They also (though in
the Winter) got a Battery of five guns against the Town but [it] was
silenced by a superior fire from our Ramparts. They also bombarded the
Town in the night with small shell till the 31st December when about two
hours before day they made a general attack with their whole force upon
the Ramparts, their two principal attacks being against the two
extremitys of the low Town. Their General (Montgomery) an Irish
gentleman who had been a Captain in our army possessing extraordinary
qualifications fitting him for such a Command led the attack against a
very strong post in the low town. Our Cannon (six pieces) loaded with
grape shot, did not begin to fire till the enemy was within the distance
of twenty yards, which with the musketry of the guard at the same time
made terrible havoc. Their General with four of his officers lay slain
in one heap within twenty and others within ten yards of our
fortifications by which that attack was wholly frustrated and all that
part of their army retired in confusion. The attack upon the other
extremity of the low Town was made with six hundred men. At first they
had success though that turned out at last to their ruin. They forced
our advanced post where we had four pieces of cannon, afterward got
possession of another barrier and forced their way through a narrow
street to the last barrier, which if they had gained they would have
been in the low Town. At the same time the Governor ordered a sally out
at a Gate they had passed to follow their track in the snow (that was
then deep) and fall upon them behind. That we should open a Gate and
attack them when attacked ourselves was a thing very unexpected so that
finding they were stopped at the last barrier and thus attacked behind
they were obliged to take shelter in the houses of the narrow street and
at last gave themselves up prisoners to the number of about four hundred
and fifty amongst whom were thirty-two officers of all ranks from
Colonels to Ensigns. The morning of the attack I happened to have the
Piquet and guessing by the flashes in the air (in the dark) that it was
musketry at the other side of the town, tho' we heard no report, had the
Piquet drawn out upon the Ramparts at our alarm post, before the firing
came round that length, which it soon did and we fired away upon these
people as they passed along that way, which they were obliged to do to
get to the low Town. About break of day Major Caldwell came roun