Reasons For The Battle Of Quebec

In the fall of 1775 plans to invade and eradicate British presence in the Quebec were prepared and executed. American forces gathered for the Battle of Quebec consisted of approximately 1200 volunteers/soldiers drawn from various New England companies that were serving in the Siege of Boston as well as men from Pennsylvania and Virginia. The men were formed into 3 battalions, the first two battalions, the main element, composed of the volunteers from New England companies while the third company, the supporting element, comprised of the Pennsylvania and Virginia riflemen. Colonel Benedict Arnold and Brigadier Richard

Montgomery commanded the first two battalions while the third was under Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Morgan’s command. These American
Nearly half of both forces had little to no war experience and were basically considered useless to each side but served purely as force in number.

Arnold’s men arrived at the walls of Quebec severely under-equipped. They lacked artillery, adequate winter clothing, and each man only carried 5 cartridges of ammunition, with over 100 unserviceable muskets. However, with Montgomery’s arrival came four cannons, six mortars, winter clothing, and additional supplies. While American forces were hard pressed to initiate and maintain a siege they were also aided by Canadians who sympathized their efforts, gaining munitions necessary for the siege like ammunition and cannonballs. At the same time, British forces had more than enough supplies to endure the impending siege, outnumbering the American force nearly two to one.

The main American leaders of this battle were Colonel Benedict Arnold, Lieutenant

Colonel Daniel Morgan (both leading forces from Boston), General Richard Montgomery

(leading forces from Montreal), and General Guy Carleton (commanding forces in the city of Quebec). Additional leaders were Jacob Brown and James Livingston, two Canadians in support of American
British casualties, however, were comparatively light, only five killed and fourteen wounded. Though Arnold refused to retreat from his position outside the city, despite being outnumbered 3 to 1, the sub-freezing conditions of winter took a heavy toll on the remaining men. This was furthered by the mass departure of enlisted whose contracts expired and the spread of smallpox, encouraged by contact with infected civilians from Quebec released from the city that ravaged the remaining men. Though Arnold slowly gained reinforcements from the Thirteen Colonies throughout the winter months the men were forced to turn tail when spring arrived, and with it a fresh force of British troops that drove Arnold and his troops all the way back to Fort