fought october colonies new france massachusetts bay ruled kingdoms france england respectively time quebec defences tested following capture port royal king william war new hoped seize montreal quebec capital new france loss fort shocked canadians governor general ordered immediate preparation city siege envoys delivered terms surrender governor general famously declared reply mouth cannons major led invading army landed militia shore constantly harassed canadian militia retreat expedition ships commanded sir nearly destroyed cannon city sides learned battle french improved city defences realized needed artillery better support england city background colony new france claimed largest area north_america population numerically inferior neighbouring colonies new_england new_york settlers new france population lived towns protected elaborate forts sir appointed major general massachusetts command expedition french sailed seven vessels carrying strong militia foot regiment port royal surrendered governor des men guns mounted unable resist recorded cut cross rifled church pulled breaking images kept gathering land water ground gardens shocked french colonists feared capital city target quebec extensive fortifications city north west exposed particularly plains count returned canada second term governor general ordered construction wooden city fort saint louis saint charles river town major oversaw construction small stone protected cannon facing plains west strong point defences called gun battery place line ended east city near hospital batteries facing river improved guns mounted pounders temporary obstacles place street leading upper city mobile war party albany militia warriors captain marched overland montreal imitating tactics long range expeditions enemy territory perfected french colonists expedition designed seize montreal pin french forces south quebec allowing boston fleet sail capital unopposed smallpox lack supplies disagreements officers caused militia turn disgust leaving fraction men promised new_england authorities september english raiders attacked settlements south montreal killing middle weak risk battle town garrison wrapped new_england invasion turned home sighted ordered garrisons montreal threatened capital days later governor arrived quebec troops freed failure invasion considerably lifting capital spirit resistance arrival new_england colonies new_york dispatched force overland montreal accomplished virtually massachusetts launched separate expedition quebec operation financed issuing paper bonds set expected booty taken city expedition consisted ships size massachusetts overall command victor port royal departure delayed late summer waiting vain arrival additional munitions england consequently expedition set hull august supplied ammunition bad weather contrary winds lack pilots familiar saint lawrence river hampered progress anchor quebec basin october experienced officer reached quebec montreal october militia summoned arrived nearly men defend place confident french match hardy men fact opposite case reason confidence possessed force battalions colonial regulars certainly superior amateur companies event regulars needed militia succeeded landing parties furthermore city sited strongest natural position english officers likely seen impressive cliffs eastern shore shallow ships approach landing craft needed october sent major envoy deliver summons surrender encounter described application psychological warfare fighting led envoys streets quebec order mask numerical officers best dress listened envoy demanded city surrender hall men savage best deliver ultimatum drafted document began severely new told hour comply pulled watch proud enraged wanted envoy hanged view english fleet asked written response shot savage accepted relief led ship council war extremely reply having expected fall panicked city evening drums heard approaching quebec followed heavy cheering town arrived remaining montreal militia giving numerical advantage battle new saw possible place crack defences city northeastern walls weakest plan land main force shore east saint charles river cross river fleet boats field guns landing force heights west quebec fleet attack city land second force expected land attack come banks river built field fortifications southwestern proposed fight action holding regulars reserve european style battle open ground west quebec open battle took place strong english landing force major second command got sent strong detachments canadian indians wooded areas east river english landed october immediately harassed canadian militia ships boats mistakenly landed field guns wrong large ships contrary plan anchored quebec began bombarding city october point english shot away ammunition french shore batteries proved match ships rigging hulls badly damaged ensign flagship friends cut fell river hail musket shots daring group canadians canoe ships capture brought ensign governor unscathed bombardment land force remained inactive suffering cold complaining shortage couple miserable days decided carry shore positions try overcome french earthworks set october best european tradition drums beating colors skirmish edge woods cope maintained heavy canadian fire brass field guns fired woods effect mortally wounded attackers killed action utterly discouraged retreat state near panic october abandoning field guns shore aftermath october exchange prisoners negotiated effected ships set sail boston account expedition admitted dead combat smallpox marine accident claimed boston wrote following january vessels wanting cast away burnt tells wrecked crew maintained island winter apparently rescued following summer ship boston defeat complete disastrous fortunately french food lacking feed large force assembled defend quebec case prolonged siege displayed natural military talents offset lack experience argued absence trained soldiers adequate supplies doomed enterprise start governor captured mood english colonies wrote canada victory survival november sung quebec chapel renamed lady victory news expedition reached versailles ordered medal struck bearing inscription quebec france victorious new world died soon battle colony courtesy sent collar token sympathy released captives honour memory brother won fame battle later received additional grant land services baron sides learned battle french victory showed quebec cannon old england brought similarly realised defences needed significant improvement gave task designing fortress withstand european style siege delayed canadian winter work commenced summer earth large city pointed wooden stakes walls complete shore battery known royal battery built immediately siege shaped like small featured gun cover sides saint river expedition launched quebec queen anne war failed reach target transports wrecked great loss life city improved defences tested battle plains
Battle of Quebec (1690)