101To John Adams from Samuel Chase, 25 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
I this Evening learn the Capture of Quebec. Montreal would gloriously close the first Years War.It was Montreal that had fallen, not Quebec.
102To George Washington from Major General Arthur St. Clair, 3 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
...of about the same strength, which should carry with them the necessary Apparatus, with a few Ships of War should enter it by St Laurence, supposing no Accident to happen to the Fleet, their Junction before Quebec would not be difficult, and the Reduction of the Country the almost certain Consequence, even a greater Force than I have mentioned might be spared and enough left to keep up the...
103From George Washington to Brigadier General David Wooster, 27 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
On the 17 Instant I received the melancholy Account of the unfortunate attack on the City of Quebec, attended with the fall of General Montgomery & Others, & the misfortune of Col. Arnold being wounded—This unhappy affair affects me in a sensible manner, & I condole with you upon the Occasion....to Quebec early in the Spring, which will render the reduction of It, exceedingly difficult, If not...
104To John Adams from Samuel Chase, 21 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
I left Fort George on last Fryday afternoon and arrived at this place yesday Evening. I have just seen a Gentleman, who left Quebec on the 6th Instant. General Worster arrived there on the 1st. On the 3rd. ...We on the 6th. had before Quebec, 2500, of which about 800 are in the Hospital (the far greater part of the small Pox) and about 1000 whose Enlistment expired the 15th. In the late...
105To Benjamin Franklin from Rudolphe Ernest Hartmann, 15 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
...to his brother-in-law in New York, a well known merchant named James Le Ray. The latter wrote me last May that the Baron had become a lieutenant colonel under Schuyler, had distinguished himself at Quebec, and had been given command of a fort that he tried to sell to the English for £41,000. The letter containing his offer was intercepted; he was arrested and condemned to be hanged,...
106To George Washington from Samuel Goodwin, 17 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
March to Quebec...replied to Goodwin on 4 Nov.: “I am Commanded by his Excellency to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 17th Ulto—he is pleased that you had Supplied Colonel Arnold with the plans for his Rout to Quebec. If it shou’d hereafter be found necessary to Lay out the road you mention, His Excellency wont be unmindful of your Offers of Service for that purpose” (
107From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 20 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
...of the British Fleet are very near sailing, if not already gone—most of them had fallen down to the Narrows a few days ago. A Fleet of 25 sail of Transports arrived very lately at New York from Quebec—What is
remarkable, all those Ships were fitted up with Berths for the reception of Troops, previous to their leaving Quebec, and I have just recd advice, that an...
108To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Arnold “Dit Renault,” 14 January 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
<Metz, January 14, 1778, in French: My dear brother went to America during the late Anglo-French wars, and remained at Quebec as secretary to the British governor of Canada. I heard from him several times until your war broke out; since then he sent me two letters by a bearer who, about to be searched at sea, threw them... ...family and his home was in Quebec. Can you get me news of him, and...
109To George Washington from Major Benjamin Whitcomb, 18 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
Lieut. Lyford has Just returned from a Scout to Canada—he informs the Enemy have chiefly drawn of[f] to Quebec with the principle part of their Artillery—That their force in the upper part of Canada is about 400, & their whole force in Canada including Quebec, dont exceed 4000 Men One Thousand has lately been detached for Niagara their shipping constantly cruising up the lake as far as Crown...
110To George Washington from John Hancock, 10 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
..., N.J., militia at the beginning of the war, became a second lieutenant in the 2d New Jersey Regiment during the fall of 1775 and served as regimental adjutant during the ensuing Canadian campaign. At Quebec in early May 1776, Isaac Senter says in his journal: “A plot was formed to burn the [British] shipping in the harbour. A fire ship was completed in charge of Adjutant Anderson, a very...
111From George Washington to Benjamin Franklin, 20 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
On the morning of the 17 Inst. with much concern and Surprize I received the melancholy account of our Troops being Obliged to raise the Siege of Quebec with the loss of their Cannon, a number of small Arms, provisions &c....numbers, wou’d terminate in a favourable and happy Issue, the reduction of Quebec and our consequent possession of the Important Country to which It belongs—to what cause...
112From George Washington to Marinus Willett, 14 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
Official accounts of the happy conclusion of a Peace, have been transmitted by Sir Guy Carleton to General Haldimand at Quebec by two Officers who passed thro’ this place a few days since: but as a very considerable time must elapse before these Gentlemen
can arrive at Quebec, and the news be communicated from thence to the British Posts in the upper Country, and as...
113To George Washington from Lieutenant Thomas Hill, 29 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
...Ensigncy, & in Novr 1774 Lieutenantcy in his Majestys 29 Regt of foot.” He went on leave from Montreal to London in summer 1778 to settle debts and left a resignation of his commission with his commanding officer at Quebec as surety. Hill successfully paid his debts with “the assistance of his friends,” but he returned to Quebec in spring 1779 to find that another officer had replaced him in...
