George Washington And Benedict Arnold: A Tale of Two Patriots [Hardcover]

Dave Richard Palmer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2006

Complete with maps and illustrations, "George Washington and Benedict Arnold" presents the amazing story of two would-be patriots, one who became the father our country, the other became a man without a country.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fateful turns, choices and escapes from certain death dominate this captivating story of the most compelling figures of the Revolutionary War. When General George Washington appointed Benedict Arnold military commander of the Philadelphia region, military historian Palmer argues, he was not only making one of the worst personnel decisions of his career, but was also creating the conditions for the "Traitor of America" to commit his crime. Stark contrasts and similarities between two men show how their choices informed their destiny. The son of an alcoholic, Arnold became a wealthy merchant before he took up arms against the British, but distinguishing himself on the battlefield was not enough to earn Arnold the prestige he perpetually sought. Washington, who grew up on a tranquil farm, was the beneficiary of guidance from influential figures and was groomed to be a leader. Palmer has a talent for building momentum and suspense, but his most skilled turn is as profiler of the military comrades who would later be foes. Photos.
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From the Inside Flap

Two great patriots. Two giants of the battlefield. Yet one became our greatest hero, and one became our most notorious traitor. In this enthralling new dual biography—one of the very few to deal with Benedict Arnold—military historian and former superintendent of West Point Dave R. Palmer shows how and why George Washington became the father of our country while Benedict Arnold became a man without a country.

It was a surprising turn of events. No man was more ardent for the patriot cause and more recklessly brave on the battlefield than Benedict Arnold. After the first three years of the Revolutionary War, every patriot recognized as our two greatest warriors George Washington, commander of the Continental Army, and twice battle-wounded Benedict Arnold, captor of Fort Ticonderoga, invader of Canada, and victor at the battle of Saratoga. Washington and Arnold admired each other. Washington saw Arnold as a true fighting soldier whose merits were unjustly neglected by his superiors and the Continental Congress. Arnold respected Washington as a worthy commander in chief. They even shared enemies—both men were subject to jealous conspiracies against them from plotting generals and petty politicians (including, in Washington’s case, John Adams). But while Washington rose above his enemies, Arnold became embittered by them. With a character less stoic than Washington’s, in pain from his battlefield wounds, and with slow twists of mind, heart, character, and decision, Arnold, in charge of Fortress West Point, finally committed himself to betraying the cause that he had previously served so well. In dramatic fashion, George Washington and Benedict Arnold: A Tale of Two Patriots unveils a chapter of American history that rivals any novel or film for action, intrigue, and romance. It is a story that few Americans know, but that every American should.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 424 pages
• Publisher: Regnery History; First Edition edition (August 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596980206
• ISBN-13: 978-1596980204
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #705,271 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent history of the Revolution and an examination of the character of its hero and its great villain, September 18, 2006

By 

Craig Matteson (Saline, MI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: George Washington And Benedict Arnold: A Tale of Two Patriots (Hardcover)

This book was a pleasure to read. It presents aspects of the Revolutionary War in ways that are often not given us. Too often, the founding is presented as a united band of enlightened brethren who created the founding documents with only minor differences. Washington is often depicted as the transcendent leader who was universally lauded. And Benedict Arnold is the brand name for traitor. Well, this terrific history by Dave R. Palmer, who was the superintendent of West Point, presents a realistic picture of the struggles Washington had in leading the armed forces and all those who had designs in removing him and advancing themselves or a favorite in his place. And the heroic contributions of Benedict Arnold in important battles through Saratoga are also noted.

Arnold was a man of great boldness and hot temper. He was able to lead men in battle because he was a fierce warrior. The arduous campaigns he led into the north and especially that expedition into Canada earned him the nickname of America's Hannibal. He was wounded more than once and was later wounded so badly in his leg that doctors wanted to amputate it. Arnold refused to let his leg be taken. However, the leg remained shorter than the other and gave him severe pain the rest of his life. Immediately after being wounded he expressed regret that he had not been killed. What a different reputation he would have today if he had been!

His recuperation took quite awhile, and it was during this time the accumulation of hurts he had received at the hands of the Continental Congress and other officers after he had sacrificed his fortune and had now sacrificed his body. He became bitter. After all, the Congress had promoted less senior officers over him because of they had connections and he did not. Even after he won his promotion through his valor on the field of battle, they did not restore his seniority. After he had given his fortune to the cause, he was harangued with charges and court-martialed (even the lengthy process was an insult). Almost all the charges were dismissed except the use of a couple of army wagons to save some of his property before it was destroyed by the British (from his own ship that he had given to the cause and was being destroyed). Even his friend, General Washington, gave him the required letter of reprimand for the use of the wagons. This was actually a kindness from Washington, for it could have been much worse.

