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The Chevalier de Levis had hurried his progress, missing the first few stages of a formal siege to open his trenches the night of the battle. The generals were also aware of the importance of time and the frost, with de Levis hoping to capture Quebec before the Royal Navy arrived with British reinforcements and Murray trying to delay him.
On 1st May, with the French siege lines taking shape, Murray sent HMS Racehorse to Halifax with a message for help and a request for General Amherst to push up to Montreal to distract de Levis. In the meantime, Quebec’s artillery pounded the French siege works, hammering at the men hacking out trenches, knocking down the embrasures and sending fascines flying into the air.
“Right, boys, we’re off again,” Kennedy said. “No fighting; we’re just gather
