Two American armies, intent on weakening Britain’* position in North America, invaded Canada. One advanced up Lake Champlain, captured Montréal, and advanced on Québec. There, they joined a second army that had made a difficult overland trek through Maine. On 31 December 1775, a force of British soldiers and French- and English-speaking militia soundly defeated an assault on Québec City. The Americans remained outside Québec, suffering from cold, hunger, and disease. In May 1776, British reinforcements arrived by sea and the Americans withdrew.