11. Snow barriers were constructed to protect the guns
When the American artillery was placed to bring the city under fire, American troops constructed barricades of snow to protect them. Montgomery had six mortars and four field guns with which to reduce the fortifications of Quebec, inadequate to the task they were assigned. The inability to entrench put the Americans at a severe disadvantage and the snow blocks used to erect barricades failed to offer much protection. By mid-December, British guns had destroyed two of the mortars, which themselves had failed to create much damage in the city. Montgomery was forced to withdraw the remainder. The weather continued to worsen, and the likelihood of supplies arriving from America was slim.
Morgan’s riflemen, which had endured the privations of the gruesome journey through the Maine wilderness better than most, did more damage than Montgomery’s guns. From elevated positions outside of the Lower Town, they sniped at exposed British defenders, safely outside the range of their enemy’s muskets. Moving about the streets of the Lower Town became a daunting proposition for the defenders. Both Arnold and Montgomery realized the city would not be captured by snipers. Montgomery tried to bluff the British into surrender by implying additional American forces would arrive from Montreal, but Carleton didn’t bite. As Christmas approached, the American commanders knew that they would have to assault the fortifications.