 Meanwhile , a mobile war party of 150 Albany militia and Iroquois warriors under Captain John Schuyler marched and canoed overland to Montreal , imitating the petite guerre tactics ( long @-@ range expeditions into enemy territory ) perfected by the French colonists . Schuyler 's expedition was designed to seize Montreal and pin French forces south of Quebec , allowing the Boston fleet to sail against the capital unopposed . Smallpox , lack of supplies , and disagreements among the officers caused most of the militia and Iroquois to turn back in disgust , leaving Schuyler with a fraction of the 855 men promised by the New England authorities . On 4 September the English raiders attacked settlements south of Montreal , killing some 50 habitants in the middle of their harvests . Too weak to risk a battle with the town 's garrison , Schuyler wrapped up the New England invasion and turned home . Thus , when Phips was sighted off Tadoussac , Frontenac ordered the garrisons of Montreal and Trois @-@ Rivières to make for the threatened capital with all haste . Four days later the Governor arrived in Quebec with 200 – 300 troops freed @-@ up by the failure of Schuyler 's invasion , considerably lifting the capital 's spirit of resistance . 
