near relative montgomery wife suggested montgomery better success attacking fort miles downstream weaker montgomery approved idea ordered men night october american guns slipped past fort jean moved morning guns opened fire days bombardment holes driven fort walls knocked british commander surrendered fort tons gunpowder men montgomery sent colors 7th defending fort standards british regiment captured war washington sent letter montgomery commented hoped letter dated montreal capture improved morale ranks montgomery army went plan establish battery north fort jean time opposition americans constructing batteries british heavily bombarded american workers resulted casualties general commanding british forces montreal realized situation fort jean desperate personally led relief force end october american forces successfully prevented crossing saint lawrence river south montreal november new batteries erected north fort complete americans began fire fort continued rest day british guns fired effective american guns caused casualties inflicted heavy structural damage inside fort morale besieged garrison fell bombardment declining rations took toll montgomery ordered firing stop sent prisoner captured inside letter asking garrison surrender messenger sent captured night ordered preston continue hold november british agreed surrender military honors marched fort november sent colonies interned british suffered killed wounded americans killed wounded siege montreal quebec montgomery turned army montreal march difficult snow water ice ground winter storm struck days departure attempt stop escape british troops montreal quebec montgomery sent detachment force briefly clashed british troops british troops quickly withdrew vessels montgomery main army reached outskirts city montgomery sent messenger demanding surrender city suffer bombardment negotiations city surrender took place fled small flotilla ships city surrendered november montgomery army marched city shot fired november british flotilla captured narrowly escaped way montgomery kind treatment captured british prisoners caused officers express concern montgomery saw challenge authority lack discipline army caused montgomery threaten resignation letters washington washington expressed troubles discipline troops convinced montgomery continue command november montgomery men went aboard captured ships began sail december montgomery joined force miles quebec arrival arnold turned command forces montgomery december montgomery gave arnold men marched maine wilderness suffered way needed supplies including clothing winter supplies taken captured british ships day army moved city arrived montgomery ordered city surrounded december montgomery sent ultimatum demanding surrender city burned letter days later montgomery sent letter city appealing merchants telling come liberate civilians quebec discovered plan quickly messenger arrested montgomery wanting message reach inhabitants city sent proclamation wall bows arrows attack death unknown montgomery promoted major general december victories montreal montgomery unable convince surrender placed mortars yards outside walls city city began december days failed impact walls garrison civilian population having little effect montgomery ordered battery closer city walls plains despite fact offered little natural cover returning fire december new batteries ready montgomery sent party men flag truce ask city surrender turned away montgomery resumed firing city effect little better new batteries hit effective fire british montgomery ordered evacuation bombardment city proved unsuccessful montgomery began plan assault montgomery assault district city near river shore arnold attack cape diamond strong city walls highest point rocky montgomery believed attack stormy night british able december weather stormy montgomery ordered men prepare attack storm soon subsided montgomery called attack montgomery waited storm forced revise plans communicated original plan defenders new plan montgomery attack south arnold attack north breaking walls montgomery arnold meet city attack upper town causing resistance collapse increase chance surprise montgomery planned detachment troops 1st set fire gates command engage guard cape diamond fire rockets signal start attack conducted artillery fire city montgomery reluctant attack arnold men january concerned losing services night december struck montgomery issued order attack americans began designated positions montgomery saw rocket began men city lower town rockets signal attack alerted british impending attack city defenders rushed posts montgomery personally led march descended steep slippery cliffs outside city walls montgomery force reached edge saw second montgomery led advance party opening seeing story street montgomery led troops encouraging men drawing sword shouting come good soldiers general calls come americans yards away british forces canadian militia seamen opened fire cannon musket montgomery killed head killed burst gunfire death montgomery attack fell apart colonel surviving officer ordered somewhat panicked retreat montgomery assistance arnold attack initial success fell apart arnold wounded leg large number troops captured including funeral january british started collecting bodies deceased soon found body high ranking officer american colonial army brought general american prisoner confirmed body montgomery death announced assumed command american colonial forces montgomery respected man sides battlefield ordered buried dignity fanfare sunset january montgomery remains rest burial american prisoners acknowledged montgomery beloved general heroic bravery manners held confidence army mourning washington devastated hearing montgomery death believed montgomery victory canada possible wrote congress washington friend montgomery brave arnold wounded met severe check unsuccessful attempt quebec heaven pleased terminate washington wrote death gentleman america sustained heavy loss approved steady friend rights ability render essential services congress reacted montgomery death trying loss quiet possible feared news lower morale troops civilians january congress approved establishment monument memory montgomery state memorial service scheduled carried february colonies montgomery viewed hero patriots tried use death promote cause war montgomery literature authors montgomery britain attempted use death failure british policies prime minister lord acknowledged montgomery military ability said join death montgomery public loss curse virtues country brave able humane generous brave able humane generous rebel newspapers london paid tribute montgomery bordering march edition black sign mourning aftermath montgomery years referred general soldier guarded reputation death moved house near montgomery begun work war remained interested politics rest war harsh critic loyalists war continental_army general proposed marriage declined stopped new_york_city way visit montgomery relatives ireland attended washington inaugural ball sworn president visited washington family times sailed ireland soon returned america falling sister law british american politics governor new_york obtained permission montgomery remains moved quebec new_york june montgomery remains set new_york_city july arrived albany took boat hudson new_york_city stood porch watched boat bring montgomery remains river sight remains arrived new_york_city people attended procession remains interred july monument manhattan completed pleased ceremony wrote wish high honor conferred ashes poor soldier years later corresponding wrote present respectful terms aged sister says miles dwelling visit high honor shaking hand revered patriotic montgomery live hearts months letter died november memorials montgomery home new_york general montgomery house historic house museum moved montgomery street street oldest structure building monthly meetings chancellor daughters american revolution united_states_navy named number ships uss montgomery years including frigate begun burned completion prevent capture british liberty ship built sunk thames estuary cargo tons munitions continues pose threat local area philadelphia statue montgomery near places massive masonry fortification mounting guns named general construction begun designed guard strategically important frontier canada united_states ruins remain today montgomery places named counties named found north_carolina missouri arkansas illinois indiana kansas maryland ohio pennsylvania new_york georgia virginia kentucky cities towns named notably include montgomery alabama state capital second largest city montgomery minnesota montgomery vermont township new_jersey village new_york town massachusetts maryland bears located county named montgomery place mansion new_york constructed named honor widow general montgomery planned departure construction originally planned start legacy montgomery mentioned fort saint jean plaque erected constructed orders governor post military expeditions august blown accordance orders governor order prevent falling hands english rebuilt governor year command major day siege american troops commanded general montgomery
Richard Montgomery