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Hindenburg was commissioned late in the war and as a result had a brief service career . The ship took part in a handful of short fleet operations as the flagship of the I Scouting Group in 1917 – 18 , though saw no major action . The proposed final sortie of the fleet in the last weeks of the war came to nothing when the crews of the capital ships mutinied . Hindenburg was subsequently interned with the rest of the German battlecruisers at Scapa Flow in November 1918 . Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter ordered the ships be scuttled on 21 June 1919 . Hindenburg was the last of the ships to sink . She was raised in 1930 and broken up for scrap over the following two years .
= = Design = =
Hindenburg 's primary armament was eight 30 @.@ 5 cm ( 12 in ) guns in four twin turrets , the same as in her two sisters . However , the gun turrets were Drh LC / 1913 mounts , which were an improved version the Drh LC / 1912 type mounts on Derfflinger and Lützow — the gun houses on Hindenburg allowed gun elevation to 16 ° , as opposed to 13 @.@ 5 ° in the earlier model . This gave the guns mounted in the Drh LC / 1913 turrets an advantage of some 2 @,@ 000 m ( 2 @,@ 200 yd ) over those in the older turret . Like her sister ship , the Lützow , she was armed with fourteen 15 cm ( 5 @.@ 9 in ) SK L / 45 guns and four 60 cm ( 23 @.@ 6 in ) torpedo tubes instead of the standard twelve 15 cm guns and four 50 cm ( 19 @.@ 7 in ) tubes mounted on Derfflinger . While 2 @.@ 5 m ( 8 @.@ 2 ft ) longer and 300 metric tons ( 300 long tons ; 330 short tons ) heavier than her sisters , Hindenburg was also faster , capable of steaming at 26 @.@ 6 knots ( 49 @.@ 3 km / h ; 30 @.@ 6 mph ) during trials , compared with 25 @.@ 5 knots ( 47 @.@ 2 km / h ; 29 @.@ 3 mph ) for Derfflinger .
= = Service history = =
Built by the Kaiserliche Werft at their shipyard in Wilhelmshaven , Hindenburg was the third and final ship of her class ; her sister ships were Derfflinger and Lützow . Designed as a replacement for the elderly protected cruiser Hertha , Hindenburg 's keel was laid down on 30 June 1913 . She was launched on 1 August 1915 , but due to shifting construction priorities in time of war , she was not completed until 10 May 1917 , by which time it was too late for her to see any significant operations in World War I. At the time , British naval intelligence believed the ship was commissioned so late because she had had parts removed to repair Derfflinger after the battle of Jutland in June 1916 . In actuality , construction proceeded slowly because of labor shortages .
SMS Hindenburg was the last battlecruiser completed for the Imperial German Navy , and as such had a very short career . She was fully operational by 20 October 1917 , but this was too late to see any major operation in World War I. On 17 November Hindenburg and Moltke , along with the light cruisers of the II Scouting Group , were acting as distant support for German minesweepers off the German coast when the minesweepers were attacked by British warships . The British raiders included the new battlecruisers Repulse , Courageous , and Glorious . However , the raid was brief ; by the time Hindenburg and Moltke arrived on the scene , the British ships had broken off the attack and withdrawn . On 23 November , Hindenburg replaced Seydlitz as flagship of the I Scouting Group .
= = = Advance of 23 April 1918 = = =
In late 1917 , light forces of the High Seas Fleet began interdicting British convoys to Norway . On 17 October the light cruisers Brummer and Bremse intercepted one of the convoys , sinking nine of the twelve cargo ships and the two escorting destroyers — Mary Rose and Strongbow — before turning back to Germany . On 12 December , four German destroyers ambushed a second British convoy of five cargo vessels and two British destroyers . All five transports were sunk , as was one of the destroyers . Following these two raids , Admiral David Beatty , the commander of the Grand Fleet , detached battleships from the battle fleet to protect the convoys . The German navy was now presented with an opportunity for which it had been waiting the entire war : a portion of the numerically stronger Grand Fleet was separated and could be isolated and destroyed . Vice Admiral Franz von Hipper planned the operation : the battlecruisers of the I Scouting Group , along with light cruisers and destroyers , would attack one of the large convoys , while the rest of the High Seas Fleet would stand by , ready to attack the British dreadnought battleship squadron .
