Why did the Americans invade Quebec in 1775?
Military History
The objective of the campaign was to seize the Province of Quebec (part of modern-day Canada) from Great Britain, and persuade French-speaking Canadiens to join the revolution on the side of the Thirteen Colonies early in the American Revolutionary War.
Moreover, the Battle of Quebec would be the culmination of the troops of the United Colonies attempt to take Quebec City. The battle took place on December 30th and 31st of 1775, and the garrison of British troops were able to repel the attack successfully and the outcome was declared a British victory.
Revolutionary forces were led by Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold and totaled 1,200 men. Having just captured Montreal the previous month, Montgomery chose to push on to Quebec City hastily as many of his conscript’s contracts were close to expiring. The trek through the Canadian winter was long and arduous, taking a tough toll on the troops of the United Colonies.
The British garrison in Quebec City totaled 1,800 troops, commanded by Guy Carleton(pictured above), a governor who escaped the fall of Montreal, and brigadier-general Allan Maclean. The initial force defending the city was much weaker, but reinforcements in the form of militia were sent to defend the city after news broke about the impending attack.
The militia were recruited by the means of mandatory draft, including 200 British and 300 Canadians who were put under strong leadership to address their inexperience. Carleton further bolstered the city’s defenses by setting up barricades and cannons in defensive positions.
As he was outnumbered 2 to 1 with his current force, he decided to wait for reinforcements. Richard Montgomery arrived on December 6th and resupplied Arnold’s under equipped troops, then promptly put the city under siege. Although the United Colonies set up artillery to fire upon the city, the effect was negligible and when a storm formed on the evening of December 30th Montgomery gave the order to attack.
Montgomery and his men eventually made it to the city’s walls in the storm, and sawed their way inside. On the first charge towards a building however, cannon and musket fire killed Richard Montgomery and two of his most senior officers instantly, as well as many of his men. The next in command deemed the situation hopeless and ordered a retreat back behind a palisade in the city.
Arnold’s force was attacking the Northern side of the city simultaneously and had more success getting inside the walls without getting detected. They met heavy resistance once at the palace gates, which compounded by the heavy blizzard made any further advances impossible. Arnold redirected with forces to take a lightly defended barricade, but in the moments before the attack he was struck in the leg by a musket shot and transferred command to Daniel Morgan.
Daniel Morgan was eventually able to take the barricade and continued to advance down the street. This success was short-lived as soon a force of 500 defenders retook the first barricade and trapped Morgan’s forces within the city. Subsequently, Morgan was forced to surrender as his forces were heavily outnumbered and surrounded. The battle concluded in the morning of December 31st.
Battle of Culloden : The Last Battle on British Soil To Take Place
The Battle of Quebec marked the worst defeat the United Colonies would face in the Revolutionary War, with the loss of Richard Montgomery, 84 casualties and 400 captured. The British would only suffer 19 killed or wounded. Although shot, Benedict Arnold would survive the battle and make it back to friendly territory.
In conclusion, the defeat at Quebec would mark the end of the Revolutionary campaign to invade what was present day Canada. Although a second campaign was considered later in the war, ultimately no decisions were made to actually commit to an invasion due to the need for immense manpower to do so.
Why did the Americans invade Quebec in 1775?
