Redline Map

[hzn5pk]

Redline Map

This thread will explore the reality of this map presented by the British when negotiating with the Americans at the 1783 Treaty of Paris.
It will provide the alternate history to get to this point and the resulting century of American history after this treaty.

The resultant map after 1783 Peace of Paris - United States with Redline Map and OTL Mississippi River boundary. British North America is Rupert's Land and Newfoundland.

 

[Mikestone8]

Looks ASB to me.

How could GB keep Canada after all practical access routes to it had been lost?

Nor do I see how the US could acquire the border as shown. Most of the additional territory shows is separated from the US by swathes of virgin forest, and attacking it would be almost as impractical as attacking Bermuda or the Bahamas. There's a reason why the attack of 1775/6 failed, and was never renewed even after Saratoga.

 

[hzn5pk]

ASB no.

Apparently the redline map was real, it was an initial map that the British negotiators developed but did not show the Americans, kept it a secret. Below is the link to the article where the Red Line Map is discussed. This article is the basis of my timeline, what could have gone better for the Franco-American alliance to have the Red Line map be a reality and not a secret. What can get the British to say "there you go, now go away ..."

Secret Map Shows Brits Considered Giving Lower Canada to U.S. in 1783

The secret Red Line Map that could have given Lower Canada to the U.S.

bigthink.com

So yes, my timeline will be an ameriwank, but will not be ASB.

The part of the map that I think that the British would retain would be Newfoundland.

 

[hzn5pk]

Section 1 – Salem Bridge Incident - “Remember the Parson”

POD – Sunday, February 27th, 1775
Location – Salem, MA

British Colonel Alexander Leslie led a regiment from Marblehead MA to Salem in search of military stores concealed in Salem. The British marched with bayonets fixed and muskets loaded.

The British regiment was held up from entering Salem by a drawbridge being in the up position. This halted the British and allowed the Patriots to safely hide all contraband material.

Hearing a commotion of towns people heckling the redcoats, Parson Thomas Barnard left his pulpit to mediate the disturbance with the British. As an agreement was being reached for the draw bridge to come down and the British to cross into Salem proper, a shot rang out, Parson Barnard fell to the ground gravely wounded.

Immediately, colonel Leslie yelled to cease fire, raise weapons. Leslie tried best as he could to assist Parson Barnard, but not much could be done. Both British and Patriots helped Parson Barnard up, addressing his wound and helped him back to his church to lay him down. The Parson would succumb to his wounds the following day.

After attending to Parson Barnard, the British left in orderly fashion back to Marblehead and back to Boston. The Patriot force lead by Timothy Pickering was infuriated and saddened at the same time for the casualty of the most liked clergyman. Pickering ordered the Patriots to stand down and let the British return unmolested.

In the aftermath, more men from Salem, Marblehead, and towns north of Boston would join the Patriot cause. Not only would they join, but these farmers, fishermen, and shop keepers vigorously trained in marching and military drills so that next time that they encountered the British, they would be prepared. They were preparing and wanted there to be a next time.

Their rallying cry as they trained was “Remember the Parson”

A road marker to this day commemorates the events of February 27 in Salem, MA and the significance that it would have in the American Revolution to come. It is known as the "Remember the Parson" plaque.

 

[Elfwine]

This may interest some people as far as maps:

British Library

www.bl.uk

Red Lines on Maps: The Impact of Cartographical Errors on the Border between the United States and British North America, 1782-1842 on JSTOR

J. P. D. Dunbabin, Red Lines on Maps: The Impact of Cartographical Errors on the Border between the United States and British North America, 1782-1842, Imago Mundi, Vol. 50 (1998), pp. 105-125

www.jstor.org

Although the issues with the maps seems like a different issue than what would make the British willing to give up large pieces of (pardon the anachronistic use of the term) Canada, regardless of what the Americans do from 1775 on or want ceded to them.