114The Commissioners to Canada to John Hancock, 10 May 1776 (Franklin Papers)
Donald Campbell, deputy quartermaster general, took command of Montgomery’s column at Quebec when the General was killed, and ordered the assault abandoned; it would have succeeded, according to one participant, without that order: Dennis P. Ryan, ed., ...said to have had a hearty manner and meager intelligence. Arnold, when wounded at Quebec, resigned the command to him, but had to resume it...
115From George Washington to Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, 12 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 5th ulto from before Quebec incloseing the returns of your detachment—is Come to hand[.] from the account you give of the Garrison & State of the Walls I expect soon to hear from you Within them, which will give me vast pleasure...GW learned of the American failure at Quebec on the evening of 17 January. See
116To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 24 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
...visit from us In the Course of the winter And that All the Cannon they could Spare from St Johns & Isle au noix have been Carried down the Sorrel for the fort erecting there or to be sent to Quebec.For a description of Maj. Gen. John Sullivan’s attempt to make a stand at Sorel, Quebec, in June 1776, see
117To John Adams from Samuel Chase, 28 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
...at this Fort yesday afternoon. Our Troops were to come off the next Day, and twenty four Batteaus have already passed, and the Wind blows a fair and fresh Gale. I am afraid all our Efforts to take Quebec will prove That of 20 April, which gave a rather depressing account of the Americans’ position before Quebec (
118General Orders, 24 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
...by this Colony, and now in the American Army respectively belonging; including such of each Regiment, as are deceased since its establishment, or as have been draughted for the Detachment ordered to Quebec; and specifying the Names of the towns, and other places, from which they were respectively inlisted; in order to enable the Court to rectify, and prevent any Error in accounts,...
119V. “Amicus Reipublicae” to John Mercereau, c.27 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since which three or four Privateers have Sailed on a Cruize There’s a Fleet going to Sail for Quebec, & were to have weighed Anchor, Last Saturday, but Some obstacle has obliged them to postpone their Departure. The 37th 44th British, 1 Hessian & another Regt have embarked onboard Said fleet & it is Said are...For the sailing of this fleet destined for Quebec, see
120To Benjamin Franklin from George Washington, 20 May 1776 (Franklin Papers)
to raise the Seige of Quebec with the loss of their Cannon, a number of small Arms, Provisions &c....long time by a handfull of men against a victorious Enemy superior in numbers, wou’d terminate in a favourable and happy Issue, the reduction of Quebec and our consequent possession of the Important Country to which It belongs. To what cause to ascribe the sad disaster, I am at loss to determine...
121To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 16 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
Schuyler enclosed copies of John Thomas’s letters to the commissioners to Canada, 7 May, and to Benedict Arnold, 8 May; the minutes of Thomas’s councils of war at Quebec on 5 May and at Deschambault on 7 May; Arnold’s letter to Schuyler, 11 May; and commissioners Charles Carroll of Carrollton and Samuel Chase’s letters of 11 May to Schuyler and to Benjamin Franklin, all of... ...army from Quebec...
122To George Washington from a Board of General Officers, 28 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
...York militia when he was taken prisoner at the Battle of Oriskany on 6 Aug. 1777. A deposition that Bellinger gave on 27 Oct. 1778 in part reads: “That this Deponent has been detained in the City of Quebec and Isle of Orleans from the thirteenth Day of November 1777 to the Beginning of August last when he embarked on Board of a Ship for Hallifax....in Quebec this Deponent was informed...
123To George Washington from Colonel John Nicolson, 12 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
. Requests that GW order an inquiry to be made into his conduct during the recent retreat from Quebec. “Your memorialist is conscious that in the whole of his conduct on that Occasion he faithfully complied with the orders of his Superior officer which was given in Consequence of a council of war, and that in Every......by the retreat from Quebec, Nicolson had only about a hundred men in...
124From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 13 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Fleet mentioned in mine of the 6th instant has been seen standing N.N.E. so that we presume it is destined against some town of this Province or New Hampshire, or possibly gone to Quebec: “Our last Advices were very favourable from Colo. Arnold, by the 20th Inst. we expect he will be at Quebec.” The informant was James Price. See
125From John Adams to James Warren, 21 May 1775 (Adams Papers)
is probably including Quebec and some of the West Indian colonies, like Jamaica, in his count. Americans were particularly hopeful that Quebec could be brought to support their cause.
