Customer Reviews

Benedict Arnold: Patriot and Traitor

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This is perhaps the best single volume biography available on Benedict Arnold - America's greatest commander during the Revolutionary War and the Nation's greatest traitor!

Willard Sterne Randall has written a tremendously well researched, compelling and balanced book that details Benedict Arnold's accomplishments and failures during America's fight for Independence. Arnold was almost single-handedly responsible for the American invasion of Canada, which, due to his prowess as a Strategist, Commander and Soldier, came very close to succeeding. When he wasn't winning battles on land, America's preeminent battlefield general was winning them on the water, building a navy and then delaying the British advance into New York for a year, thus assuring the survival of the Continental Army and the Nation.

Arnold was present at almost every major battle of the war, often snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Both the British and their Loyalist allies soon grew to hate him.

But his immense pride and hunger for wealth and recognition led to his downfall. Certainly the Continental Congress played a role, refusing to pay him four years of back pay due to him or reimburse him for the immense fortune he spent, out of his own pocket, training, equipping, and feeding his army and navy. Randall estimates that in all, Congress denied Arnold the equivalent of $275,000 due to him.

Furthermore, their repeated slights of the General and attacks on his character took their took. Arnold had only to marry a young and beautiful 19 year old Loyalist for his treason to be assured.

And so the man who almost single-handedly won the Revolutionary War (ensuring first the French, and then the Spanish and Dutch entered the fighting as allies of America), almost single-handedly lost it as he negotiated to turn over West Point and its forts to the British for 10,000 pounds. Only bad luck (on his part) prevented Arnold from succeeding. Once rescued by his benefactors, he fought as a British Brigadier against the Americans as effectively as he had fought for them.

This is a tremendous interesting story and an equally interesting book. True, Randall has a tendency to repeat himself, but readers will find "Benedict Arnold Patriot and Traitor" a good read!

Although a little disturbed by reviewer York's comments that Arnolds hazardous march to Quebec is not altogether accurate particularly in regards to sabotage and desertion, the book provides a grand over view of Arnold's life that I was not altogether familiar with. The book starts with Arnold's early life where his father virtually becomes financially destroyed which seems to make him forever conscious of a need for him to be prosperous and financial solvent in the author's view. The best part of the book is the detail on Arnold's military accomplishments, which include his command of the Great lakes during the early part of the war in which he funded the building of small boats with his own money. One or part of the boats is in the Natural Museum of History on display in Washington D.C. where you can see the modest boat with a good size hole near the bow from a British war ship. Covers Arnold's failed but brave attempt to attack Canada and his great victorious battle at Saratoga where he suffers a crippling injury. In convalescence he is the military governor of Philadelphia where he meets his beautiful young wife whose family is suspect of being Tories. In the meantime, Arnold becomes frustrated with the failure of the Continental Congress to reimburse him for his costs in building the Great Lakes fleet. The author suggests this failure to appreciate Arnold and the lack of refund along with his love for his Tory wife may have prepared Arnold for the great act of treason at West Point. It is surprising that Arnold after he fled from West Point to the British he commanded a British army that captured Petersburg and burned his way south to Portsmouth. Arnold risked a hanging if he was caught by the Americans thus he leaves no doubt that he was brave on which ever side he served. Arnold allegedly counseled Cornwallis against moving to the Peninsula and Yorktown. The author reviews Arnold's post war quarrels with the British over money and commissions for his sons along with his failed land investments in Canada. Surprising that Arnold had business in Canada so close to the country he betrayed. A complex man that is fascinating to read about.

This is great scholarship. Takes you where the research, the original documents available lead, so you get the facts and see the real human being, instead of the caricatures handed down by his American contemporaries. An excellent read, backed by superb research, that follows one of the most dramatic stories in American history.

For a different tack that tries a little more to get into the mind of BA, try James Kirby Martin's "Benedict Arnold, A Revolutionary Hero Reconsidered". Also Kenneth Roberts' novels, "Arundel", and "Rabble in Arms" are MUST reads.

This book offers insight into the complex, controversial and ever-changing political landscape of the American Revolution. Benedict Arnold personifies the kaleidoscopic nature of loyalties, betrayals and intrigue prevalent during the War, circumstances much of which determined his course in life. In those days, most citizens were not revolutionaries but either loyalists or non-participants. Arnold's ambitions and abilities were manipulated by his constant striving for recognition and wealth. His inconsistency in allegiance reflected the inconsistencies of society and geography. Unlike Washington whose stability was based on his status as a general, statesman, politician and aristocrat, Arnold was a maverick sometime general and contraband entrepreneur seeking permanent social status, which was denied him throughout his life. Consequently, he jumped sides, outmaneuvering himself and suffering the consequences of traitor to both the new republic and England.

