Peter Gansevoort: Encyclopedia II - Peter Gansevoort - Invasion of Canada 1775-1776

Peter Gansevoort - Invasion of Canada 1775-1776

He joined the Continental Army and was made a Major on June 30, 1775 and served as a field commander in the 2nd New York Regiment. Gooje Van Schaick was nominally Colonel, he had raised the regiment and served as its commander from Albany. Lt. Colonel Peter Yates was the primary field commander, but remained as post commander of Fort George when Major Gansevoort led much of the regiment north with Montgomery's forces for the Invasion of Canada.

Peter led his men during the siege of the Fort at St. Johns, today known by its French name of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. In late October, to improve the effect of the siege, Montgomery sent Gansevoort down the river to seize Fort Chambly. At Chambly, they captured over 120 barrels of needed gunpowder and a huge mortar which they nicknamed the Old Sow. They also took about 100 prisoners of the Welch Fusilier garrison and their young Captain, John Andrè. Montgomery used Old Sow to open fire on St. Johns, which was compelled to surrender on November 2, 1775. He took part in the capture of Montreal, although he became ill during that attack. He started on the advance to Quebec, but by the time the force reached Three Rivers he was being carried on a stretcher.

Gansevoort returned to Montreal, and spent the winter as one of the sick with the occupation force. By the spring of 1776 the invasion fell apart at Quebec; Montgomery had been killed, and Benedict Arnold was wounded. Major Gansevoort had recovered to the point where he led the remaining New York forces south in a fighting withdrawal that stopped the British advance at Lake Champlain. As recognition, in June of 1776 he was put in command at Fort George.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Invasion of Canada 1775-1776", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki