 While the New England colonies and New York dispatched a force overland against Montreal , which accomplished virtually nothing , Massachusetts launched a separate expedition against Quebec . The whole operation had been financed by issuing paper bonds set against the expected booty to be taken from the city . The expedition consisted of about 32 ships ( only four of which were of any size ) and over 2 @,@ 300 Massachusetts militiamen , and was under the overall command of Phips , the victor at Port Royal . Its departure was delayed until quite late in the summer because it was waiting ( in vain ) for the arrival of additional munitions from England . Consequently , when Phips ' expedition set out from Hull on 20 August , it was inadequately supplied with ammunition . Bad weather , contrary winds , and lack of pilots familiar with the Saint Lawrence River hampered progress , and Phips did not anchor in the Quebec basin until 16 October . 