A lengthy but always compelling biography of the man whose name has become synonymous with traitorous behavior. Born in Connecticut, Arnold from an early age displayed a fiery spirit: at 15 he ran away from home to fight in the French and Indian War, though he eventually returned home to become the proprietor of a bookshop. At the beginning of the Revolutionary War he formed a local militia unit and fought with Ethan Allen at Ticonderoga. Later he helped plan and carry out the famous invasion of Canada via the Kennebec River and created the first United States navy on Lake Champlain. Wounded at Quebec and again at Saratoga, Arnold was appointed commander at Philadelphia. Here is where his behavior turned toward the British (Loyalist) cause. Accused of questionable business practices, he was court-marshaled and reprimanded by Washington. Angered by his perceived mistreatment, and prodded by his Loyalist wife Peggy Shippen, Arnold made overtures to the British of his willingness to switch sides. After much plotting, much of it involving what he would receive monetarily from the Crown for his activities, Arnold agreed to hand over an important post to the British. This post ended up being West Point, the scheme of which was foiled when accomplice John Andre was captured and hanged as a spy. Arnold left the country after the war and died in London in 1801.

Randall relates a great deal of information about Arnold and the times in which he lived. He is a good enough writer, however, to keep the narrative interesting and provocative. Randall is fair and balanced in his treatment of Arnold's traitorous activities, seeming to place most of the blame on Arnold's wounded pride. Like many ambitious men, Arnold fostered many enemies, some who seemed to go out of their way to injure him, though his own self-centeredness also led him astray. He later claimed it was when the French agreed to lend support to the patriot cause that he felt pushed over the edge to betray his country (he hated the French and her government). Ironically, though he obviously became anathema to Americans, the British never really liked him either. The only weakness in the book, for one this long, is its perfunctory index. Other than that, it's an excellent biography.

This was a really interesting book (4.5 stars), about a little know (to most) American Revolutionary War figure, other than he was a dastardly traitor. Lost in the fog of time, it was amazing to read that Arnold was one of, if not the best Generals of the war...and HIS victory at Saratoga, totally changed the course of our revolutionary war.

Randall's well research volume tells an insightful and gripping story about Arnold...basically laying out 'there is two sides to every story', which leaves it for the reader to form there own opinions. The book reads well, and keeps one involved along the way, wanting to know more, especially why Washington didn't stand by his man...until it was to late. Many generally unknown facts are presented about Arnold and his contemporarys, the political/military/media back biting and infighting, and the unjust damage done to his reputation, pride, vanity and finances, prior to his 'switching sides'.

Obviously, I've just made my opinion know. You must read the book to formulate your own thoughts/feelings...a great topic for debate.

As an aside Randall, gives us a story as solid as Ron Chernow's "Washington".

Randall did an excellent job separating the patriot and the traitor. But most importantly, he gives a factual glimpse of the patriot and the why's and whereall's of the traitor. Recommend you follow up with Ketchum's "Saratoga - Turning Point of the Revolutionary War"

This Biography reads like a novel. I didn't want to put it down. Willard Randall presents a view of a person that was wronged by the powers of the war for independence. I gained a view of General Arnold that I never thought possible. (I do admit that I bought the book after spending the night on a train from New York to Vermont with the author). AFter reading this book, I have a desire to follow in the subjects footsteps. It changed my judgement of General Arnold, although I still don't believe he was justified in his actions concerning West Point. This book has generated an overpowering interest to follow in General Arnold's footsteps to Quebec and to the Battle of Valcour Bay where the Navy, under the command of General Arnold effectively delayed the progress of the British for a year. I really believe tahe Arnold's actions at Valcour Bay and Saratoga were instrumental in the creation of the United States of America as we know it today.

This book is excellent. I could not put it down. I knew a little about Arnold but this definately changed my thinking. This is not the traitor that we learned about in grade school. He was a great American --- gone wrong---but why ??? Simple----the ignorance of Congress !!! Heard that one before ???? With the way he was treated by Congress -- I would have sold out too!!!

Randall's work is strikingly well researched and thoroughly engaging. His book traces Arnold's early years and his efforts in the American cause and gives an incredibly fair and detailed treatment to the events leading up to Arnold's betrayal of his country. In the face of Arnold's legendary infamy, for which for centuries his name was scorned, Randall allows Arnold a fair hearing and the reader the chance to see a broader picture. The Arnold portrayed by Randall is an Arnold, to an extent, abused by his congressional masters and denied the honours rightly due to him in the cause for which fought.

Randall reveals the Arnold, who not only fought bravely for his country, but at considerable personal sacrifice. Indeed the Arnold of Randall's scholarly work is one equal in valour to Washington himself but one who, perhaps even wisely, was far from willing to bear the unjust suffering inflicted, not only by his enemy the British, but from his countrymen as well.

No doubt the patriotic words of Wilfrid Owen, 'dulce et decorum est pro patria mori' are all well and good. But they're difficult to maintain in the face of obstinate compatriots.