 The New Englanders saw that the only possible place to crack the defences was on the city 's northeastern side , where the walls were weakest . Their plan was to land their main force on the Beauport shore east of the Saint Charles River , and have it cross the river in the fleet 's boats , along with the field guns . When the landing force was on the heights west of Quebec , the fleet would attack the city and land a second force there . Frontenac had expected the land attack to come from Beauport , and the banks of the river had already been built up with field fortifications on the southwestern side . He proposed to fight only a skirmishing action there , holding his regulars in reserve for a European @-@ style battle on the open ground west of Quebec . 
