51From Thomas Jefferson to John Page, 17 May 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
from General Sullivan which inform that the lower town of Quebec is taken and a breach made in the wall of the upper; but I do not know myself that there are such letters; and if there be, whether Sullivan mentions his intelligence as authentic, as he could not... ...Quebec himself. As to the articles of salt, blankets &c. every colony I beleive will be to shift for itself, as I see nothing...
52To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 13 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
Mr Mercer is a Merchant from Quebec he will soon be with Your Excey & give you a minute detail....from Montreal, the commissioners to Canada and Arnold informed Schuyler that on 6 May the American army at Quebec had been forced to retreat in great haste by newly arrived British reinforcements. “Our army,” the commissioners wrote, “are now on their way to the Mouth of the Sorrel, where they...
53To George Washington from Brigadier General William Thompson, 27 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
...soon as Col. Patterson’s Regiment marches from hence, I shall go to the Half Moon and see that Carriages are provided to forward the Troops from that Place, and shall take every method in my power to reach Quebec as soon as possible, tho’ from the many carrying places and embarkations I am doubtful whether we shall arrive in less than three weeks....if I can get to Quebec with my party...
54To George Washington from the Gloucester Committee of Safety, 28 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
That yesterday morning a Brig was descover’d at ankor within Thatchers Island—Captains Somes & Smith in a boat went alongside and asked where from, and where bound, was answer’d from Quebec for [St.] Eustatia, they asked what they did there, the answer was they wanted Water—Sd Somes & Smith taking them to be enemies came ashore, and envited men to go off in boats and Seize her......at Quebec...
55From George Washington to Joshua Loring, 1 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I desire that Capt. Dearbone who was taken at Quebec on the 31st decemr 1775, and whose Parole has not yet been sent out, may have it done by the first Opportunity, in the room of one of the Captains, and that Captains Trowbridge and percival of the... ...of Eight of the Officers besides Capt. Dearbone, who were taken at Quebec, which have never been sent out. I wish to have them among the...
56To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 28 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Royal Highland Emigrants was a Loyalist corps consisting of two battalions, one headquartered at Quebec and the other at Halifax. Lt. Col. John Small commanded the latter battalion. The corps was taken into the British army as the 84th Regiment of Foot in January 1779....Colo. McLane [Allan Maclean] left Canada in the Month of august for England. That the Garrison of Quebec consists of...
57To George Washington from Brigadier General Jacob Bayley, 10 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
This intelligence apparently refers to St. Paul du Nord, a village on the St. Lawrence River almost 200 miles northeast of Quebec.St. François du Lac is a village located where the St. François River flows into the St. Lawrence from the southeast about 100 miles southwest of Quebec.
58From George Washington to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 28 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
Court of Enquiry into his conduct at the attack on Quebec, on the 31st Decr 1775.[”] .... I believe soon after he returned from Canada on the subject of a report that was or had been in circulation respecting his conduct at the Attack on Quebec, which was rather injurious to his character as an officer; but what it was I can not now determine with precision. However I am rather inclined to...
59To George Washington from Catherine Jandine Lamb, June 1776 (Washington Papers)
. States that her husband, Maj. John Lamb, commander of the Continental artillery in the northern department, was wounded and captured in the attack on Quebec and has remained a prisoner “near half a Year, waiting for that Freedom, which it is fervently wished the success of your Arms may obtain, both for him and his Country....: “Memorial of Mrs wife of Majr Lamb: prisoner in Quebec—N....
60Instructions to Captains Nicholson Broughton and John Selman, 16 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Hon. Cont. Congress having received Intelligence that two North Country Brigantines of no Force sailed from England some Time ago for Quebec laden with 6000 Stand of Arms a large Quantity of Powder & other Stores...that Quebeck will fall into our Hands in a very short Time it may be expected that not only the above Ordnance Vessels: but others from Quebec & Montreal may come down & fall...
61To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 24 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
...previous Friday was 17 May. Hector McNeill (1728–1785), an experienced Boston ship captain who had commanded a vessel on Gen. Robert Monckton’s expedition to Nova Scotia in 1755, was living in Quebec and trading with Boston and the West Indies when the Revolutionary War began. Although Gen. Guy Carleton’s proclamation requiring all residents to take up arms for the king forced McNeill to...
62To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 19 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
This fleet carried British and Hessian troops bound for Quebec. Hessian officer Jakob Piel noted in his diary that his Lossberg Regiment embarked on 15 May, sailed on 17 May, and dropped anchor at midday near Staten Island, where Piel saw “ships which had the 44th Regiment... ...cleared coastal waters the next day, and passed near Nova Scotia, including Cape Breton Island, before reaching Quebec...