126To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 23 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
...Enemies. I am unable to mention all the Officers from this State now prisoners, I entreat your Excellency to effect their Exchange as soon as possible—Major Meigs & Capt. Hanchet were taken at Quebec, and are here on their parole, General Waterbury was taken on Lake Champlain Major Wells, Lieuts. Fitch Fanning & Cleaveland & Hopkins on Long-Island, Lieut. Colo. Heart, & Brigade Major Wyllys...
127To George Washington from William Stephens Smith, 24 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
...with respect to numbers sent in and received from either side, and found them to agree, but on making those accounts out, I objected to the allowance of the full number of prisoners sent from Quebec, as not being subjects of exchange, a very large proportion of them being inhabitants—I proposed, that as the flag which arrived at this post the 28th of December 1782, was particularly examined,...
128Instructions and Commission from Congress to Franklin, Charles Carroll, and Samuel Chase for the Canadian Mission, 20 … (Franklin Papers)
Parliament for making a more effectual Provision for the Government of the Province of Quebec. Endeavour to stimulate them, by Motives of Glory as well as Interest, to assume a Part in a Contest, by which, they must be deeply affected: and to aspire to a Portion of that Power by which...The Administration of Justice under the Quebec Act
129To George Washington from the New York Committee of Safety, 6 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
. The king’s orders were changed on 21 Sept. 1775. If none of the regiments had sailed for Boston, one of them was to go to Halifax and four to Quebec. If one regiment had sailed, one of the remaining regiments was to go to Halifax and three to Quebec, and if three had departed, one of those remaining was to go to Halifax and one to Quebec (Earl of Rochford to Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 21...
130From George Washington to Anne-César, chevalier de La Luzerne, 19 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
A Fleet of 25 sail of Transports arrived very lately at New York from Quebec. What is remarkable, all those Ships were fitted with Berths for the reception of Troops previous to their leaving Quebec, as I am informed by Persons who came passengers on them; and I have received advice that an embarkation had began at New York, three days ago: But I have it not yet from such aut...
131Motion of Virginia Delegates on Western Lands, [14 November] 1781 (Madison Papers)
...vested Congress with a valid title to much of the area alleged by Virginia to be her own soil; (2) in view of New York’s action, the legitimate titles of the Indiana and Vandalia companies, and the Quebec Act of 1774 annexing the territory north of the Ohio River to the Province of Quebec, Virginia had very little, if any, land to cede; and (3) Virginia’s offer of cession was “altogether...
132To George Washington from Colonel Benedict Arnold, 8 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have had about 40 Savages joined me & intend as soon as possible crossing the St Lawrance. I am just informed by a Friend from Quebec, that a Frigate of 26 Guns & two Transports with 150 Recruits arrived there last Sunday,
133To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 3 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I did myself the honor to address Your Excellency on the 27th ult: I have had no Intelligence from Quebec. It Continued so the 29th & 30th so that I have great reason to believe the whole together with the heavy Cannon are arrived before Quebec.
134To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Christian Febiger, 6 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
...the West Indies with his uncle, the Danish governor of St. Croix, before settling in Massachusetts in 1772. He was serving as Benedict Arnold’s brigade major when he was captured at Quebec on 31 Dec. 1775, and he apparently was paroled in late September 1776 and exchanged the following January. In November 1776 Febiger was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 11th Virginia Regiment, and...Quebec
135To John Adams from James Warren, 1 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
and a desert of Pine Apples &c. A Few Fisher Men also, have taken a Brigantine from Quebec with about 75 Raggamuffins the whole Posse he could Collect. That there were at Quebec 10,000 barrels Powder. I long for them more than Turtle, or Pine Apples. Arnold was last Monday with his detachment 60 miles up Kennebeck, every thing as it should be. We please ourselves with fine Prospects...
136From George Washington to John Hancock, 1 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
By a Virginia Paper I perceive that Captn Morgan & Lieutt Heath who were taken Prisoners at Quebec & now on Parole are promoted in the late arrangement of Officers in that State; the former to a Regiment, the latter to a Majority:...Morgan’s Virginia rifle company as a lieutenant in July 1775 and had been captured with Morgan at Quebec on 31 Dec. 1775, was exchanged with him on 14 Jan....
137To John Adams from Matthew Ridley, 13 July 1782 (Adams Papers)
Monsieur de Guichen has arrived off Ushant. They have taken 18 sail of Quebec Vessels and a small Frigate. of 12 July reported the capture of eighteen vessels of a convoy bound to Newfoundland and Quebec, and on the 16th it provided a list of the captured vessels taken from Guichen’s report dated 27 June. No frigate is listed as taken.
138From John Adams to Samuel Cooper?, 9 June 1776 (Adams Papers)
I did not expect that our Army would have raised the Siege of Quebec, So soon, much less So unskillfully and So timorously. I cannot forbear, these Epithets. But raising a siege in open day, and in the Face of an Enemy, was a Step, that nothing could justify,......this have been kept out of the Camp before Quebec, as well as out of the Camps at Cambridge and Roxbury? Provisions enough for the...
