Walk on Water

In Chapter 5 Part 2, we get the unlikely capture of Montreal by Union forces. Now it's not just unlikely because of the weird French reaction, but also matters of geography.

At no point in the Chapter do we ever hear of Heintzelman's army ever crossing the St. Lawrence to besiege Montreal. This is problematic as Montreal is on an island. We are left assuming much a knowing little about this operation, other than the Union army must have crossed the river somewhere, but they somehow can encircle Montreal with no issue.


Then when the city inexplicably falls the British:

At this point, audacity and chance combined: de Trobriand’s Second Brigade, of Hooker’s Second Division, III Army Corps, came up against a thin segment of the British line – manned by the 6th Volunteer Rifle Battalion (Hochelaga Light Infantry) – and promptly crashed through, aided – it was widely said – by Francophones who “stood aside” as the Americans attacked. Hooker threw in more troops, including his division’s other two infantry brigades and a cavalry brigade led by Brig. Gen. Phil Kearny; within a period of hours, the British forces were split and Russell’s troops began evacuating the city, moving northeast along the northern bank of the Saint Lawrence and the line of the Grand Trunk toward Sainte-Geneviève de Berthierville. Most of the British infantry withdrew in good order, along with a fair percentage of the Canadian volunteers; others, however, surrendered promptly. Some of the militia simply went home.
By the end of the month, even as British warships anchored in the stream at Trois Rivieres,

So geographically I think anyone can see a problem with that. Just look at a map of the island for a moment

It doesn't show all the relevant points, but its an accurate portrayal of the island and city's location. How Russell is supposed to withdraw along the north bank without vessels accompanying him is something of a mystery, but since we know there are British warships weighing anchor in the St. Lawrence why aren't they at Montreal preventing an American crossing? Where are the American boats which would actually allow him to cross?

Why the militia just up and surrenders is also something of a mystery.

All of this is unanswered, and either the author has made a series failure in geography, or he simply couldn't be bothered to get the details right, or he didn't care.