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| On December 31, 1775, the American attempt to seize Canada collapsed during the Battle of Quebec. |
On December 31, 1775, the American attempt to seize Canada collapsed during the Battle of Quebec.
General Richard Montgomery and
Colonel Benedict Arnold coordinated a two-pronged night attack during a fierce blizzard, hoping the poor visibility would mask their approach against the fortified city.
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| On December 31, 1775, the American attempt to seize Canada collapsed during the Battle of Quebec. |
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| On December 31, 1775, the American attempt to seize Canada collapsed during the Battle of Quebec. |
However, British defenders under
General Guy Carleton were well-prepared. Montgomery was killed by
grapeshot in the opening minutes of the charge, causing his column to retreat in chaos. To the north, Arnold was severely wounded in the leg, and his troops were eventually cornered and forced to surrender in the city's narrow streets. This failure marked the end of the American offensive in Canada and remains one of the most significant "what-if" moments of the
Revolutionary War.
