Quebec campaign
Quebec campaign,
1775–76, of the American Revolution. The Continental Congress decided to send an expedition to Canada to protect the northern frontier from British attack and to persuade Canada to join the revolt against England. Late in Aug., 1775, Gen. Philip SchuylerSchuyler, Philip John, 1733–1804, American Revolutionary general, b. Albany, N.Y. He was a member of one of the wealthiest colonial New York families. After serving in the French and Indian Wars he was a member of the New York assembly (1768–75) and of the Second
..... Click the link for more information. led troops up Lake Champlain and captured St. Johns; illness forced him to turn over his command to Gen. Richard MontgomeryMontgomery, Richard,
1738?–1775, American Revolutionary general, b. Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland. After entering the British army, he was sent (1757) to Canada in the French and Indian Wars and saw action at Louisburg, Ticonderoga, and Montreal before participating in
..... Click the link for more information. , who proceeded to capture Montreal in Nov., 1775. In Sept., 1775, General Washington sent Benedict ArnoldArnold, Benedict,
1741–1801, American Revolutionary general and traitor, b. Norwich, Conn. As a youth he served for a time in the colonial militia in the French and Indian Wars. He later became a prosperous merchant.
..... Click the link for more information. to lead an expedition against Quebec by way of the Kennebec and Chaudière rivers in Maine. When this force arrived, it was so weakened by the incredibly hard march, illness, desertion, and lack of supplies that Arnold was forced to wait for Montgomery before attacking. The unsuccessful assault was launched in the early morning of Dec. 31, 1775. The Continentals withdrew after Montgomery was killed, Arnold wounded, and Daniel MorganMorgan, Daniel,
1736–1802, American Revolutionary general, b. probably in Hunterdon co., N.J. He moved (c.1753) to Virginia and later served in the French and Indian Wars and several campaigns against Native Americans.
..... Click the link for more information. captured. Arnold and Montgomery's successor, David WoosterWooster, David
, 1711–77, American Revolutionary officer, b. Fairfield co., Conn. He served as an officer in the British army during the last of the French and Indian Wars.
..... Click the link for more information. , continued the siege until spring, when British reinforcements enabled Sir Guy CarletonCarleton, Guy, 1st Baron Dorchester,
1724–1808, governor of Quebec and British commander during the American Revolution.
..... Click the link for more information. to push the Americans, now commanded by Gen. John Thomas, back to Crown Point on Lake Champlain.
Bibliography
See H. Bird, Attack on Quebec (1968).