The Americans had been careful at every…
September 1776 CE
The Americans had been careful at every step of the retreat up the Richelieu and across Lake Champlain to deny the British of any significant shipping, burning or sinking any boats they did not take with them.
This had forced the British to spend several months building ships.
Carleton reports to London on September 28 that "I expect our Fleet will soon sail with hopes of success should they come to action".
General Arnold, when he and Ethan Allen captured Fort Ticonderoga, had established a small navy that is still patrolling Lake Champlain.
Even before the Americans retreated from Quebec City, he had formed committees to look into the roles played by local Patriot sympathizers, sending them out into the countryside to arrest active participants in the American action, including those who had detained Loyalists.
When he arrives in Montreal, similar commissions are set up.