Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Montgomery, Richard (fl. 1775) to Robert R. Livingston re: his victory at Montreal, need for support

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

A high-resolution version of this object is available for registered users. LOG IN

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07136 Author/Creator: Montgomery, Richard (fl. 1775) Place Written: Montreal, [Canada] Type: Autograph letter signed Date: [1775]/11/13 Pagination: 1 p. + addr + docket 25 x 19.3 cm Order a Copy

Written on the day he succeeded in taking Montreal: "I have courted fortune and found her kind." Now planning his attack on Quebec, he requests support from Livingston and the Continental Congress: "It will be absolutely necessary to throw a considerable Body of Troops into this Province as soon as the ice will bear. General [Charles] Lee should have this important command. Quebec if it dont fall before Winter must be attacked early in the Spring before succours can arrive." Montgomery, a son-in-law of Livingston, had easily captured a lightly protected Montreal, but his campaign of Quebec in December and January ran into problems, and he died in the siege where he was aided by Benedict Arnold.

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources