Canadian History The Siege and Blockade of Quebec, by Generals Montgomery and Arnold in 17756 A Paper Read Before the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, March 6th, 1872 Classic Reprint

Excerpt from Canadian History: The Siege and Blockade of Quebec, by Generals Montgomery and Arnold in 1775-6; A Paper Read Before the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, March 6th, 1872

Three thousand men, who had assembled at Crown Point under Montgomery, suddenly advanced into Canada. Isle aux Noise was evacuated at their approach, and, meeting no obstruction, Forts St. John and Chambly were at once invested. 500 British regulars, with 200 Canadian militia, defended St. John; the detachment which occupied Chambly, which was totally indefensible, surrendered on being summoned. A large quantity of stores and ammunition, which had been very unaccountably placed there, fell into Montgomery's hands. Sir Guy Carleton, the Governor, was then at Sorel with a battalion of militia and some Highland settlers whom he had hastily collected; with another corps of militia he proposed to move on St. John and raise the siege but the Americans having already occupied the St. Lawrence, he was unable to pass over from Montreal to La Prairie, which was occupied by the enemy. On this the troops at Sorel dispersed; and St. John, a simple earthenwork without any casemates, having no prospect of relief, capitulated on the 3rd November. Montgomery immediately advanced on Sorel, sent a detachment across the St. Lawrence, and established batteries on either side, which completely commanded the navigation and prevented all communication between Quebec and Montreal. Montreal, without a garrison, and with a partially disaffected population, capitulated on the 13th November, and with it surrendered eleven British vessels. The arrangements of Sir Gruy Carleton to this date have been severely criticised and condemned by some parties but perhaps Sir James Carmichael is only just when he says The American attack was, however, so unexpected, and so immediately followed the commencement of hostilities, that in all probability no arrangement for the defence of the Canadian frontier had been contemplated.

While there can be no doubt that, as a body, the Canadians were at this time indifferent, if not disaffected, it would be unjust not to mention the two hundred who were shut up in St. John, and who behaved very creditably during the siege but special notice is due to M Louis M. De Salaberry, who was seriously wounded by the explosion of a shell thrown into the fort by the Americans. We ought also to record the only success which had hitherto attended the British. On sitting down before St John, Montgomery had despatched the celebrated Ethan Allan with a reconnoitering party. Allan, arriving in the neighbourhood of Montreal, learned that the town was weakly defended, and that if he made the attempt to take it by surprise he would likely be successful, as he would be aided by the disaffected. Though his command did not exceed two hundred men, a great portion Of whom, according to Lossz'ng, the American writer, were Canadians whom he had enlisted, he boldly determined to make the attempt in conjunction with Major Brown, whom he accidentally met on a similar errand, and at the head of a mixed force like his own. He was to cross at Longueuil, Brown at La Prairie and the attack was to be made simultaneously from these Opposite points at dawn of day. Allan succeeded in crossing in canoes; Brown did not make his appearance. In the meantime, information Ofthe proposed attempt had reached Sir Guy Carleton through a deserter; be promptly collected two hundred and fifty ofthe inhabitants, chiefly English and Irish, and sent them with thirty men of the 26th regiment, under Major Garsden, to attack the invaders. In the meantime, Allan, not having beenjoined by Brown, and being informed of the then state Of things in Montreal, had retreated to some houses, where he was attacked next day hythe British, and after a short resistance compelled to surrender. All the Canadians had deserted him; five of his men were killed and ten wounded; and the remaining th.