 Frontenac , a shrewd and experienced officer , reached Quebec from Montreal on 14 October . When all the militia whom he had summoned arrived , he had nearly 3 @,@ 000 men to defend the place . The New Englanders had been " quite confident that the cowardly and effete French would be no match for their hardy men " , but in fact the opposite was the case . Frontenac had reason for confidence , as he possessed a force of three battalions of colonial regulars that were certainly superior to Phips 's amateur companies — in the event the regulars were not needed as the Canadien militia succeeded in repulsing Phips ' landing parties . Furthermore , the city was " sited on the strongest natural position they [ the English officers ] had likely ever seen . " Not only did it have impressive cliffs and Cape Diamond , but the eastern shore was so shallow that ships could not approach and landing craft would be needed . 