63From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 9 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been informed that large quantities of Goods, proper for the use of the Army, have lately arrived to the Eastward, in the prizes captured out of the Quebec Fleet....: “In the letter which I did myself the honor of writing to you yesterday (respecting the Cloths taken in the Quebec Fleet) I forget to mention, tho’ it was fully my intention to have done it, that the Cargo’s of those...
64Instructions to Reuben Colburn, 3 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
. On 21 Aug. Benedict Arnold, who was then preparing for his expedition to Quebec, wrote to Colburn from Watertown: “His Excellency General Washington Desires you will Inform your self, how soon, there can be procured, or built, at Kenebec; Two hundred light Battoes Capable of Carrying Six or Seven Men... ...from those People who have been at Quebec, of the Difuculty attending an Expedition that...
65To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 10 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
If it be true that two Regiments moved from St Dennis and St Charles Towards the Little river, which I understand is 18 Leagues below Montreal, and that two others were preparing to move from St Ours to Quebec,Gen. John Burgoyne arrived at Quebec from England on 6 May, and Col. Allan Maclean arrived there from New York on 26 May (see Burgoyne to George Germain, 15 May 1777,
66To George Washington from Colonel Benedict Arnold, 13 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
...item 152.
Although this letter is dated 14 Nov., the context indicates that Arnold wrote it on 13 November. See note 2 below. Pointe de Lévy is directly across the St. Lawrence River from the city of Quebec.March to Quebec
67To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 12 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
...from Montreal by David Wooster on 16 Mar. and Moses Hazen on 1 April, two private letters to Capt. William Goforth at Trois Rivières from Capt. Gershom Mott and adjutant John Brogdon, both dated 26 Mar. at Quebec, and an extract of an unidentified letter from Goforth. (All of these documents are in ...a skirmish near Quebec between some American troops and a small force of French... ...Quebec...
68To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 18 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
...to this Province where they are much wanted notwithstanding the Bostonians are not likely soon to take St Johns there is some danger of their Getting this Town and every other part of the Province except Quebec unless its soon supported by the Kings Troops, as to your Province [Nova Scotia] I am not under any apprehensions of its being over run by them they will never send men where let...
69To George Washington from Captain Nicholson Broughton, 2 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
...this Harbour for safety; we pursued her directly in, & found her to be a Sloop belonging to Enoch Rust of Boston, who last Spring had the Sloop cleard out from Hallifax with Provision for Quebec, the Sloop has since taken a Cargo of Provision from Louisburgh for the west Indies; contrary as we apprehend to the Association of the united american Colonies, the Owner now at Canso we have...
70From George Washington to John Hancock, 31 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Captain Freeman, arrived this day at Camp from Canada, he Left Quebec the 24th ultmo in Consequence of General Carletons proclomation, which I have the honor to Send you herewith ...Montgomery the 1st instant that they were about 2000 Strong & were Makeing every preparation for attacking Quebec, that General Carleton had with him about 1200 men, the majority of whom are Sailors, that it was...
71To George Washington from Colonel Benedict Arnold, 27–28 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
in killed & wounded, near 500 Men, (This Account appears very imperfect) and that there were few or none of the King’s troops at Quebec, and no advice of our coming. Three Days since I left the principal part of the Detachment about eight Leagues below the great Carrying Place, and as our Provissions were short by reason of loosing a Number of...March to Quebec
72Washington’s Summary of British and American Forces, 1 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
, possession of their upper Posts—To expect the conquest of Quebec the
same season, unless by the dispersion of the force in Canada, and the impracticability of assembling it, we should find Quebec weakly Garrisoned—illy provided with provisions, or Military Stores—or a disposition in the Country to rise, as one man, to exterminate the Brit......of Quebec—...
73To George Washington from Major General John Thomas, 27 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have endeavored to inform myself from General Arnold, and other Gentlemen in this City of the state of our army before Quebec, and in other parts of the Province of Canada. I find that the troops who engaged only to the 15th of April are mostly on their return home, and cannot be prevailed on to continue longer in the... ...the use of Artillery, except those who are confined in Quebec...
74To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
...Innes had his share upon this occasion. This happened a week ago. My Ld & the Genl have never seen one another since. The 44th between six & seven hundred strong, and two Hessian regts are sailed for Quebec[.] The fleet under Admiral Arbuthnot arrived the 25th August. In his fleet came the 76th & 80th regts 4 comp[an]ies 82d, & upwards of ...troops embarked for Quebec, among which is Lt...
