The Story of Benedict Arnold - Part One

» BuckyRea - The chicken or the eggs benedict

I've bought but have yet to dive into Kirby Martin's book on Benedict Arnold. I had the pleasure of taking Dr Martin's class on the Revolution and early Republic period (you would have loved it, Brian!) last year.

I'm not quite convinced of the theories I've heard that Arnold's mistreatment by an inept, gloryhogging superior and intellectual seduction by a Tory wife can alone account for his seeming moral "turning point" in betraying the US cause. The question of whether taking a Loyalist wife caused or was caused by his betrayal of the Patriot side is a classic chicken-and-egg riddle.

There has to be something, some hint in his past character, that made this Connecticut Yankee merchant both an excellent field commander (what he endured in getting to Quebec would break an Orpheus) and a particularly vicious traitor. Once he committed to the King's cause, his actions against American civilians hardly reflected the ideal of the "gentleman soldier" of that time. Yet his love for his country prior to that betrayal can hardly be called superficial or convenient. What a troubling Judas he is.

I look forward to part two.

-- posted by BuckyRea

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» Brian Tubbs - Troubling Indeed

You are correct. Very troubling indeed. However, I think his actions against American civilizians following his turn to the "Dark Side" speak volumes about his motives - something I will elaborate on in Part II.

From one editor to another, I easily could've made this a 10-part series. Benedict Arnold is such an interesting figure in American history, that I can't really do justice to him here. But I hope my humble 2-part summary can shed some light nonetheless.

-Brian Tubbs
Contributing Editor
American Revolution & Founding Era

-- posted by Brian Tubbs

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