 

[Mildtryth]

This may interest some people as far as maps:

British Library

www.bl.uk

Red Lines on Maps: The Impact of Cartographical Errors on the Border between the United States and British North America, 1782-1842 on JSTOR

J. P. D. Dunbabin, Red Lines on Maps: The Impact of Cartographical Errors on the Border between the United States and British North America, 1782-1842, Imago Mundi, Vol. 50 (1998), pp. 105-125

www.jstor.org

Although the issues with the maps seems like a different issue than what would make the British willing to give up large pieces of (pardon the anachronistic use of the term) Canada, regardless of what the Americans do from 1775 on or want ceded to them.

Not only large pieces, but practically all of the more densely-settled regions of Canada at the time.

 

[wally]

So the USA gets over 100,000 odd ex French citizens to look after. I can see France asking for this land back from it's allies. Else I can see trouble as the Quebec Act was considered one of the 'Intolerable acts' by the rebels and so can see it being rolled back.

 

[hzn5pk]

That is a good question. I was always to believe that the Americans had a claim to Canada under the 1778 treaty of alliance with France. Mainly that France was more concerned with gaining British possessions in the Carribean and not on the continent and that if the Amerians could conquer Canada or persuade them to join the revolt, France would back the USA claim. Reviewing the treaty (Wikipedia article on it), it has that both USA and France would respect and honor each others land claims.

 

[Elfwine]

So the USA gets over 100,000 odd ex French citizens to look after. I can see France asking for this land back from it's allies. Else I can see trouble as the Quebec Act was considered one of the 'Intolerable acts' by the rebels and so can see it being rolled back.

That is a good question. I was always to believe that the Americans had a claim to Canada under the 1778 treaty of alliance with France. Mainly that France was more concerned with gaining British possessions in the Carribean and not on the continent and that if the Amerians could conquer Canada or persuade them to join the revolt, France would back the USA claim. Reviewing the treaty (Wikipedia article on it), it has that both USA and France would respect and honor each others land claims.

Treaty of Alliance with France (1778) | National Archives

www.archives.gov

Quoting the above link, including the capitalization in the transcript:

"ART. 5.
If the united States should think fit to attempt the Reduction of the British Power remaining in the Northern Parts of America, or the Islands of Bermudas, those Countries or Islands in case of Success, shall be confederated with or dependent upon the said united States.

ART. 6.
The Most Christian King renounces for ever the possession of the Islands of Bermudas as well as of any part of the continent of North america which before the treaty of Paris in 1763. or in virtue of that Treaty, were acknowledged to belong to the Crown of Great Britain, or to the united States heretofore called British Colonies, or which are at this Time or have lately been under the Power of The King and Crown of Great Britain.

ART. 11.
The two Parties guarantee mutually from the present time and forever, against all other powers, to wit, the united states to his most Christian Majesty the present Possessions of the Crown of france in America as well as those which it may acquire by the future Treaty of peace: and his most Christian Majesty guarantees on his part to the united states, their liberty, Sovereignty, and Independence absolute, and unlimited, as well in Matters of Government as commerce and also their Possessions, and the additions or conquests that their Confederation may obtain during the war, from any of the Dominions now or heretofore possessed by Great Britain in North America, conformable to the 5th & 6th articles above written, the whole as their Possessions shall be fixed and assured to the said States at the moment of the cessation of their present War with England."


My suspicion is that the comment on "additions or conquests" will be respected to the letter, which is to say if the US wants to claim more of OTL Canada than it has troops in, France will play this as suits France's interests - not automatically as suits America hunger for as much of the continent as possible.

