13. The attack on Quebec began on the night of December 30, 1775
Late in the day on December 30 a snowstorm began, which increased in intensity as the daylight faded. Under the cover of darkness and the driving snow, Montgomery ordered his forces into position for the attack. Brown, who had the furthest to move, was ordered to fire signal flares when he was ready to attack, at which time Montgomery and Arnold would move into the Lower Town. Brown reached his position shortly before 5 AM, fired the flares, and began firing upon his assigned targets. Livingston too opened fire, and under the cover of the diversion, Montgomery and Arnold launched their assaults. As they did the alarm bells within the city rang out.
Montgomery advanced at the head of his column toward the barricades outside of the city, helped saw through the second of two they encountered, and advanced down a street with a blockhouse at its end. It was well defended. By then the snowstorm was a full-fledged blizzard. As he approached the blockhouse its defenders let loose with a volley of fire, killing the American general and the two next most senior officers of his command. One of the survivors was a young American officer by the name of Aaron Burr. The Americans not killed in the initial volley hastily withdrew, leaving behind the body of their commander, who was unaware that he had been promoted to Major General for his capture of Montreal.