Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Sillery, battle near

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.