At 05 : 00 on 23 April 1918 , the German fleet , with Hindenburg in the lead , departed from the Schillig roadstead . Hipper ordered wireless transmissions be kept to a minimum , to prevent British intelligence from receiving radio intercepts . At 06 : 10 the German battlecruisers had reached a position approximately 60 kilometers southwest of Bergen , when Moltke lost her inner starboard propeller . Without resistance from the water , the propeller @-@ less shaft began spinning faster and faster , until one of the engine gears flew apart . Shrapnel from the broken machinery damaged several boilers and tore a hole in the hull ; the ship was dead in the water . The ship 's crew effected temporary repairs , which allowed the ship to steam at 4 knots ( 7 @.@ 4 km / h ; 4 @.@ 6 mph ) . However , it was decided to take the ship under tow by the battleship Oldenburg . Despite this setback , Hipper continued northward . By 14 : 00 , Hipper 's force had crossed the convoy route several times but had found nothing . At 14 : 10 , Hipper turned his ships southward . By 18 : 37 , the German fleet had made it back to the defensive minefields surrounding their bases . It was later discovered that the convoy had left port a day later than expected by the German planning staff .
= = = Later planned operations = = =
On 11 August 1918 , Hipper was promoted to Admiral and given command of the entire High Seas Fleet . Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter replaced Hipper as the commander of the I Scouting Group ; he raised his flag on Hindenburg the following day .
Hindenburg was to have taken part in what would have amounted to the " death ride " of the High Seas Fleet shortly before the end of World War I. The bulk of the High Seas Fleet was to have sortied from their base in Wilhelmshaven to engage the British Grand Fleet ; Admiral Reinhard Scheer intended to inflict as much damage as possible on the British navy , to achieve a better bargaining position for Germany whatever the cost to the fleet . The plan involved two simultaneous attacks by light cruisers and destroyers , one on Flanders and another on shipping in the Thames estuary ; Hindenburg and the other four battlecruisers were to support the Thames attack . After both strikes , the fleet was to concentrate off the Dutch coast , where it would meet the Grand Fleet in battle . While the fleet was consolidating in Wilhelmshaven , war @-@ weary sailors began deserting en masse . As Von der Tann and Derfflinger passed through the locks that separated Wilhelmshaven 's inner harbor and roadstead , some 300 men from both ships climbed over the side and disappeared ashore .
On 24 October 1918 , the order was given to sail from Wilhelmshaven . Starting on the night of 29 October , sailors on several battleships mutinied ; three ships from the III Squadron refused to weigh anchors , and acts of sabotage were committed on board the battleships Thüringen and Helgoland . In the face of open rebellion , the order to sail was rescinded and the planned operation was abandoned . In an attempt to suppress the mutiny , the High Seas Fleet squadrons were dispersed .
= = = Fate = = =
Under the terms of the Armistice between Germany and the Allies that ended World War I , the majority of the German fleet was to be interned at Scapa Flow ; this included Hindenburg and the rest of the battlecruisers . On 21 November 1918 , the ships to be interned — 14 capital ships , seven light cruisers , and 50 of the most modern torpedo boats — departed German waters for what would prove to be the last time . Prior to the departure of the German fleet , Admiral Adolf von Trotha made clear to Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter , who was given command of the ships to be interned , that he could not allow the Allies to seize the ships , under any conditions . The fleet rendezvoused with the British light cruiser Cardiff , which led the ships to the Allied fleet that was to escort the Germans to Scapa Flow . The massive flotilla consisted of some 370 British , American , and French warships .
The fleet remained in captivity during the negotiations in Versailles that ultimately produced the treaty that ended the war . A copy of The Times informed von Reuter that the Armistice was to expire at noon on 21 June 1919 , the deadline by which Germany was to have signed the peace treaty . Rear Admiral von Reuter came to the conclusion that the British intended to seize the German ships after the Armistice expired . To prevent this , he decided to scuttle his ships at the first opportunity . On the morning of 21 June , the British fleet left Scapa Flow to conduct training maneuvers ; at 11 : 20 Reuter transmitted the order to his ships . Hindenburg was the last ship to sink , at 17 : 00 . Her captain had deliberately arranged that the ship sank on an even keel to make it easier for her crew to escape . After several unsuccessful attempts , she was raised on 23 July 1930 , only to be scrapped at Rosyth between 1930 and 1932 . Her bell was presented to the Bundesmarine ( Federal Navy ) on 28 May 1959 .