75To John Jay from Alexander McDougall, 20 March 1776 (Jay Papers)
...Canad. It is to little Purpose to send Heavy ordinance to that Country without men to use them. The Ministerial Troops destined for Virginia, can be easier repul[s]ed, without artillery officers, than the Strong Hold of Quebec can be taken without them. It will therefore be most advancive of the Service to Send them to Canada than to Virginia. Without a Spirit of Prophecy, I forsee that unless
76To John Jay from Robert R. Livingston, 27 November 1775 (Jay Papers)
Sir Guy Carleton, Governor of Canada, escaped from Montreal by boat as American forces approached. His small fleet was captured en route to Quebec, but Carleton eluded the Americans and made his way to the city. At Quebec, Carleton found the 1st Battalion of Royal Highland Emigrants under the command of Colonel Allan Maclean. Recruitment for the regiment had begun earlier in 1775, and the...Quebec
77John Hancock to the Commissioners to Canada, 26 April 1776 (Franklin Papers)
On April 1, after Gen. Wooster had left for Quebec, the commander of the garrison in Montreal reported at length to Schuyler on the gloomy situation: the Canadians around Quebec were taking up arms for the British, and those around Montreal were only waiting to do the same; American mismanagement had achieved what Carleton never could have. Force, 5
78To George Washington from John Beatty, 26 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
...Esqr. I found confined in the State Goal about 30 Prisoners, (privates) chiefly taken not long since in the Ship Badger, on the back of Long Island, and part of those destined as it was said to Quebec;...this vessel sailed from N. York the 10th of September, in company with 11 other transports, bound to Quebec, having on board two Hessian regiments and one (the 44th) British, with 14...
79To George Washington from Benjamin Lincoln, 2 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
...with heavy artillery to take possession of it, secure the magazines, and cut off future supplies from the Garrisons of St Johns and Fort Wm Augustus near the mouth of Lake ontario—these and Quebec are the posts to which I suppose the enemy would retire on your entering the country with a superior force—their supplies could not be cutt off but by a close investiture of their several works...
80From John Adams to James Warren, 18 February 1776 (Adams Papers)
The Unanimous Voice of the Continent is Canada must be ours Quebec must be taken....must leave the Event. If We fail now, I shall be easy because I know of nothing more or better that We can do. I did not feel so well Satisfied, after the News of the Failure at Quebec.
81To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 5 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Burgoyne was arrived at Quebec and 6th. of June was going to head the Army to invest Ticonderoga, while Carleton was to remain at Quebec with 3000 Men. Yours most Respectfully
82To John Jay from Silas Deane, 9 October 1780 (Jay Papers)
The Northern Privateers had captured & brought into Boston Nineteen shipps of the Quebec Fleet, Valued at Four Hundred Thousand pounds St...Washington to Governor William Livingston of New Jersey, 17 Aug. 1780, “the greater part of the fleet of Victuallers and Merchant men bound from England to Quebec had been taken by the Eastern privateers. Sixteen of the prizes had arrived in the...
83To James Madison from William Bradford, 20 May 1776—Summary (Madison Papers)
...purpose; & several others of the like nature: this gives the Coup de Grace to the King’s authority in this province. In the afternoon I gave Mr. Maddison an account of this meeting, of our defeat at Quebec...in the St. Lawrence River early in May was the final blow which led the patriot army to abandon its siege of Quebec and withdraw from Montreal. This bad news reached...
84From George Washington to John Hancock, 4 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
..., a Mr Hutchinson from Boston, I learn that it was Admiral Shuldhum that came into the harbour on Saturday last—that two of the five regiments from Cork are arrived at Hallifax; two others had sailed for Quebec (but what was become of them could not be told), and the other, the 55th, has just got into Boston—Certain it is also, that the greatest part of the 17[th] Regiment is arrived...
85From George Washington to Louis-Philippe de Rigaud, marquis de Vaudreuil, 20 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
...of the Fleet are very near sailing, if not already gone—they had most of them 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 Births for the reception of Troops previous to their leaving Quebec, and I have just now received advice, that an...
86From George Washington to John Hancock, 5 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Captain of the Brig from Quebec for Boston, ...there is no Suspicion of any such Expedition, & that if Carlton is not drove from St Johns, so as to be obliged to throw himself into Quebec, it must fall into our Hands; as it is left without a Regular Soldier, & many of the Inhabitants most favourably disposed to the American Cause. That there is the largest Stock of Ammunition ever...
87To George Washington from Udny Hay, 5 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
at QuebecThey have been constantly at Work upon the Fortifications at Quebec, and have made that Garrison extremely strong; they have raised likewis
88To George Washington from Captains Nicholson Broughton and John Selman, 6 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
...give over our Design we then stood for this Place where the Storm has hardly yet ceas’d. we are however something comforted in that no Vessel passes this season to Boston Hallifax or to any part of America from Quebec but must pass with in gun Shot of us. we found at the Entrance of the Gut, a Sloop belonging to John Denny of new haven esteem’d by Government an Inhabitant of Quebec which was...
