A chapter of little accidents, each one of which proved as fatal as it was unavoidable, a moment's delay on the Plains of Abraham, and the whole campaign failed; but there was a grasp of conditions, a clearness of perception, and a comprehensiveness about the plan, which stamp it as the work of a great soldier, who saw besides the military importance, the enormous political value held out by the chance of such a victory.
The daring, far-reaching quality of this Canadian expedition was much more congenial to Washington's temper and character than the wearing work of the siege.

All that man could do before Boston was done, and still Congress expected the impossible, and grumbled because without ships he did not secure the harbor.

He himself, while he inwardly resented such criticism, chafed under the monotonous drudgery of the intrenchments.

He was longing, according to his nature, to fight, and was, it must be confessed, quite ready to attempt the impossible in his own way.

Early in September he proposed to attack the town in boats and by the neck of land at Roxbury, but the council of officers unanimously voted against him.