 

[hzn5pk]

Section 2 – The battles of Lexington, Concord, and Cambridge – Salem’s Revenge

Date – April 19, 1775

Results:
1.) British successfully destroy military stores in Concord
2.) Patriots stop British column from making it back to Boston forcing it to surrender and capturing its supplies, first Patriot victory of conflict
3.) Increased participation toward Patriot cause
4.) Beginning of sustained hostilities in the American Revolution

Upon hearing the word that the British have sortied out of Boston to Lexington and then Concord, the Patriot militias of Salem and Marblehead under Timothy Pickering gathered and marched towards the engagement. They were looking to engage the British for vengeance for Parson Thomas Barnard.

The Salem and Marblehead militia initially took up defensive position on top of Winter Hill in Sommerville. Upon hearing the word of sustained Patriot resistance to the British incursion, the militia came down off the hill and blocked the retreat of Brigadier General Hugh Percy. Percy was trying to get to Charles Town where transport to Boston and protection from the Royal Navy awaited. The Patriot militia stopped the British in their tracks. The militia did not waiver seeing the cannon at the lead of the British column. With every minute that the British were halted, more Patriots gathered on their flanks and rear until the British position became untenable with the setting sun.

The HMS Somerset with another relief force tried in vain to clear the path for Percy.

With his position surrounded by a mob of Patriots, Percy surrendered to Timothy Pickering at his front. British forces numbered near 1500.

With the surrender was two cannon, muskets, remaining powder and musket balls. It was not much, but the ammunition and rifles could be used to further the Patriot cause. Pickering stated to generals William Heath and then to Artemas Ward that the captured British supplies should be stockpiled and delivered out as reserve ammunition when needed for the next engagement and not dispersed to the militias. These surrendered supplies would be useful to the Patriots in the next major engagement.

With the success of the Patriots on April 19, 1775, more men from New England flocked to the cause to force the British to evacuate Boston and Massachusetts.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OTL – Timothy Pickering and the Salem – Marblehead militia remained on top of Winter Hill in what is now Sommerville MA and did not directly engage the British.

 

[hzn5pk]

Events of April 19 - Pickering blocks Percy's retreat at the battle of Cambridge

 

[hzn5pk]

Section 3: Battle of Breed’s Hill - “Don’t fire until you see the white of their eyes”

Date – June 17, 1775

Results:
1.) Patriots successfully defend Breed’s Hill – British fail to drive Patriots off – Second consecutive Patriot victory. British casualties over 2 times of Patriots.
2.) Patriots abandon Charlestown positions during night of June 18/19
3.) With second victory, Patriot recruitment is up, more men flock to the Boston area to defeat the Redcoats
4.) Death of Dr. Joseph Warren

Following the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Cambridge, both the Patriots and the British rest and stand each other off. The Patriots enact a loose siege of Boston with headquarters in Cambridge. The British are held up in Boston along with Loyalists while having the Royal Navy deployed around the port city.

General Thomas Gage in Boston bides his time and awaits reinforcements before engaging the Patriots again. He will eventually be reinforced to 6500 troops in May and June while he is facing 15000 Patriot militiamen arrayed around Boston. Gage along with Generals Clinton, Howe and Burgoyne devise plan to break the loose siege around Boston. The Patriots learn of these plans and Colonel Prescott along with 1200 men are sent to fortify Breed’s Hill on June 16/17.

To counter, Gage sends forces into Charleston on June 17th to capture the Patriot works atop of Breed’s Hill. Seeing the British preparations in Charlestown that day, more reinforcements are sent to Colonel Prescott to guard his flanks. Along with the reinforcements, the surplus ammunition is brought to the redoubt that the Patriots have erected.

The Patriots with more men, more ambition, more guns, more powder and more ammunition were able to fend off the British three assaults with heavy British casualties. At the end of the day, the Patriots still hold their positions atop Breed’s Hill. The Americans are still as disorganized as they were in April, but with the surrendered British supplies from April, the frontline troops of Breed’s Hill at the redoubt have more ammunition. After three assaults, the British withdraw with heavy casualties.