= Junagarh Fort =
Junagarh Fort ( Rajasthani : <unk> ् द क ़ <unk> ) is a fort in the city of Bikaner , Rajasthan , India . The fort was originally called Chintamani and was renamed Junagarh or " Old Fort " in the early 20th century when the ruling family moved to Lalgarh Palace outside the fort limits . It is one of the few major forts in Rajasthan which is not built on a hilltop . The modern city of Bikaner has developed around the fort .
The fort complex was built under the supervision of Karan Chand , the Prime Minister of Raja Rai Singh , the sixth ruler of Bikaner , who ruled from 1571 to 1611 AD . Construction of the walls and associated moat commenced in 1589 and was completed in 1594 . It was built outside the original fort of the city , about 1 @.@ 5 kilometres ( 0 @.@ 93 mi ) from the city centre . Some remnants of the old fort are preserved near the Lakshmi Narayan temple .
Historical records reveal that despite the repeated attacks by enemies to capture the fort , it was not taken , except for a lone one @-@ day occupation by Kamran Mirza . Kamran was the second son of the Mughal Emperor Babur who attacked Bikaner in 1534 , which was then ruled by Rao Jait Singh .
The 5 @.@ 28 hectares large fort precinct is studded with palaces , temples and pavilions . These buildings depict a composite culture , manifest in the mix of architectural styles .
= = Geography = =
Junagarh fort is located in the arid region of the Thar desert of Rajasthan bordered on the northwest by the Aravalli range , a range of mountains in western India . Part of the desert area is in Bikaner city , which is one of the three desert triangle cities ; the other two cities are Jaisalmer and Jodhpur . The name of the place where Bikaner city with its forts was established was then known as <unk> .
= = History = =
Before the present Junagarh Fort was built , an old stone fort existed in the city . This fort was built in 1478 by Rao Bika who established the city of Bikaner in 1472 . Rao Bika was the second son of Maharaja Rao Jodha of the <unk> clan , the founder of Jodhpur city . He conquered the large arid lands to the northern region of Rajasthan to set up his domain . As the second son of Jodha he had no chance of inheriting his father ’ s territory of Jodhpur or to the title of Maharaja . He , therefore , reconciled and decided to build his own kingdom at Bikaner at the place then called " <unk> " . Bikaner , though a partly of the Thar Desert , was considered an oasis on the trade route between Central Asia and the Gujarat coast since it had adequate spring water sources . Bika ’ s name was thus tagged to the Bikaner city as well as to the then state of Bikaner ( “ the settlement of Bika ” ) that he established . The history of Bikaner and the fort within it thus start with Bika . It was only about 100 years later that Bikaner ’ s fortunes flourished under Raja Rai Singhji , the sixth ruler of Bikaner , who ruled from 1571 to 1611 . During the Mughal Empire ’ s rule in the country , he accepted the suzerainty of the Mughals and held a high position of an army general in the court of Emperor Akbar and his son Emperor Jahangir . His successful war exploits by way of winning half of Mewar kingdom won him accolades and rewards from the Mughal emperors . He was gifted the jagirs ( lands ) of Gujarat and Burhanpur . With the large revenue earned from these jagirs , he built the Junagarh fort on a plain land , which has an average elevation of 760 feet ( 230 m ) . The formal foundation ceremony for the fort was held on 17 February 1589 and the fort was completed on 17 January 1594 . Raja Rai Singhji , was an expert in arts and architecture and the knowledge that he acquired during his several sojourns to several countries are amply reflected in the numerous monuments he built in the Junagarh fort . Thus the fort , a composite structure , became an outstanding example of architecture and a unique centre of art , amidst the Thar desert .
Karan Singh who ruled from 1631 to 1639 , under the suzerainty of the Mughals , built the Karan Mahal palace . Later rulers added more floors and decorations to this Mahal . Anup Singh , who ruled from 1669 – 98 , made substantial additions to the fort complex , with new palaces and the Zenana quarter ( royal dwelling for females ) . He refurbished the Karan Mahal with a Diwan @-@ i @-@ Am ( public audience hall ) and called it the Anup Mahal . Gaj Singh who ruled from 1746 to 1787 refurbished the Chandra Mahal ( the Moon palace ) . Following him , Surat Singh ruled from 1787 to 1828 and he lavishly decorated the audience hall ( see picture in info box ) with glass and lively paintwork . <unk> Singh who reigned from 1872 to 1887 built the Badal Mahal ( the weather palace ) named so in view of a painting of falling rain and clouds ( a rare event in arid Bikaner ) . Ganga Singh who ruled from 1887 to 1943 built the Ganga Niwas Palace , which has towers at the entrance patio . This palace was designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob . Ganga Singh ’ s son <unk> Singh succeeded his father in 1943 but acceded to the Union of India in 1949 . He died in 1950 .
