George Washington @ 250: Benedict Arnold’s Dire Need at Quebec

The Death of General Montgomery (Library of Congress)

250 Years ago, on January 26, 1776, the Continental Army’s Commander in Chief, General George Washington, stationed with his army at Cambridge, Mass., outside British-occupied Boston, mulled over grim news. Opening a letter from Major General Philip Schuyler of New York, Washington discovered, enclosed, a desperate missive from Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, who was camped in the bitter cold outside Quebec in British-controlled Canada.

On December 31, 1775, after an epic wilderness journey into Canada, Arnold had launched an attack on Quebec against long odds, only to recoil in defeat after suffering hundreds of casualties. Arnold was wounded, Virginia Captain Daniel Morgan was captured, and Major General General Richard Montgomery killed. Two days later, when he wrote the letter enclosed by Schuyler, Arnold’s army was in the process of dissolving. He had 800 men left under his command, but dozens snuck off every day, either giving themselves up to the enemy, or disappearing down snow-covered roads and fields or into the woods. Soon the proud, brilliant, and mercurial Arnold might well stand alone, abandoned by his broken troops, with Canada lost forever to the British.

“For God’s sake,” Arnold wrote to Brigadier General David Wooster, stationed at Montreal, “order as many Men down as you can possibly spare consistent with the Safety of Montreal, and all the Mortars Ho[w]it[zer]s & Shells that you can possibly bring. I hope you will stop every Rascal who has deserted from us and bring him back again.”

Washington Supports Arnold

Benedict Arnold (Library of Congress)

Washington had already, on January 17, received news of Arnold’s defeat at Quebec; but he elected to wait several more days for further news, before responding. Arnold’s cry for help enclosed in Schuyler’s letter determined Washington to act as best he could. He wrote first to Wooster on January 27, backing up Arnold’s request. I “intreat you,” Washington wrote,”to exert your self upon the Occasion, as much as you possibly can, & to give every assistance in your power for Compleating our Conquest in that Quarter.” All the troops Wooster could spare must go to Arnold immediately.

Washington then wrote on the same day to Arnold, urging him not to take one stap backwards. Quebec must be taken, at all hazards. “I need not mention to you the great importance of this place, & the consequent possession of all Canada in the Scale of American affairs,” Washington wrote. “You are well apprized of it—to whomsoever It belongs, in there favour probably, will the Ballance turn—If It is in ours, Success I think will most certainly crown our virtuous struggles—If It is in theirs, the contest at best, will be doubtfull, hazardous and bloody. the glorious work must be accomplished in the course of this Winter, Otherwise It will become difficult, most probably, Impracticable.”

Arnold must gather what reinforcements he could and attack Quebec again, Washington insisted. It was the “only link wanting in the great chain of Continental union & Render the freedom of your Country secure.”

Caught, as it seemed, between two fires—Boston and Quebec—Washington could only wait and ponder. One or the other must fall soon, he felt certain, or the young Revolution would sputter out in defeat.

For the Washington Papers cited here, go to founders.archives.gov