The key to victory was the reinforcement of Prescot’s redoubt by a select volunteer group of men from Pickering’s Salem and Marblehead unit, these militiamen have been training intensely since February. They are the best of the best from the Patriot side, and they still have a score to settle with the British. Pickering’s squad arrived at the redoubt shortly after the end of the second British assault. Pickering brought with him the added supplies of bullets and powder from the Cambridge engagement. This was the key to repulsing the British third assault. As along with this, the morale of the Americans remained high.

The battle of Breed’s Hill goes down as an American victory. The victory further encourages the Patriots to resist the British. The British cannot afford another assault like the failed assault that they just attempted.

General Gage is left to imagine what the results may have been if he had attempted to cut the Patriots off by capturing the Charlestown neck instead of the direct assault against Breed’s Hill. He does not get this chance as the Patriots abandon the Charlestown Peninsula in an organized fashion the following evening.

The Patriots with another victory still have Boston under siege, but without siege cannon cannot effectively press the situation to drive the British from Boston.

 

[Elfwine]

He will eventually be reinforced to 8500 troops in May and June

Where is Gage getting the extra troops compared to OTL from?

 

[hzn5pk]

I would imagine scrounge them up from around the empire .... or in good faith, would the Patriots have much need for prisoners at this time? Could the Patriots exchange prisoners, or just let the British captured from battle of Cambridge return to Boston, minus anything of military value.

This seems to be the best choice as the Patriots would not have to feed or look after them, keep their supplies, and let defeated troops back to Boston.

OTL - reinforcements came to total British in Boston to 6000, so I can ammend this number from 8500 to 6000 to be acurate. Question though, what would Patriots do with British POW's this early? exchange yes, but would the Pats be able to accomodate the 1500 or so POW's from Lexington, Concord and Cambridge? Just letting them march unmolested back to Boston might be best.

 

[Elfwine]

I would imagine scrounge them up from around the empire .... or in good faith, would the Patriots have much need for prisoners at this time? Could the Patriots exchange prisoners, or just let the British captured from battle of Cambridge return to Boston, minus anything of military value.

Could, possibly. Would, maybe? That seems like something that would be heatedly debated, given that 1500 men is a fair chunk of Gage's OTL army.

But also that Gage has more men than OTL (as of June, at least) even before counting if he gets the troops captured at Lexington back, so with that a month isn't very long for troops from Britain, he's presumably getting OTL reinforcements earlier than OTL and/or some places in North America are less defended than OTL.

On the other hand, a battle like OTL Bunker Hill is less devastating if not good with 8500 men instead of 6500 (per Britannica).

On the gripping hand, I hope for his sake that the supply ships do better than OTL. It's rather interesting that the British had serious problems with that for most of the war as far as having reserve provisions in particular (if not just food).

 

[hzn5pk]

It is a good point Elfwine, thank you

I amended the timeline for 6500 British troops prior to Battle of Breed's Hill (note, in my timeline, the battle is named after the correct hill that was defended). I will also make a note that the Patriots let the rank and file with officers go from battle of Cambridge in April the following day after collecting all items of military value the previous night.

 

[hzn5pk]

So this concludes the first part of the timeline, the initial action around Boston ...... next up, enter Washington and the shift of the battle to the North.

The POD is the event in Salem in February and how it effected the local militia in the area. This effect, of them being more bold, trained better turned the outcomes of the two battles so far in the Patriots favor. With these two victories, more men have rallied to the cause than OTL. Now it is up to Washington for what to do with these men and carry the momentum forward.

 

[hzn5pk]

Section 4 – Summer 1775, enter General Washington and 1775 strategy

May 10 – Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen capture Fort Ticonderoga for the Patriots. They further raid Fort St. Jean and capture a British ship with its artillery. All of this leads to substantial amount of artillery that the Patriots desperately need.

June 14 - Continental Army established by Second Continental Congress

June 15 - George Washington is selected as Commander in Chief of Continental Army. After being selected he comments on how well the forces arrayed in Boston have performed.

