Battle of Quebec Timeline

(September 13, 1759)

The Battle of Quebec, fought on September 13, 1759, was a decisive confrontation during the Seven Years' War between British forces under General James Wolfe and French defenders led by the Marquis de Montcalm. Fought on the Plains of Abraham outside Quebec City, the British victory effectively ended French rule in Canada. More Less

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Background

Pontiac's War sows distrust among Indians

1763

The memory of Pontiac's War in 1763 had made most of the Indians living in the Ohio River valley, the Great Lakes, and the Mississippi River valley distrustful of all whites and reluctant to fight for either Congress or the Crown.

Image source: Pontiac's War

Quebec Act restores rights to Canadiens

1774

Tensions between French Catholics and British authorities were eased by the passage of the Quebec Act of 1774, which restored land and many civil rights to the Canadiens. The act had been condemned by the thirteen rebelling colonies.

Image source: Quebec Act

Carleton proclaims martial law in Quebec

Jun 9, 1775

On 9 June 1775, Governor Guy Carleton proclaimed martial law and called out the militia in preparation for the threatened American invasion of Quebec.

Image source: Battle of Quebec (1775)

Carleton meets with Indian Department officials and Brant

Jul 26, 1775

On 26 July 1775, Carleton met Guy Johnson, superintendent of the northern district of the Indian Department, together with Daniel Claus and a Mohawk war chief Joseph Brant, seeking support against the Americans.

American Invasion

Capture of Fort Ticonderoga by Allen and Arnold

May 10, 1775

Shortly after the American Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, a small enterprising force led by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold captured the key Fort Ticonderoga on May 10.

Image source: Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

Capture of Fort Ticonderoga by Allen and Arnold

Approval given for invasion of Canada

Jun 27, 1775

On 27 June 1775, approval for an invasion of Canada was given to General Philip Schuyler by the Continental Congress.

Image source: Invasion of Quebec (1775)

Continental Army moves into Quebec

Sep 1775

The Continental Army began moving into Quebec in September 1775. Richard Montgomery, heading the American vanguard, took Ile-aux-Noix on 2 September 1775.

Arnold departs for Quebec City with volunteers

Sep 5, 1775

After recruiting 1,050 volunteers, Benedict Arnold departed for Quebec City on 5 September 1775, leading his men through the Maine wilderness toward the Canadian capital.

Image source: Benedict Arnold's expedition to Quebec

Schuyler hands command to Montgomery

Sep 16, 1775

On 16 September 1775, the sickly Schuyler handed over command of his army to Brigadier General Richard Montgomery, who continued the advance into Canada.

Image source: Richard Montgomery

Ethan Allen's attempt to take Montreal foiled

Sep 25, 1775

On 25 September 1775, an attempt by Ethan Allen to take Montreal in a surprise attack—as the American sympathizer Thomas Walker had promised he would open the city's gates—was foiled, and Allen was captured.

Image source: Ethan Allen

Heavy guns arrive at Fort St. Johns siege

Oct 15, 1775

On 15 October 1775, heavy guns arrived from Fort Ticonderoga, which allowed the American besiegers to start inflicting damage on Fort St. Johns.

Image source: Siege of Fort St. Jean

Montgomery takes Fort St. Johns

Nov 2, 1775

On 2 November 1775, Montgomery took Fort St. Johns, removing a major obstacle on his path toward Montreal and then Quebec City.

Battle and Aftermath

Nor'easter prompts Montgomery to order assault on Quebec City

Dec 30, 1775

On the afternoon of 30 December 1775, a 'nor'easter' brought heavy snowfall, and Montgomery, knowing much of his army would leave when enlistments expired in two days, ordered his men to form up for an assault on Quebec City.

Battle of Quebec fought in a snowstorm

Dec 31, 1775

The Battle of Quebec was fought on December 31, 1775, between American Continental Army forces under Montgomery and Arnold and the British defenders of Quebec City under Guy Carleton. The attack was repulsed, and General Montgomery was killed during the assault.

Enlistments expire, leaving Arnold with 600 men

Jan 1, 1776

Many enlistments of Montgomery's force expired on 31 December 1775. Together with losses taken in the battle, this left Arnold with only 600 men as of 1 January 1776 to besiege Quebec City.

Montgomery's funeral held in Quebec

Jan 4, 1776

General Montgomery's body was recovered by the British on New Year's Day 1776 and was given a simple military funeral on January 4, paid for by Lieutenant Governor Cramahé. His body was later returned to New York in 1818.

Arnold's Valcour Island rear-guard action

Oct 11, 1776

Although Carleton defeated the American fleet in the Battle of Valcour Island and regained control of Lake Champlain, the rear guard defense managed by Benedict Arnold prevented further action to capture Ticonderoga or Crown Point in 1776.

Image source: Battle of Valcour Island

Siege of Quebec

Pélissier writes to Congress about taking Quebec

Jan 8, 1776

Pélissier's ironworks supplied ammunition, bombs, and cannonballs for the siege of Quebec; he wrote a letter to the Second Continental Congress on January 8, 1776, pointing out measures needed for a successful taking of Quebec. He fled with the Americans when they retreated in May and June 1776.

Loyalist attack defeated at Battle of Saint-Pierre

Mar 1776

Loyalists were mobilized to make an attack on an American gun battery at Point Levis, but an advance guard of this Loyalist militia was defeated in the March 1776 Battle of Saint-Pierre by a detachment of pro-American local militia.

Image source: Battle of Saint-Pierre

American battery at Point Lévis shells Quebec City

Apr 2, 1776

Under Major Lewis Dubois, on 2 April 1776 a new battery built by the Americans at Point Lévis started to shell Quebec City and ships in the St. Lawrence River.

Congressional commission arrives in Montreal

Apr 29, 1776

On 29 April 1776, a commission from Congress arrived in Montreal and attempted to undo damage done by Wooster's administration, but found that public opinion among Canadiens had turned against them.

British relief fleet arrives at Quebec City

May 6, 1776 - Jun 1, 1776

Between May 6 and June 1, 1776, nearly 40 British ships arrived at Quebec City, bringing troops and supplies that ended the American siege and forced the Americans to retreat from the province.

Aftermath

Congress debates another invasion of Canada

Jan 1778 - Mar 1778

Following the American victory at Saratoga, Congress voted in January 1778 for another invasion of Canada commanded by the Marquis de La Fayette. However, La Fayette found necessary supplies and horses lacking once he reached Albany and advised cancelling the operation, advice Congress accepted in March 1778.

Key Facts

The battle took place on the Plains of Abraham just outside the walls of Quebec City on September 13, 1759.
British General James Wolfe led roughly 4,800 troops up a hidden path to the cliffs above the St. Lawrence River, surprising the French.
Both commanding generals, James Wolfe (British) and Louis-Joseph de Montcalm (French), were mortally wounded during the short battle, which lasted less than an hour.
The British victory led to the surrender of Quebec City on September 18, 1759, and ultimately to France ceding most of its North American territories in the Treaty of Paris (1763).
The battle was part of the larger Seven Years' War (French and Indian War) and marked a turning point that shaped Canada's future under British rule.

Source

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