The forces under General Schuyler and Montgomery proceeded to execute the will of Congress, and in September, 1775, appeared before St. John's, at the Sorel. Finding the fort, as they supposed, too strong for assault, they returned to and fortified Isle Aux Noix. Schuyler went back to Ticonderoga and hastened forward re-enforements, but was unable to return on account of sickness. Montgomery succeeded him in command. He captured Fort St. John's and Fort Chambly, and entered Montreal in triumph. He then pushed on to Quebec, when he was joined by a force under Arnold, and early in December laid seige to that city. After beseiging it unsuccessfully for three weeks, the Americans commenced an assault. Montgomery was killed, the Americans were repulsed, and many of them made prisoners. Arnold was wounded.
The Great Lakes are drained by the St. Lawrence River. Great ocean liners go 1,000 miles up the river, immense cargoes of grain are brought down the Great Lakes through the Welland Canal to Montreal and thence to Europe. Formerly the ocean steamers which came to Canada stopped at Quebec, because the river channel west of that city was only eleven feet deep; but in 1851 the people began to dredge out the St. Lawrence. It is now twenty-seven feet deep, and the large vessels from Europe sail right up to Montreal.