Before setting out for Boston, Washington confers with John Adams. The two start a long and prosperous friendship. Adams informs Washington of the spirit of New Englanders.

The two also talk about military strategy. Washington would like to drive the British from Boston as soon as possible. Adams has a slightly different view. Adams states that having the British in Boston, pins them down, the Patriots know exactly where they are, they cannot cause trouble elsewhere. After being bloodied in April, Adam states that the British will not leave Boston but will also not sortie out. With this, Adams says that Canada is ripe for Americans to secure the north and keep New England allied with the rest of the colonies. Adams also talks to Washington about a Patriot presence in Nova Scotia, that can be exploited. While the British are in Boston, the Americans can play elsewhere.

Washington will adopt the Adams strategy of keeping the British in Boston while taking the opportunity to bring Canada and Nova Scotia to the Patriot cause.

Adams also writes friends and influential others in Boston of Washington and his organizational skill and superb character. Adams vouches for Washington. This will make Washington’s job easier to unite the troops from the various colonies for the long campaign ahead.

July 3 – Washington arrived in Boston. He is very gracious to the leaders of the Patriots and the conduct of the troops. Shortly after his arrival, troops from other colonies arrive in camp as well. Soon after arrival in Boston, George Washington makes friends with a young Henry Knox.

An effect of a more successful campaign around Boston was that more volunteer units from the colonies were collecting in the Boston area. They were spurred onto drive the British away. They wanted to be part of the ongoing success that the Patriots were having. Part of Washington’s initial problem was to decide what to do with all of the troops and skill sets that were collecting outside Boston. An example of this was even though he had Boston in his grasp, he did not have artillery to force the British out, so what to do with volunteers with engineering skills. Another worry of Washington is that of supply for all of these troops. A final worry that he has is how to mold this mass of farmers, fishermen, sailors, shop keepers into an army.

With the added troops and the , Washington is able to send more volunteers to aid Schuyler and Montgomery in their upcoming campaign in Canada. With this first batch of volunteers, Washington dispatches Henry Knox and a detachment of engineers and wagoneers to transport the artillery captured at Ticonderoga north in the Canadian campaign and to set it up accordingly to aid the cause. They were to assist Generals Schuyler and Montgomery.

July 17 – Henry Knox departs Cambridge with a detachment of 80 troops to assist the Canada campaign with artillery movement and placement. With him are another 200 infantry troops to be added to the Canada campaign.

John Adams confers further with General Washington that an expedition to Nova Scotia would aid efforts of the upcoming Canadian campaign by distracting the British. Adams did not think that the campaign would net all of Nova Scotia for the Patriots, but that it would cause a stir to distract the British and gain support for the lower colonies in Nova Scotia. Adams was able to convince Washington of a campaign. Washington though needed to find a commander and a planner for the expedition.

After returning from his expedition against Fort Ticonderoga, a disgruntled Benedict Arnold discusses with General Washington of a campaign from Maine to Quebec. Washington convinces Arnold instead of an expedition through Maine to Nova Scotia.

Washington had intended a second 1100 man force to reinforce Montgomery in the campaign against Canada. Instead, the force will go with Arnold on a strike into Nova Scotia. An additional 500 man force under Aaron Burr will be sent to reinforce Montgomery in Canada. The additional reinforcements being sent to Montgomery is a result of the continued success at Boston, Boston no longer being an area of concern. Washington is gambling that the British will not sortie out of Boston for the remainder of the year.

With the disposition of Knox, Burr, and Arnold to the North, Washington will remain in the Boston area. His objective is to distract the British into leading them to believe that Boston is still the main objective for 1775 to keep them pinned down and hopefully to reinforce Boston instead of Canada and Nova Scotia.

September 4th - The 500 man force under Aaron Burr leaves the Boston area to reinforce Montgomery
Sept. 11, 1775 – The 1100 man force under Benedict Arnold leaves Cambridge, MA for Nova Scotia.

