The Revolt of Pontiac and the American Invasion
The Invasion of Canada
The American Plan
Caption: American invasion routes into Canada during the fall of 1775
Caption: View Multimedia - Changing Boundaries
While a first American army would encircle Boston under the command of George Washington, a second would assemble in Albany, under the command of General Richard Montgomery, to invade Canada. There was even a third army, commanded by Benedict Arnold, which would enter Quebec through the woods along the Kennebec River further east. Montgomery's army was to take the forts along Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River, and then capture Montreal before joining up with Arnold's troops to lay siege to Quebec. It was a daring invasion.
In May, Fort Ticonderoga and Fort Crown Point were taken by small groups of Americans without resistance. These defeats augured poorly for Canada. That very month, Carleton ordered mobilization of the Montreal militia, but encountered considerable resistance from English merchants, some of whom were on the side of the Americans, as well as within several Canadian parishes located near the city. On May 22 Monseigneur Briand announced that the Americans would be repulsed, and on June 9 Carleton instituted martial law.
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