177531 December 1775 · Quebec City

American assault on Quebec

Trumbull's painting of General Montgomery falling in the snow during the American attack on Quebec, 1775 — Archival image: John Trumbull. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Months into the American Revolution, two Continental columns under Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold attacked Quebec's Lower Town in a snowstorm on the last night of 1775. Montgomery was killed by grapeshot, Arnold was wounded at the Sault-au-Matelot barricade, and over 400 Americans were captured. The failure ended the bid to bring Canada into the rebellion, and it stayed British.

Sites

Site 1: Rue Sault-au-Matelot, Lower TownThe narrow Lower Town street where Arnold's column was stopped at the barricades.Map ↗
Site 2: Près-de-Ville, below Cap DiamantThe riverside approach under the cliff where Montgomery's column was halted and he was killed.Map ↗
Site 3: Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, Place RoyaleThe church whose bells roused the town's militia during the attack.Map ↗

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