 

[hzn5pk]

Section 5 – Arnold to Nova Scotia - "A star is born"

September 19 – Benedict Arnold departs from Newburyport, MA to Fort Western (Augusta, Maine) via boat as a first stop. This is the most dangerous leg of the journey as the Royal navy out of Boston and Halifax own the Atlantic coast.

September 23 – Arnold reaches Fort Western (Augusta, ME)

September 25 – Arnold sets off from Fort Western to Fort Halifax, ME, 19 miles to the Northeast.

September 27 – Arnold arrives at Fort Halifax, ME (Winslow, ME). Here, he will leave the Kennebec River and travel overland into Nova Scotia.

September 29 – After resting a couple days, Arnold swings right to what will become Bangor, ME sixty miles to the East.

October 5 – Arnold reaches the English settlements around future Bangor, ME

October 7 – Arnold reaches camps at Old Town, ME, 19 miles away. He will refit and gather supplies for an overland March into Nova Scotia.

October 11 – Arnold sets off for the settlement of St. Stephen in Nova Scotia, 100 miles to the East.

October 23 – Arnold reaches St. Stephen and is met there by Jonathan Eddy and 50 of his militia, supplies have been there ahead of time.

October 25 – Arnold sets out from St. Stephen to Maugerville, NS, 90 miles to the Northeast.

November 4 – Arnold and Eddy arrive in Maugerville. They have made peace and alliances with local Indians, patriot planters from New England, and Acadians in the area. This area will be the base of the rebellion in Nova Scotia.

November 7 – Arnold sets out for St. John (58 milesto the South) with his ragtag group of traditional Americans, Acadians, Indian scouts, and Eddy’s militia.

November 14 – The Americans arrive in Saint John.
November 19 – Fort Frederick in St. John surrenders to the Patriots
November 23 – Arnold leaves Saint John to attack Fort Cumberland, 132 miles to the East

December 7 – The American force reaches Fort Cumberland and sets a siege. Arnold and Eddy meet up with John Allan, Benoni Danks and an advance force of Patriotic Nova Scotians at Ft Cumberland.

December 15 – Fort Cumberland surrenders to Americans

Arnold captures other forts south of the Bay of Fundy on the Nova Scotia Peninsula. He harasses Halifax, but is unable to bring it under a full siege. He worries about his supplies and having his rear protected.

He leaves units at St. John and Fort Cumberland as he harasses Halifax.

As the year becomes 1776, Arnold considers the campaign a success. Of the 1100 troops that left with him, 950 are left. Sickness is the leading casualty cause. Only 10 casualties are from combat wounds. Of the 950 that remain who volunteered for the campaign, Arnold asks these, who would like to remain in Nova Scotia for the defense of Fort Cumberland, Saint John, and to keep an eye on Halifax as British counter moves are likely in 1776. Of the 950 fit for duty, 350 volunteer to remain with Eddy. These are mostly New Hampshire and Massachusetts men. These men are told to defend their positions, but to also retreat to the Maugerville base when the British return in force. These are dispersed with Eddy’s militia, other Patriot Nova Scotians, and friendly Indians. The dispositions are 100 men to defend Fort Cumberland, 100 men to defend St. John, 100 men around Halifax, and 50 men at the Maugerville base.

 

[hzn5pk]

Section 6 – Montgomery campaigns north – “O Canada! Our home and native land!”

Developments with Montgomery in the Northern campaign.

Phillip Schuyler and Richard Montgomery use Ile-aux-Noix (Island in the Richelieu River, North of Lake Champlain) as a base of operations against Forts St Jean and Chambly on the Richelieu River defending Montreal.

Montgomery is unsuccessful in his first two attempts to subdue Fort St. Jean. His troops are green, all militia units.