Bikaner came under the suzerainty of the British Raj under a treaty of paramountcy signed in 1818 , where after the Maharajas of Bikaner invested heavily on refurbishing their Junagarh fort . However , during the 18th century , before this treaty was signed , there was internecine war between rulers of Bikaner and Jodhpur and also amongst other Thakur , which was put down by the British troops . It is reported that during the attack by Jodhpur army , of the two entrances to the fort ( one in the east and the other in the west ) , the eastern entrance and the southern rampart were damaged ; marks of cannonballs fired are seen on the southern façade of the fort .
Ganga Singh was the best @-@ known king among the Rajasthan princes . A favourite of the British Raj , he earned the title of Knight Commander of the Star of India . He served as a member of the Imperial War Cabinet , represented the country at the Imperial First World War Conferences and the British Empire at the Versailles Peace Conference and was aware of the shift of fortunes in the World War II but died in 1943 , before the war was won by the allies . His contribution to the building activity in Junagarh involved separate halls for public and private audience in the Ganga Mahal and a durbar hall for formal functions . The hall where he held his Golden Jubilee as a ruler of Bikaner is now a museum . He also got a new palace - north of Junagarh fort - designed and built by Swinton , the third of the new palaces built in Bikaner and named it Lalgarh Palace in the name of his father and shifted his residence from Junagarh fort to this palace in 1902 . The royal family still lives in a special suite in the Lalgarh palace , which they have converted into a heritage hotel .
= = Structures = =
The structures built within the Junagarh fort are the palaces and temples , which are made of red sandstone ( <unk> ) and marble . The palaces are described as picturesque with their assortment of courtyards , balconies , kiosks and windows . The fort , the temples and the palaces are preserved as museums and provide insight into the grandiose living style of the past <unk> of Rajasthan . The fort is called “ a paradox between medieval military architecture and beautiful interior decoration ” .
= = = Overview = = =
The massive fort built in the plains of Bikaner has a rectangular ( quadrangular ) layout with a peripheral length of 1 @,@ 078 yards ( 986 m ) . The fort walls are 14 @.@ 5 feet ( 4 @.@ 4 m ) wide and 40 feet ( 12 m ) in height . It encompasses an area of 63 @,@ 119 square yards ( 5 @.@ 28 ha ) . It was surrounded by a moat which was 20 – 25 feet ( 6 @.@ 1 – 7 @.@ 6 m ) deep with a base width of 15 feet ( 4 @.@ 6 m ) and top width of 30 feet ( 9 @.@ 1 m ) . However , the moat no longer exists . The fort is well fortified with 37 bastions ( ‘ <unk> ’ in local language ) and seven gates ( two are main gates ) to counter enemy attacks . The fort was built as a “ new stronghold ” outside of the ruins of an old fort built by Rao Bika and on the periphery of the Bikaner city walls ( 1 @.@ 5 kilometres ( 0 @.@ 93 mi ) from the city centre ) ; the old fort was demolished a century after it was built .
The fort with seven gates contains several palaces , pavilions and many temples of Hindu and Jain religions - the earliest dated to the 16th century . A major feature of the fort is the stone carving done in red and gold coloured sandstones . The interiors of the palaces are decorated and painted in traditional Rajasthani style . The Junagarh palaces have a large number of rooms , as every king built his own separate set of rooms , not wanting to live in his predecessors ’ rooms . These structures were considered as “ at par with those of Louis ’ s France or of Imperial Russia ” . Several types of architectural style are discerned in the fort complex and hence it is called a true depiction of composite culture . The earliest style is of Rajput architecture , defined by Gujarati and Mughal architectural influence reflecting the association with Mughal rulers , the second type is of semi @-@ western architecture reflecting British influence , and finally the revivalists Rajput architecture that evolved particularly during the rule of Maharaja Ganga Singh . Only the most representative of all these architectural styles are on display for visitors . Thus , the unique monuments on display in the Junagarh Fort represent sixteen successive generations of the rulers of Bikaner , starting from the end of the 16th century .
