6. Montgomery moved against Montreal in November, 1775
As Arnold and his men struggled in the swamps and bogs to the east, Montgomery began operations against the British position at St. Johns. The Americans moved into positions which isolated St. Johns from Montreal in mid-September. Several skirmishes occurred in the area between the British and their allied militias and the American troops, and the ring around St. Johns steadily tightened throughout October. On October 18, the supporting British position of Fort Chambly was captured by the Americans, and Carleton dispatched a force from Montreal to break the siege. On October 30, the relief column was repulsed.
The Green Mountain Boys and supporting troops used British artillery captured from Fort Chambly to defeat the relief expedition. During October, as Arnold’s expedition was weakened by loss of men, Montgomery’s was reinforced by men arriving from Ticonderoga. By November 1, the British position at St. Johns was no longer capable of mounting a defense against the stronger American force. The British surrendered St. Johns on November 3, 1775. Though the siege was successful for the Americans, its length delayed the attack on Quebec. Montgomery was forced to consider wintering at St. Johns or continuing to advance on the citadel. He chose to advance.