Battle of Quebec

The Battle of Quebec on December 31, 1775 was a disastrous American attempt to capture the Canadian capital during a blizzard. American commanders hoped to bring Canada into the Revolution as a fourteenth colony. General Richard Montgomery had successfully captured Montreal and marched down the St. Lawrence, while Benedict Arnold had led an extraordinary march of 600 miles through the Maine wilderness to approach Quebec from the south. Together they assembled about 1,000 men to assault the heavily fortified city.

The attack was planned for New Year's Eve when a snowstorm provided concealment. Montgomery led his column along the St. Lawrence below the city walls, but was killed by grapeshot from a single cannon in the opening minutes of the assault — one of the war's most significant officer casualties. His column halted immediately. Arnold, attacking from the north, was wounded in the leg early in the fighting but pressed on into the lower town before being driven back.

The assault collapsed entirely. Over 400 Americans were captured, including Daniel Morgan, who fought brilliantly before being surrounded. Arnold maintained the siege through the winter with a weakened force, but British reinforcements arrived in the spring of 1776 and the Americans retreated back to Lake Champlain. The failed Canadian campaign ended all hope of bringing Canada into the Revolution and secured Britain's northern flank for the remainder of the war.