139From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 4 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
. Capt. Thomas Gamble, assistant deputy quartermaster general in Canada, wrote to Maj. William Shirreff, deputy quartermaster general at Boston, from Quebec on 6 Sept.: “The Rebels have taken Post at Point O’Fare [Point au Fer]; and an invasion of the Province is Expected; shou’d that take Place I am apt to think the Canadians will... ...to Obey in short the Quebec bill is of no use on...
140To George Washington from the Continental Congress Executive Committee, 9 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
...proper to suffer this Man to return to Canada in order to give Information concerning the Design mention’d in the Report as the best Means of defeating its Execution. Our Information concerning Traversie is through Mr Bondfield late of Quebec, who tells Us he will undertake this Service and lives near St Francis. We are Your Excellency’s obedt hum. Servts...Bondfield, a Quebec merchant...
141To George Washington from Philip John Schuyler, 20 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
...3 Companies, at Carleton Island of Sir John Johnstons Regiment about 400, of ditto at La Salle the one Company, at Trois Rivier a Regiment, at Sorrel two Companies, and about twelve hundred men at Quebec and the environs—that the provincial corps are included In the above, that no Indians are kept at St Johns, that St Leger had not above fourty with him when at Ticonderoga last fall, That...
142To George Washington from Thomas Lynch, 16 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
...you the determination of Congress concerning the Trial of Captures, Courts of Admiralty have been appointed in the Colony for that purpose. Colo. Frye has been appointed Brigadier in your Army (Mr Arnold preceeds him in that at Quebec) and I inclose Copies of the Resolutions for the direction of the Post Master, relative to Letters of Officers & Soldiers in our Service....at Quebec...
143From George Washington to John Hancock, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
...medicine in Carlisle, Pa., under the direction of his older brother William Irvine before July 1775 when he joined Capt. Daniel Morgan’s rifle company as an ensign. Irvine accompanied Morgan’s company on Arnold’s expedition to Quebec during the fall of 1775 until he was incapacitated by severe illness (see March to Quebec
144To George Washington from Brigadier General Jacob Bayley, 5 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
He left Quebec 11th August Past, and Hallifax in October and will give your Excellency an Account of what he knows relative to Canada &c. Three Frenchmen I sent to Saint Charles’s are returned, ...Isle Aux Noix, a small Party at Montreal Saint Francois, & Three Rivers, the Remainder at Quebec, the French very much Attatched to our Cause especially since they have heard of our Alliance with...
145To Benjamin Franklin from [Anthony Wayne], 13 June 1776 (Franklin Papers)
and he hoped to open a new offensive down the St. Lawrence toward Quebec....had brought Carleton a large contingent of troops under General Burgoyne, and they were already on their way to Trois Rivières, roughly equidistant from Montreal and Quebec. This was also Sullivan’s objective, but the British arrived first: six thousand regulars, it is estimated, were encamped around the village by the...
146To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 20 May 1775 (Franklin Papers)
...Way. I have been several Days shut up in your Room, so have not been able to gather any thing more than the Public Prints contain. You will see by the Fate of the N York and Quebec Petitions, that it is not because what came from the Congress was illegal, that their Applications did not succeed, since both have been treated alike: I think this must cure the N York Dissention if there...
147To John Adams from Samuel Chase, 18 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
from Quebec, and threaten if not granted. In Truth they have never been supplied from Quebec, or very triffling. I hope our Commissioners will be very civil, and give them good Words and some presents but very firm and resolute.
148From George Washington to General Frederick Haldimand, 30 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I think it my duty to inform Your Excellency that it has been represented to me, that several American Officers, who are your prisoners, are suffering a close and rigorous confinement in the Jails of Quebec, without any good reason to warrant such treatment....several kinds, which we cannot from the great distance forward to Quebec, and where they will be exchanged in due course. I have also...
149John Thomas to the Commissioners to Canada, 7 May 1776 (Franklin Papers)
The new commander in chief; see the final note on the commissioners to Hancock above, May 1. The siege of Quebec had persisted into the spring, maintained by the ice that blocked the St. Lawrence; a large relieving force from Britain had been waiting down the river, and its arrival at the city turned the orderly retreat that Thomas......ravaged the troops before Quebec, and continued to...
150From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 18 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I should have been very glad, if Mr Carlton had not made his Escape, I trust e’re long he will be in our Hands, as I think we shall get possession of Quebec, from whence he will not easily get away—I am much concerned for Mr Allan & that he should be treated with such Severity—I beg that you will have the Matter and Manner of his Treatment strictly enquired......and that Quebec is or soon...