9. Quebec was lightly defended when Arnold’s troops arrived
Two ships of the Royal Navy were in the Saint Lawrence River at Quebec, HMS Lizard and HMS Hunter. HMS Lizard was a frigate which mounted 28 guns, which was exactly 28 more than Arnold had. Hunter was a smaller vessel, though under the circumstances equally formidable to Arnold. Both ships blocked the Americans from crossing the river to the Quebec side, a passage of about a mile. The American general made contact with a New Jersey born mill owner on his side of the river, to explore the ways and means of getting his men to the Quebec side. On the night of November 13-14, the mill owner, John Halstead, and Arnold moved his troops to the other side, escaping the detection of the British ships.
Once Arnold was across, he digested the information provided by Halstead regarding the British defenses. About 600 troops defended the citadel of Quebec, two-thirds of them militia, which Carleton considered unreliable. Another 400 marines, highly disciplined and professional troops, augmented them. There were also several guns, and the city was well supplied with food. Arnold assembled his force on the Plains of Abraham, the site of the British victory over the French during the French and Indian War. He then demanded the surrender of the British forces. It was refused. Rather than risk a sortie by the British, supported with artillery, Arnold opted to withdraw his force to a safer position and await the arrival of Montgomery.