The river was walled by a range of steeps, often inaccessible, and always so difficult that a few men could hold an army in check.
Montcalm was perfectly confident of his ability to resist any attack which the British might make.

Bougainville had long before examined the position, in view of the possibility of an English expedition against it, and reported that, with a few intrenchments, the city would be safe if defended by three or four thousand men.

Sixteen thousand were now gathered there, and Montcalm might well believe the position to be impregnable.
He was determined to run no risk, by advancing to give battle, but to remain upon the defensive till the resources of the English were exhausted, or till the approach of winter forced them to retire.

His only source of uneasiness lay in the south, for he feared that Amherst, with his army, might capture Ticonderoga and advance into the colony, in which case he must weaken his army, by sending a force to oppose him.
On the day after the army landed on the island, a sudden and very violent squall drove several of the ships ashore, and destroyed many of the flatboats.

On the following night, the sentries at the end of the island saw some vessels coming down the river.