He is unsuccessful but not undone. To his advantage, reinforcements continue to arrive in camp. Henry Knox has already arrived at Ticonderoga and is bringing up the siege cannon. Local militia sympathetic to the Patriot cause under James Livingston aid in the campaign. The additional 200 troops that came with Knox will be deployed forward at Fort Chambly with Livingston. Montgomery’s forces are arrayed with 500 troops at Chambly and 2000 arrayed against Fort St. Jean.

The siege of Chambly begins on September 15th. The fort with it supplies will succumb to the Patriots on October 12th.

Montgomery begins his third attempt to besiege St. Jean on September 17th. Henry Knox has the artillery from Ticonderoga in place on October 1 against St Jean. His first placement knocks out a British warship on the Richelieu which had been giving the Patriots problems. Next, upon the advice of James Livingston, Montgomery has Knox travel upriver to place additional artillery against Chambly. Finally, Knox returns back to St. Jean and improves his positions and adds three more batteries. Chambly falls on October 12th with St. Jean surrendering on October 15th.

With these captured forts are needed supplies and ammunition that the British fail to destroy.

On September 25th, Ethan Allen fails in a direct attempt to seize Montreal at the battle of Longue-Pointe. He is captured in the process. Montgomery chuckles at the ill fated attempt as his plans are to secure the Richelieu River and then take Quebec (city); he planned on largely leaving Montreal as an open city.

Aaron Burr makes good time with his troops to arrive to Montgomery on the Richelieu on October 8th. Montgomery sent them forward with other units as a 700 man blocking force to Sorel, as he was finishing off Fort Saint-Jean and Fort Chambly. They prevented British reinforcements from Sorrel to reach Fort Saint-Jean. These added troops were also able to search and prevent supplies and refuges from traveling to and from Montreal to Quebec.

In Montreal, Guy Carleton has two choices in October; he can attempt to break the siege at St. Jean or attempt to break through the Americans who have effectively shut down both sides of the St. Lawrence west of Sorel.

Carleton chooses to abandon Montreal and break through to Quebec.

October 8th – Carleton fails to break through Burr and retreats back to Montreal

October 15th - Sir Guy Carlton is captured by Burr while posing as a commoner fleeing Montreal to Quebec.

October 22nd – Montgomery captures Montreal. There is no formal occupation of Montreal as Montgomery planned. Only local militia, units loyal to Montgomery and 100 Patriot soldiers defend Montreal. They were met with little resistance. Indian attacks were their biggest worry. One of the strong points of Montgomery is that he is able to listen and perceive what the Canadians would like. This goes a long way in establishing trust and good intentions between the lower colonies and Canada.

October 25th – Burr and 500 men at Sorrel begin the advance to Quebec. 200 men are left to guard Sorel and the Richelieu.

October 27th – Montgomery with the main force sets out for Quebec

November 9th – Burr with 500 men reaches Quebec and takes position

November 16th – Montgomery with 800 men (a significant portion of his forces had enlistments up) reaches Quebec. These men are along with 500 from Burr, and 200 from Livingston.

With 1500 men, the siege of Quebec begins on November 17th.

December 4th – Henry Knox arrives with cannon to add to the siege.
Montgomery does not press the siege. From spies within the city, he learned that the garrison was teetering on surrendering. (OTL Carlton was able to reach Quebec and shore up defenses). One push would do it. After a few weeks of staging the siege and preparing for an assault, Montgomery sprang into action. During this time, his artillery is shelling the defenses.

This final push came during a snow storm on December 31, 1775. Montgomery was able to win the city. He did this by repositioning most of his artillery along with Burr’s force assigned to demonstrate on one end of the city while he forced a breach of the outer walls at the other side. The artillery and the troops under Aaron Burr acted as a ruse to draw British attention away from where the main push would be. It worked as he was able to breach to outer defenses and then pour troops through on the other side. The British with their weakened morale surrendered soon after the outer walls were breached.

As the calendar turns to 1776, Montgomery has captured all of Canada. Now, can he capture the hearts of the Canadians?