Gates
While the main entry gate was Karan Pol or Parole , facing east , the current gate of entry is called Suraj Pol ( meaning the Sun gate ) , ' pol ' also colloquially spelt <unk> , built in gold coloured or yellow sandstone , unlike the other gates and buildings built in red sandstone . It is the east facing gate permitting the rising Sun ’ s rays to fall on the gate , which is considered a good omen . The doors of this gate are strengthened with iron spikes and studs to prevent ramming by elephants during an attack . At the entrance to the gate , two red stone statues of elephants with <unk> stand as sentinels . The gate was also the location for announcing the arrival and departure of royalty by musicians playing the trumpet from a gallery in the gate . The other gates are Karan Pol , Daulat Pol , Chand Pol ( a double gate ) and Fateh Pol ; these provided access to various monuments in the fort . The Karan Pol gate is also braced with iron spikes to prevent battering of the gate by elephants . To the right of this gate is Daulat Pol . Forty @-@ one hand imprints are seen on the Daulat Pol gate wall , in red colour , of the wives of the Maharajas of Bikaner , who committed sati ( self immolation ) on the funeral pyres of their husbands who died in battle .
Between the main gate and the palace , there is a quadrangle , and then another gate called the <unk> gate ( triple gateway ) before accessing the royal chambers . Next to this gate is a small temple called the Har Mandir , where the Royal family used to offer worship . In the quadrangle , which houses a large pavilion with a water pool built in Carrara Italian marble . The Karan Mahal , where public audience was held in the Diwan @-@ i @-@ Am by Karan Singh ( 1631 – 39 ) and his successors till the 20th century , can also be seen in the same quadrangle .
= = = Temples = = =
Har Mandir temple was the royal chapel - private temple of the royal family . The royal family celebrated the Hindu festival of Dussera and <unk> here , apart from celebrating other family functions such as birthdays and marriages . In the Dussera celebrations , weapons and horses were worshipped here . The main deities worshipped in this temple are the Hindu deities Lakshmi Narayan , a combined representation of god Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi .
The Ratan Behari temple located near the Junagarh Fort , was built in 1846 by the 18th ruler of Bikaner . It was built in Indo @-@ Mughal architectural style using white marble . The Hindu god Krishna is deified in this temple .
= = = Palaces = = =
Karan mahal ( Public Audience Hall ) was built by Karan Singh in <unk> to mark his victory over the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb . It is considered as one of the most exquisite palaces built with gardens , which displays the aesthetic sensibilities of the royalty of Rajasthan . It has stained glass windows and intricately carved balconies built in stone and wood fluted columns . Later Rajas , Anup Singh and Surat Singh , also added lot of glitter to this palace with inlaid polychrome glass , intricate mirror patterns , and red and gold paint . In the coronation chamber , there is a shored up alcove , which was used as a throne .
Phool Mahal ( " Flower Palace " ) is the oldest part of the palace and was built by king Raja Rai Singh of Bikaner , who ruled between 1571 @-@ 1668 .
Anup Mahal is a multi @-@ storey structure , which functioned as the administrative headquarters of the kingdom . It has ornate wooden ceilings with inlaid mirrors , Italian tiles , and fine lattice windows and balconies . It has some gold leaf paintings . It is considered as one of the “ grandest construction ” .
Chandra Mahal has the most luxurious room in the palace , which houses gold plated deities and paintings inlaid with precious stones . In the royal bedroom , mirrors have been strategically placed so that the Maharaja could see from his bed , any intruder entering his room .
Ganga Mahal was built in the 20th century by Ganga Singh who reigned for 56 years from 1887 to 1943 , has a large durbar hall known as the Ganga Singh Hall that houses the Museum . The museum has exhibits of war weaponry and also a World War I aeroplane ( biplane ) , which is stated to be well maintained .
Badal Mahal ( The weather palace ) is part of the Anup Mahal extensions . It has paintings of <unk> <unk> chiefs paying respects to the Maharaja of Bikaner in different types of turbans . Photos of people standing on nails , wood , swords and saws are also depicted here – a display of faith and endurance . The walls in this palace depict fresco paintings of the Hindu god Krishna and his consort Radha amidst the rain clouds .
<unk> <unk> located both within and outside the fort in the Bikaner city ’ s by lanes are also of unique architectural style in home architecture . Aldous Huxley who visited these <unk> reportedly said “ They are the pride of Bikaner . ”
= = Fort museum = =
The museum within the fort called the Junagarh Fort Museum was established in 1961 by Maharaja <unk> Singhji under the control of " Maharaja Rai Singhji Trust " . The Museum exhibits Sanskrit and Persian manuscripts , miniature paintings , jewels , royal costumes , <unk> ( royal orders ) , portrait galleries , costumes , headgear and dresses of gods ’ idols , enamelware , silver , palanquins , <unk> and war drums . The museum also displays armoury that consists of one of the assorted collection of post medieval arms .
