battle attempt small force american quebec militia capture montreal british forces september early american revolutionary war allen instructed raise militia forces local inhabitants long thoughts taking lightly defended city reached southern shore men seized opportunity try major allen claimed supposed provide additional forces appear planned allen men north river british general sent force composed quebec militia response news allen crossing force cut allen escape route eventually surrounded captured allen number men eventually abandoned montreal fell battle continental_army forces november allen sent england new_york_city prisoner eventually exchanged background 18th century city montreal occupied small portion island montreal centered called old montreal eastern tip island called time fortification called fort island river area annexed montreal est neighborhood borough city near action described took place american revolutionary war beginning thought easy spread rebellion conquered british population seen british rule american invasion quebec began arrival continental_army command general september ill time eventually turned command army general ordered army fort saint jean september fort south montreal general concentrated british regulars disposal following capture american situation turning command montgomery drafted proclamation addressed people quebec encouraging oppose british assist american cause september major went countryside saint jean montreal small detachment americans proclamation meeting patriot local eventually raised local militia fort allen brown returned following tour allen long goal taking montreal captured taken men north saint jean idea capturing fort surprise taking montreal effort frustrated timely arrival british troops saint jean exploit allen known figure montreal valley montreal situation following capture general regular troops available defend entire province concentrated troops fort saint jean placing troops militia natives fort remaining forces distributed frontier forts great lakes relatively small garrisons montreal summer attempted raise substantial additional militia forces population attempts met limited success successful american propaganda patriot especially july apparently satisfied level militia support near montreal little stop activities sent reports detailing british military preparations americans prelude montgomery finally began siege fort saint jean ordered allen americans join canadians secure south bank attempts montreal relieve siege ordered larger force brown command secure area north fort cover road saint jean montreal allen traveled southeastern banks crossed river continued southern shore according allen account met brown hatched plan attack montreal brown cross river men prairie montreal allen americans canadians command captains cross river city forces signal converge city action allen men crossed landing inhabitants met friendly posted guards road montreal prevent news crossing reaching city man detained managed escape city inform allen presence island brown cross river sources indicate brown failed act historian suggests allen fact acted later sought blame brown failure left allen force vulnerable taken round trips available boats ferry men river realizing able ferry river troops arrived city allen chose wooded area near des labelled map montreal stand sent word british merchant known patriot house nearby assistance walker able muster men allen captured lend assistance general received word notorious gates city raised alarm news spread large numbers people turned captain assembled force regulars entire garrison montreal english militia british indian agents indians led face allen force campbell force approached allen instructed canadians cover left flank canadians placed right flank detachments fled instead holding positions leaving allen men course minutes fire exchanged forces allen remaining forces eventually broken trying enemy surrendered aftermath abortive attack montreal led local militia montreal raising nearly men soon began drift away refused organize expedition relief fort saint jean militia members rural parishes eventually disbanded attend defense homes november besieged fort commander opening americans way montreal fled city making way montgomery occupied montreal firing shot november allen captives brought city allen account encounter claims colonel intent killing captured allen behalf saying sole cause taking arms allen imprisoned ship hold eventually sent england spent year prison ships released parole british occupied new_york_city november british authorities feared hanging create martyr eventually exchanged british officer resumed military political service nascent merchant allen applied assistance arrested early october regulars dozen militia came montreal house walker house destroyed imprisoned intent sending england trial walker eventually freed americans captured montreal british fleet trying escape city legacy wrote memoir version circumstances capture time imprisonment work allen memoirs popular 19th century going numerous city park montreal borough action took place called
Battle of Longue-Pointe