Quebec City Letters for the years 1775 thru 1776

Quebec City, QC, CAN - 14 November 1775

The unjust, cruel, and tyrannical acts of a venal British Parliament, tending to enslave the American Colonies, have obliged them to appeal to God and the sword for redress.

Quebec City, QC, CAN - 16 November 1775

I am very anxious to hear from you, and much more to see you here.

Quebec City, QC, CAN - 5 December 1775

I continued at Point-aux-Trembles until the 3d instant, when, to my great joy, General Montgomery joined us, with artillery, and about three hundred men.

Quebec City, QC, CAN - 16 December 1775

Yesterday we opened a battery of five guns and a howitzer, and, with very little effect, I attempted to summon the Governor by a flag of truce. He would not receive any letter.

Quebec City, QC, CAN - 18 December 1775

I have been near a fortnight before Quebec, at the head of upwards of eight hundred men ; a force, you will say, not very adequate to the business in hand.

Quebec City, QC, CAN - 26 December 1775

I then had reason to believe the troops well inclined for a coup-de-main. I have since discovered, to my great mortification, that three companies of Colonel Arnold's detachment are very averse from the measure.

Quebec City, QC, CAN - 11 January 1776

The disposition of the Canadians is very favorable to your wishes ; the only bar of consequence is Quebec. As this is the key, so, in a great measure, it governs the whole country, who having been so long habituated to slavery

Quebec City, QC, CAN - 12 January 1776

General Wooster has acquainted me he cannot leave Montreal, but has sent down Colonel Clinton, to whom I shall resign the command, until my wound will permit my doing duty

Quebec City, QC, CAN - 14 January 1776

Our loss and repulse struck an amazing panic into both officers and men, and, had the enemy improved their advantage, our affairs here must have been entirely ruined.

Quebec City, QC, CAN - 24 January 1776

It is very probable the city would surrender before half, or perhaps one quarter, of the shot, shells, &c. in my memorandum were expended; but, if they should make an obstinate resistance, perhaps the whole will be necessary.

Quebec City, QC, CAN - 1 February 1776

I have the pleasure of acquainting you, that we still hold our ground before Quebec, and keep the enemy closely blockaded, though we have received but a small reenforcement of one hundred and fifty men from Montreal.

Quebec City, QC, CAN - 27 February 1776

The enemy, to the number of about five hundred, have twice sallied out at Palace Gate, with design of seizing our field-pieces

Quebec City, QC, CAN - 15 November 1776

This I imputed to the ignorance of your guards, and ordered him to return this morning, and, to my great surprise, he was received in the same manner as yesterday.