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126 the american revolution through british eyes chapter two 1775–1776 Colonial Troops invade Canada As early as May 1775, a few weeks after the fighting at Lexington and Concord, two small colonial forces set off by different routes to take Fort Ticonderoga. Arriving on 9 May, the commanders of the Patriots, Colonels Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold, settled their differences long enough to mount a joint attack on the following day. It was successful, with the result that this most strategic compound on the south end of Lake Champlain yielded up its artillery. The Americans hoped to rally support from the disgruntled French settlers, while the British Commander-in-Chief of Quebec, General Guy Carleton, tried frantically to recruit support from the British residents. On 26 September Ethan Allen attempted to capture Montreal, but he was taken prisoner. However, the American troops persevered, and on 17–18 October, they succeeded in capturing Fort Chambly on the Richelieu River. Meanwhile, another contingent of Americans under Brigadier General Richard Montgomery laid siege to Fort Saint Jean, and on 3 November, they were successful, but far more significant was his victory over the defenders of Montreal ten days later. On 11 November, Carleton, in disguise, clandestinely made his way from Montreal to Quebec City, arriving on the 19th. He began to prepare the small British garrison there for an anticipated attack from the joint forces of Montgomery and Arnold. The attack came during a blizzard on 31 December 1775. Montgomery was killed, and Arnold was wounded, forcing the Americans to retreat. However, they tried to maintain a siege of the city, hoping the frozen rivers and drifting snow would make it impossible for the British to re-supply their beleaguered troops. On 23 January 1776, about one hundred Patriot soldiers arrived at Arnold’s camp outside Quebec, making it possible for him to continue his siege. Yet he felt that he needed even more support, but the Continental Congress was reluctant to provide it. In May 1776 British ships and troops broke the siege of Quebec, precipitating a rapid retreat by the Patriots who tried to maintain their camp on the north bank of the St. Lawrence, halfway between Montreal and Quebec. 126 1775–1776: colonial troops invade canada 127 The Patriots badly underestimated British military strength, thinking that they had only 800 troops available, when in reality they had 6,000. The 2,000 Rebels rapidly gave way, many trying to hide in swampy areas, and the few who survived straggled back home, putting an end to what had promised to be a most auspicious series of raids into Canada. Guy Carleton to Thomas Gage, 4 February 1775, Quebec.1 As this goes by Lieutenant [Samuel] Cleveland of the 7th I will venture to be more explicit about what you mention of the Canadians and Indians in your letter of 25th December last than I thought it prudent to do by post, as one may naturally suppose those who seem resolved to force their country into Rebellion, jealous of the correspondence, may intercept our letters to make themselves masters of the correspondence ; and should those disorders continue, as there is too much reason to apprehend , I submit it to your consideration whether it may not be proper to send me a cipher for the greater security of our correspondence on matters of a secret nature. The Canadians in general have been made very happy by the Act passed in their favour. All that have spoke or wrote to me upon the subject express the most grateful sense of what has been done for them. I must not, however, conceal from Your Excellency that the gentry, well-disposed and heartily desirous as they are to serve the Crown and to serve it with zeal when formed into regular corps, do not relish commanding a bare militia. They never were used to that service under the French government (and perhaps for good reasons); besides, the sudden dismission of the Canadian regiment raised in 1764, without gratuity or recompense to officers who engaged in our service almost immediately after the cession of the country or taking any notice of them since, though they all expected half-pay, is still uppermost in their thoughts and not likely to encourage their engaging a second time in the same way. As to the habitants or peasantry, ever since the civil authority has been introduced into the province, the government of it has hung so loose and retained...

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