Responding to Washington’s plea for success by spring, Wooster agreed that the campaign was vital to the Patriot cause but reiterated the need for more troops and cannon to conquer Quebec City. Schuyler’s subordinate also noted that most of the Canadian population would likely side with whichever army had the most troop strength and money to spend.
"I am fully sensible of the importance of reducing Quebec & keeping possession of this province for the accomplishing of which, you may depend upon my utmost exertions—I am also with you fully of opinion that the ministry will send a powerful Armament here in the Spring for which reason I think it of almost infinite importance, that we have a large Army here, properly provided, early, to oppose them upon their first arrival, indeed, it appears to me, that our every thing in this province depends upon it—If we have the greatest force we have the Canadians our friends, on the other hand should our Enemies arrive with a superior force to ours I fear the consequences may be fatal, I can not learn from Genl Schuyler that we are like to have any Cannon, Mortars, Shott, or Shells from across the Lake—and as we hav⟨e⟩ not here, proper Cannon &c. for cannonading of Quebec"
General Wooster to General Washington, 25 February 1776www.founders.archives.gov