Continental Army Captures Montreal in Revolution

Context

By the fall of 1775, the Second Continental Congress had authorized military action against British positions in the Province of Quebec. American leaders feared that the British could use Canada as a base to launch attacks southward or to rally French-speaking Canadiens and Indigenous allies against the rebellious colonies. Two separate expeditions were organized: one under Philip Schuyler, who soon fell ill and relinquished command to Richard Montgomery, and another under Benedict Arnold that marched through the Maine wilderness toward Quebec City.

What Happened

Montgomery’s force advanced from Fort Ticonderoga along Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River. After a prolonged siege, Fort St. Jean fell on November 3, removing the principal British stronghold south of Montreal. Earlier, Ethan Allen’s smaller detachment had been defeated near Montreal in late September, an action that further weakened British defenses and captured Allen himself.

Aftermath

With Montreal’s defenses depleted and many residents either sympathetic or neutral, Carleton abandoned the city on November 11 and escaped with a small flotilla toward Quebec. Montgomery’s troops marched in two days later without firing a shot, seizing supplies and establishing an American presence in the province. The occupation proved short-lived; Montgomery soon marched to join Arnold, only to be killed during the failed assault on Quebec City on December 31.

Legacy

The capture of Montreal represented the high point of the American invasion of Canada, demonstrating the Continental Army’s ability to project power beyond the Thirteen Colonies. The broader campaign ultimately collapsed, however, underscoring the difficulties of winter operations, supply lines, and expiring enlistments. Historians view the episode as an early illustration of both American initiative and the strategic challenges that shaped British defensive priorities in North America.