On this day 250 years ago from Point aux Trembles, Quebec, Col. Benedict Arnold reported to General Washington that on November 14 he and his men had crossed

the St Lawrance without Obstruction, except from a Barge, on which we fired & killed three Men, but as the Enemy were apprised of our coming, and the Garrison augmented to near seven hundred Men, besides the Inhabitants, it was not thought proper to attempt carrying the Town by Storm, but cut off their Communication with the Country till the Arrival of General Montgomery—We accordingly invested the Town with about 550 effective Men, took possession of a Nunnery & Major Caldwell’s House about half a League from Town —We marched up several Times near the Walls, in Hopes of drawing them out, but to no effect, tho’ they kept a constant Cannonading & killed us one Man.

On the 18th having Intelligence that Capt. Napier in an armed Snow with near 200 Men, having made his escape from Montreal, was very near, & that the Garrison, furnished with a Number of good Field Pieces intended attacking us the next Day, I ordered a strickt Examination to be made into our Arms & Ammunition, when to my great Surprize I found many of our Cartridges unfit for Use (which to Appearance were good) and that we had no more than five Rounds to each Man, it was judged prudent in our Situation not to hazard a Battle but retire to this Place, eight Leagues from Quebec, which we did yesterday, & are waiting here with Impatience the Arrival of Genl Montgomery, which we expect in a few Days. I have been obliged to send to Montreal for Cloathing for my People about 650 in the Whole, who are almost naked & in want of every Necessary— . . .  . Had I been ten Days sooner, Quebec must inevitably have fallen into Our Hands, as there was not a Man there to oppose us—however I make no Doubt Genl Montgomery will reduce it this Winter if properly supported with Men which in my Opinion, cannot in the whole be less than two Thousand, five Hundred, tho’ it may possibly be effected with a less Number—The Fatigue will be very severe at this Season, and in this inclement Climate.

Arnold’s prediction would turn out to be spot on. At the end of the year the Continental Army attacked Quebec with half the number of troops Arnold reported would be needed, and the insufficient numbers of the fatigued Americans attacking in the inclement climate of a snowstorm resulted in total defeat of the American forces.

Source: “Colonel Benedict Arnold to George Washington, 20 November 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-02-02-0370. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 2, 16 September 1775 – 31 December 1775, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1987, pp. 403–404.]

Also on this day 250 years ago in Quebec Province of Canada, Brigadier General Richard Montgomery authorized Colonel James Livingston to form the 1st Canadian Regiment of the Continental Army. Livingston was able to recruit 200 or so Canadiens to join the regiment, and they would serve in the Continental Army fighting for American Liberty until 1781 when the regiment was disbanded in New York.

Sources: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/canadian-regiment-first; https://250andcounting.com/?powerpress_pinw=1190-podcast

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