89To George Washington from Brigadier General David Wooster, 25 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am fully sensible of the importance of reducing Quebec & keeping possession of this province for the accomplishing of which, you may depend upon my utmost exertions—I am also with you fully of opinion that the ministry will send a powerful Armament here in the Spring for... ...and as we hav⟨e⟩ not here, proper Cannon &c. for cannonading of Quebec, I rather imagine we shall be obliged to try...
90To George Washington from Noncommissioned Officers and Soldiers of Captains Thomas William’s and Jonas Hubbard’s … (Washington Papers)
. Petition for reimbursement of damages sustained on the Quebec expedition. “Some of your Pettitioners By Reason of the Badness of the Weather, at the Cold Season of the Year, Suffered Considerable Losses, by going up the River; and others by being Destitude of Provisions were obliged....... Col. Roger Enos in November. Hubbard was fatally wounded and captured in the attack on Quebec, dying on...
91To George Washington from the Berkshire County Committees of Safety and Inspection, 7 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
That after the glorious Defeat of Decr 31st 1775 at Quebec in an Attempt to take it by Storm, Recruits were forwarded in the slowest & most dilatory Manner.That our Army before the walls of Quebec during a long & tedious Winter underwent every kind of hardship & their Spirits were broken by being neglected.
92To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 2 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
The within paper I have this moment recd.— It comes from some unfortunate Men who were made Prisoners when the Gallant Montgomery fell in his attack on Quebec.—...the French had captured the British garrison at Senegal in late January they repatriated their prisoners back to England. Among them, said the enclosed paper, were sixteen Americans first captured by the British at Quebec, who now...
93To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 7 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
a Transport with Eighty four Hessians on board, bound for Quebec, and have sent her into a port at the Eastward, from whence we expect her the first fair Wind. About 1500. Hessians are coming out in the whole, part destined to Quebec & part to New York. I doubt not, but many more will fall into our Hands. A valuable prize is sent into Salem laden with dry Goods, among which are large number of...
94Jefferson’s Annotated Copy of Franklin’s Proposed Articles of Confederation, [June–July 1775] (Jefferson Papers)
and every colony from Great Britain upon the continent of North America not at present engaged in our association may upon application and joining the said association be received into this Confederation, viz. Quebec, Canada, St. John’s, Nova Scotia, Bermudas, and the East and West Floridas:The word “Quebec” is enclosed in rectangular lines and the word “Canada” interlined above; Franklin
95From George Washington to Elias Boudinot, 19 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
P.S. By information, the remainder of the British Fleet are about leaving New York. Within a few days a Fleet of 25 sail of empty transports arrived at New York from Quebec. They brought a few of our people who had been prisoners in Canada. What is
remarkable, the Ships were all fitted up with Berths for the reception of Troops before they left Quebec, and I have...
96From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 3 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
...of very extraordinary merit. He also I am informed has made the military Branches of the Mathematics his particular Study. This Gentleman entered very early into the Service of his Country, he accompanied Genl Arnold in his expedition to Quebec, at the Storm of which under Genl Montgomery he was made prisoner....Volunteer, at the Attack upon Quebec; compar’d with the more recent Instances,...
97To George Washington from John Hancock, 20 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Congress are anxious as well from motives of policy as of justice and humanity to repair our losses in that quarter and if possible to gain possession of Quebec and drive our enemies out of that Country before they can be reinforced in the spring....of 17 Jan. with news of the American defeat at Quebec, and the next day Congress interviewed him for two hours. A native of New Jersey who...
98To Benjamin Franklin from Horatio Gates, 5 December 1775 (Franklin Papers)
The report confused Quebec with Montreal, which Montgomery had captured on Nov. 13 after Gov. Carleton, hopelessly outnumbered, had sailed down river with his few men and his most valuable stores. On Dec. 9 a report from Providence, supposedly emanating... from American headquarters, announced the capture of Quebec on Nov. 17: ...Arnold’s expedition against Quebec; a court martial had acquitted...
99From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 15 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
Previous to the Receipt of Your Favor of the 7th Instant I had been directed by the Honorable Congress to detach four Regiments to Quebec. If they could be spared from the Service here. has no punctuation after the word “Quebec.” For the Continental Congress’s directions regarding reinforcements for Canada, see
100From George Washington to Major Christopher French, 8 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
, 83–84). The officer whose life Meigs saved was apparently Capt. George Laws of the Royal Highland Emigrants. Meigs says in his journal that shortly after his capture at Quebec in the early hours of 1 Jan. 1776, he “dined . . . with Capt. Law, the principal engineer, whom in the morning I made prisoner, but in a few hours I was, in my turn...March to Quebec