He also married into the Shippen family, who had Loyalist sympathies. This led to his coming into contact with the British through General Clinton. While Washington wanted Arnold back at his side in battle, Arnold connived to be put in charge of West Point, then a very strategic fort held by the Revolutionaries. He was to strengthen it and prepare it to hold off an expected attack from the British. Instead, he conspired to turn it over to the British and was caught before he could complete his plan by good fortune rather than skill. He escaped while his British agent was caught and hung. It was Arnold's fall from hero to traitor that made his actions so hurtful to so many.

Washington bore far more insult and difficulties than Arnold, was himself heroic in battle, and had the additional burdens of betrayals of supposed friends such as Arnold, the broken promises of Congress, trying to keep his men in the field despite their lack of food, clothing, and equipment, and still had all the political maneuverings from men such as Thomas Mifflin, Horatio Gates, Charles Lee and many others. Yet, his character never wavered. And that is the point of this book. These two illustrate so well the old truth that character is destiny. Palmer concludes the book with a nice essay on character using various standards of character from history. The Greeks used Fortitude, Temperance, Prudence, and Justice. Washington passes all four. Arnold passes on Fortitude, is mixed on Prudence, but fails abjectly in Temperance and Justice.

Palmer uses some other illustrative standards for Character and what these standards reveal about those who held those standards. None of them improve on the Greeks. But Palmer's favorite definition of Character is from the Civil War hero, Major General Joshua Chamberlain. He defined it as "a firm and seasoned substance of the soul". When one uses this sentence and thinks of Washington and Arnold, what more need be said?

Strongly recommended. This is also a beautifully printed book, handsome to look at, and delightful to hold while reading. The book has several good maps at the back that depict important periods of the Revolution discussed in the book. There are also many nice pictures depicting the principles in the book including a rare portrait of Arnold. There is also a helpful list for further study and a quite helpful index.

Treat yourself to this history, share it with friends, and especially have your young people read it and talk it over with them. They need to learn this history and discussing the realities of Character is always edifying.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Page-turning account of an inspirational leader and notorious traitor, August 24, 2006

By 

Matthew Jackson (Towson, MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: George Washington And Benedict Arnold: A Tale of Two Patriots (Hardcover)

One of the first things I learned as a young cadet at the United States Military Academy is the story of how Benedict Arnold betrayed his country by attempting to hand over the fortress at West Point to the British. Now, as a graduate (Class of '97), I've always wanted to know more about what went on "behind the scenes" that could have led to arguably the most infamous act in American history. This book not only delivers as a truly neutral account of the events leading up to and following Arnold's betrayal of his country, but doubles as an extremely enjoyable read. Not just your average, boring to the masses history book, Palmer brings a captive narrative and successfully details the intriguing personalities and individual motivations of the men and women surrounding both Washington and Arnold from their early days as officers in the French and Indian War to the time their lives took decidedly different directions. As is often the case, this true story is nothing short of the kind of drama and intrigue you would expect from the best John Grisham novel. Palmer weaves you in and out of love with Arnold and ends the book with an insightful look into why one man ended up the father of his country and the other a symbol of treachery. I highly recommend this book to anyone even remotely interested in this period of American history and my thanks go out to Palmer for an outstanding discussion of the character of these two men.

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good story, but something is missing, January 23, 2007

By 

Justin Thompson (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: George Washington And Benedict Arnold: A Tale of Two Patriots (Hardcover)

I enjoyed this book for the good narrative that it is. Most of my pleasure came from learning the rough details of Benedict Arnold's treason. I had only known him as a traitor prior to reading this book, but had no idea that he was "America's Hannibal" prior to becoming a turncoat, nor was I aware of the reasons for his treason or the way in which he tried to execute it.

The book is a quick, enjoyable, and easy read, which I am also grateful for, because if it weren't, I probably would have put it down and tried to find something more comprehensive on the subject of Arnold to read instead. I have never read a book on a subject such as this that contains no bibliography. Palmer includes a few suggested readings at the end of the book, but it is only about 10 books altogether, and two of them are prior works of his own.

Even within the text, Palmer several times says something like "as a prominent modern historian says 'George Washington was...'"

Well, who is the historian?!

This unwillingness to cite anyone else within the text or in a bibliography really bothered me the whole time I was reading the book. The whole thing reads like something a high school student would turn in to his history teacher. The only difference between this book and the student's essay is that the book is nearly 400 pages long.

There may be some very good reason for not including a bibliography or giving a prominent modern historian credit for his words in the text. I am not accusing Palmer of anything, only saying that these things bothered me quite a bit.

Now, I will find some more books on Benedict Arnold to get the full story.