After the fall of
Quebec (September, 1759) the
French army repaired to
Montreal.
M. de Levi, who succeeded
Montcalm, resolved to attempt the recovery of
Quebec in the spring of 1760.
He went down the
St. Lawrence in April with a large force marching by land, and artillery, military stores, and baggage in boats, under convoy of six frigates, and rested at Pointe aux Trembles, a few miles above
Quebec.
At the latter place
General Murray had been left with 5,000 troops to maintain the conquest of
Canada, but sickness and privation had reduced the effective force of the garrison to about 3,000.
With this force he went out (April 28, 1760) to meet the approaching foe. Near
Sillery, about 3 miles above
Quebec, he attacked the
French with great impetuosity.
After a severe struggle, finding himself outflanked and in danger of being surrounded by superior numbers, he retreated to the city.
In that encounter the
English lost 1,000 men, the
French still more.
Then the
English were besieged by the
French.
At about the middle of May a British fleet arrived at
Quebec, and
M. de Levi was compelled to abandon the siege and fly in haste back to
Montreal.
