 When the envoys delivered the terms of surrender , the Governor @-@ General famously declared that his only reply would be by " the mouth of my cannons . " Major John Walley led the invading army , which landed at Beauport in the Basin of Quebec . However , the militia on the shore were constantly harassed by Canadian militia until their retreat , while the expedition 's ships , commanded by Sir William Phips , were nearly destroyed by cannon volleys from the top of the city . 
