Now, at the opening of the war, there were three French strongholds in America.

These were Montreal and Quebec in Canada, and Port Royal in Acadia.

In 1690 a Massachusetts fleet led by Sir William Phips destroyed Port Royal.

It was decided, therefore, to send another fleet under Phips to take Quebec, while troops from New York and Connecticut marched against Montreal.

Both expeditions were failures, and for seven years the French and Indians ravaged the frontier.