June 8, 1776 - American forces under Brigadier General John Sullivan are defeated at Trois-Rivières, Quebec by Governor Sir Guy Carleton. After launching a failed assault on the city of Quebec on December 31, 1775, American troops maintained a loose siege of the city through the winter. Outclassed by the British artillery, they did not attempt another attack. On May 6, 1776, British reinforcements arrived. Aware of their approach, the Americans had begun falling back towards American-held Montreal. As they moved west, they were met by Sullivan who had recently arrived from Albany with 6,000 men.

Moving back towards Quebec, Sullivan sought to attack the lead elements of Carleton's 11,000-man army near Trois-Rivières. Moving through swamps and heavily wooded terrain, his columns became separated and the attack was easily defeated by the more professional British troops. Beaten, Sullivan moved west to Sorel, Quebec before receiving orders from General Benedict Arnold at Montreal to retreat south to Lake Champlain. Harried by Carleton, the two commanders fell back to Crown Point, NY, where they began constructing a fleet to contest the waters of the lake. Leading his ships against Carleton at the Battle of Valcour Island that October, Arnold was able successfully delay the invasion of New York by a year. This time allowed American forces to prepare for their eventual victory at the Battle of Saratoga.