The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777

In the fall of 1775, a second American front opened in Canada, 230 miles northwest of Boston. Over a thousand American troops besieged Fort St. Johns on the Richelieu River, 20 miles south of Montreal. The British garrison—comprising regular troops from the 26th and 7th Foot, Royal Artillery, and Canadian volunteers—endured harsh weather, dwindling supplies, and constant bombardment. Major Charles Preston, the fort’s commander, received no response to his pleas for help from Montreal. He had been ordered to “defend St. Johns to the last extremity” (181). By October 14, rebel artillery inflicted significant damage, including a fatal hit on the schooner Royal Savage. Despite shortages and suffering, the garrison held out until early November.

Americans had long viewed Catholic Quebec as a “blood enemy” (182). The Quebec Act of 1775, which extended Quebec’s borders and reinforced Catholic rights, provoked further hostility. Congress ultimately authorized Major General Philip Schuyler to invade Canada under the guise of continental security, believing it could be a “quick, cheap campaign” (184). Poorly equipped and undermanned, the American force struggled with discipline and supply shortages. The wealthy and erudite Schuyler, ill and unpopular with New England troops, eventually relinquished command to Brigadier General Richard Montgomery. With 1,200 troops, Montgomery advanced toward Fort St.