Battle of Quebec
The Battle of Quebec, fought from December 5 to December 31, 1775, was a significant encounter during the early stages of the American Revolutionary War. American forces, led by Generals Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold, aimed to capture Quebec City, the last major British stronghold in Canada. On the morning of December 31, amidst harsh winter conditions, Montgomery initiated an assault but was quickly killed along with several officers, leading to a retreat of his troops. Meanwhile, Arnold's contingent also launched an attack but encountered fierce resistance and he was wounded, further complicating the American efforts. The British forces, commanded by Sir Guy Carleton, mounted a successful counterattack, ultimately forcing the American troops to surrender. The battle resulted in heavy American casualties, with 48 killed, 34 wounded, and 372 captured, while the British suffered significantly fewer losses. The defeat effectively ended the American invasion of Canada and had lasting implications for the Revolutionary War. This battle illustrates the challenges faced by the early American military efforts and highlights the strategic significance of Quebec during this period.
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Battle of Quebec
Type of action: Ground battle in the American Revolution
Date: December 31, 1775
Location: Quebec City, Canada
Combatants: 1,175 Americans and Canadians vs. 1,800 British regulars and militia
Principal commanders:American, Major General Richard Montgomery (1738–1775); British, Governor Sir Guy Carleton (1724–1808)
Result: British repulse an assault on Quebec, inflicting heavy casualties
From December 5 to December 30, 1775, American troops besieged Quebec, the last major British outpost in Canada, attempting to complete their invasion of the province. Faced with expiring enlistments in Benedict Arnold’s command, General Richard Montgomery launched an assault in the early morning hours of December 31, during a howling blizzard.
Two small detachments feinted against the upper town, while the main attack struck the lower. Montgomery led 275 troops from the southwest, penetrated the outer fortifications undetected, and then charged a blockhouse. The general and several other officers were killed in the first volley, and his soldiers retreated. Meanwhile, Arnold and 600 men stormed Quebec from the other direction. Arnold was quickly wounded and retired from the field, but his troops fought their way into the lower town. The attack stalled, however, as the British concentrated on this threat, following Montgomery’s repulse. Sir Guy Carleton counterattacked, cutting the American line of retreat, and by mid-morning, forced the Americans to surrender. He then overran a nearby siege battery, capturing six cannons and mortars. Overall, the Americans had 48 killed, 34 wounded, and 372 captured. British losses were 5 dead and 14 wounded.
Significance
The British victory at Quebec during the American Revolution (1775–1783) crippled the American army in Canada and effectively ended its invasion of the province.
Bibliography
Hatch, Robert McConnell. Thrust for Canada: The American Attempt on Quebec in 1775–1776. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1979.
Liberty: The American Revolution. Documentary. Middlemarch Films, 1997.
Nelson, Paul David. General Sir Guy Carleton, Lord Dorchester: Soldier-Statesman of Early British Canada. Madison, N.J.: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 2000.
Roberts, Kenneth, ed. March to Quebec: Journals of the Members of Arnold’s Expedition. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1945.
Smith, Justin H. Our Struggle for the Fourteenth Colony: Canada and the American Revolution. 2 vols. New York: Da Capo Press, 1974.