Maharaja Rai Singhji Trust
Maharaja Rai Singhji Trust has been set up by the ' Royal family of Bikaner ' with the basic objective to showcase the fort with professional inputs in various areas and to improve the experience for visitors . Another objective is to promote education and research scholarships , cultural activities , setting up of libraries and integration with other such trusts .
= Battle of Trois @-@ Rivières =
The Battle of Trois @-@ Rivières ( Three Rivers in English ) was fought on June 8 , 1776 , during the American Revolutionary War . A British army under Quebec Governor Guy Carleton defeated an attempt by units from the Continental Army under the command of Brigadier General William Thompson to stop a British advance up the Saint Lawrence River valley . The battle occurred as a part of the American colonists ' invasion of Quebec , which had begun in September 1775 with the goal of removing the province from British rule .
The crossing of the Saint Lawrence by the American troops was observed by Quebec militia , who alerted British troops at Trois @-@ Rivières . A local farmer led the Americans into a swamp , enabling the British to land additional forces in the village , and to establish positions behind the American army . After a brief exchange between an established British line and American troops emerging from the swamp , the Americans broke into a somewhat disorganized retreat . As some avenues of retreat were cut off , the British took a sizable number of prisoners , including General Thompson and much of his staff .
This was the last major battle fought on Quebec soil . Following the defeat , the remainder of the American forces , under the command of John Sullivan , retreated , first to Fort Saint @-@ Jean , and then to Fort Ticonderoga .
= = Background = =
The Continental Army , which had invaded Quebec in September 1775 , suffered a severe blow in the disastrous attack on Quebec City on New Year 's Eve in 1775 . Following that loss , Benedict Arnold and the remnants of the army besieged Quebec until May 1776 .
Early on May 6 , three Royal Navy ships sailed into Quebec Harbour . Troops on these ships were immediately sent into the city and , not long after , General Guy Carleton formed them up and marched them out to the American siege camp . General John Thomas , then in command of the American forces , had already been making arrangements to retreat , but the British arrival threw his troops into a panic . He led a disorganized retreat that eventually reached Sorel on about May 18 .
= = = British forces at Trois @-@ Rivières = = =
Throughout the month of May and into early June , ships carrying troops and war supplies continued to arrive at Quebec . By June 2 , Carleton had added the 9th , 20th , 29th , 53rd and 60th Regiments of Foot , along with General John Burgoyne , to his command . Also arriving in the fleet were Hessian troops from Brunswick commanded by Baron Riedesel .
After the Americans ' flight early in May , Carleton took no significant offensive steps but on May 22 , he sent ships carrying elements of the 47th and 29th Foot to Trois @-@ Rivières under Allan Maclean 's command . Brigadier General Simon Fraser led more forces to Trois @-@ Rivières on June 2 . By June 7 , the forces on the ground at Trois @-@ Rivières had grown to nearly 1 @,@ 000 , and 25 ships carrying additional troops and supplies were anchored in the river near the village and for several miles upriver .
= = = American arrangements = = =
Since Thomas 's retreat was instigated by the early arrival of three ships of the fleet carrying only a few hundred troops , he was unaware of the true size of the British army . In a war council at Sorel on May 21 , which included representatives of the Second Continental Congress , a decision was reached to make a stand at Deschambault , between Trois @-@ Rivières and Quebec . This decision was reached based on sketchy reports and rumors of the British troop strengths and was dominated by the non @-@ military Congressional representatives . Thomas contracted smallpox on May 21 , from which he died on June 2 . He was briefly replaced by Brigadier General William Thompson , who relinquished command to General John Sullivan when he arrived on June 5 at Sorel with further reinforcements from Fort Ticonderoga .
On June 5 , just hours before Sullivan 's arrival , Thompson sent 600 troops under the command of Colonel Arthur St. Clair toward Trois @-@ Rivières with the goal of surprising and beating back the small British force believed to be there . Sullivan , on his arrival at Sorel , immediately dispatched Thompson with an additional 1 @,@ 600 men to follow . These forces caught up with St. Clair at Nicolet , where defenses against troop movements on the river were erected the next day . On the night of June 7 , Thompson , St. Clair , and about 2 @,@ 000 men crossed the river , landing at Pointe du Lac , a few miles above Trois @-@ Rivières .