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Part 4 of the Third NY Regiment History

> 15 November 1775: Once Montreal is taken, General Montgomery is forced to grant most of his New England troops an immediate discharge, as was promised to them while at Fort St. John. Most of the New York forces, however, reenlist. General Montgomery also promotes Captain Dubois to acting Major of the Third New York Regiment, replacing Major Henry Livingston, who heads home due to illness. 1st Lieutenant Elias Van Benschoten Jr. is promoted to Captain and takes command of Dubois' old company. From the names on a surviving February muster roll of Van Benschoten's Company, it appears that 39 soldiers of Dubois' old company volunteered to continue to serve in the unit (one of the highest percentages in the Third New York Regiment). Three of its men joined other "winter-over" companies. However, Van Benschoten's Company also picked up 26 new men from other companies: 12 men from Billing's (6th) Company; 2 from Bruyn's (7th) Company; 2 from Denton's (8th) Company, 4 men from the 9th Company, and 5 men from other regiments.

> Late November 1775: Montgomery begins to re-outfit his forces in order to move them towards Quebec and a rendezvous with Colonial forces under Colonel Benedict Arnold. Arnold's forces arrived at Quebec in early November, by way of the Kennebec, Dead and Chaudiere Rivers. However, this route was nearly impassible (for more information about Arnold's expedition, use the following link to visit a webpage titled: Arnold Invades Canada - use your browser's "Back" function to return to our Third NY Regiment website) and Arnold's men arrived in such poor shape and small numbers that he could not attack and capture Quebec on his own. Therefore, his forces retired to Pointe aux Trembles on 19 November 1775 in order to wait for Montgomery's troops to arrive from Montreal.

> 23 November 1775: From Colonel James Clinton's Orderly Book for the Third New York Regiment, orders from General Montgomery's headquarters in Montreal: "The General Reccommends to the Commanding Officers of the Regiments, and to the Captain of Each Company to Exert themselves in having their Quantity of Clothing prepared with all Expedition, that the troops may be Ready to March at the Shortest Notis."

> 24 November 1775: From Colonel James Clinton's Orderly Book for the Third New York Regiment, orders from General Montgomery's headquarters in Montreal: "The troops who have their Clothing are to Embark to Morrow morning at nine Oclock on Bord Such Vessels as Shall be armed{?} for them, Taking their Baggage. The Commanding Officer of the first second and third redgiment of New York forces are to Imbark as many men as are Alredy Clothed and Compleat, the Rest as soon as Possabel, that they may Speadly Follow Captain Lamb's Company of Artilery, as also to Embark to morrow."

> 27 November 1775: Anthony Clarke from the 6th Company, 1st New York Regiment joins Van Benschoten's Company as the Orderly Sergeant. Clarke: "on the 27th day of November I got my Discharge from Gen'l Montgomery & the Same Day I Enter'd into Cap't Elias V'n Benscoutens Company as Orderly Serjent Belong in the 3 reig't of the N. York forces Commanded by Collonel Clinton & Set sail from Montreal for Quebec the same Day. & stopt at the river of Serell 4 or 5 hours for a fair Wind which we got & then Proceeded Down the river of St. Laurence as far as within 21 miles at Point Detremble of Quebec where we stopt & laid our Vessels up for Winter Quarters..."

> 2 December 1775: Montgomery arrives at Pointe aux Trembles and joins forces with Arnold. The combined force marches towards Quebec. Clarke: "...wee the Next Day - & 3 other Company - being Sunday, march'd on with our Men & Baggage as far as within 9 miles of Quebec, the next Day Being Monday we arriv'd at St. Foys within 2 miles of Quebec & the same Day being - Dec'r 4th - Monday we proceeded with our Company Down to the river to Guard the Guns & mortars Carriages & field Pieces Untill Wednesday Night..."

> Early - Mid December 1775: Montgomery positions his New York troops on the Plains of Abraham, Arnold's musket companies north of Quebec in the suburb of St. Roch, and Arnold's riflemen, who the first forces to return to Quebec, along the St. Charles River. Montgomery establishes his headquarters in Holland House, a private residence in Ste. Foye.

Montgomery demands the surrender of Quebec, but Carleton does not respond. Therefore, Montgomery orders his forces to shell Quebec. Clarke: "...then we Convey'd them up to the Gen'l Head Quarters & repaird the Same Day in the Morning to former Quarters & on Saturday Night Dec'r 9th 1775, we arriv'd at 150 rood Distance from the Fort & Errected a Snow Battery, & took some field pieces or Mortars Down to the Suburbs and fir'd & threw Several Bombshells In that night & on Sunday the 10th the regular's Burnt up Sundrey of the Houses in the Suburbs of Quebec Finished the Battery on Monday Night December the 11th & on Wednesday night we got our Guns Mounted ready to open upon the town & on Thursday the 11th we Open'd Upon the town of Quebec & rec'd Several heavy shots from them which wounded four of our men & kill'd one. Two where of Died the Night following &c..."