Thrust for Canada: The American Attempt on Quebec in 1775-1776 by Robert McConnell Hatch poses the theory that the invasion of Canada by the American Colonies came very close to succeeding, and may have if not for issues of command and control. The book starts with the Quebec Act of 1774 and covers the American military campaign from the initial success at Ticonderoga, all the way to the end at Valcour Island.  The authors’ goal is to show the campaign from both sides, focusing more on the politics of the people than the military aspects.

The Quebec Act placed Canada in the middle of the Americans conlifct with Britian. American leaders decided that striking Canada was necessary for defense and hoped to liberate the colony. The social classes in Canada viewed the conflict differently, forcing Governor Carleton to mount a defense with few resources and a population with suspect loyalty. The Americans were led into the field by Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold who struggled to create an army from scratch. Montgomery led the attack up the St. Lawrence and after facing the enemy and his own men captured Montreal.  To strike directly at Quebec, Arnold took a different route, facing horrible weather, near starvation and mutiny within his own ranks. In front of Quebec, the Americans joined forces and in the final attack Montgomery was killed and Arnold wounded, effectivly ending the campaign for Canada.

There have been many books written covering the various parts of the campaign in detail. Hatch does not dwell with the personalities instead he deals more with the politics than the military aspects of the campaign. This was noticed in the glossing over of the American attempts on St. John and in regards to Arnold’s expedition. There is a place for this book in the historiography of the campaign, but it does not stand alone. It is with the Canadian side of the campaign the value of the book is displayed.

The author’s research is deep. With many pages of sources listed in the bibliography, many primary sources, he did not short shrift the subject. There were copious footnotes, but they were done in such a way as not be intrusive to the narrative. There were many resources that I have seen used in other books on the subject, but also some new sources presented.

The author does a very admirable job in proving the thesis of the narrative. There were numerous reasons that the American campaign should have succeeded and the author is able to explain why they did not. This book should be considered as a must read, if only for the depth and detail that the author puts into the Canadian perspective. If you are looking for a military breakdown and blow by blow account of the military campaign there are other resources. However, if you wish to dissect the human aspect on both sides of the opening act of the American Revolution, this is a book that will provide it.