In Store Now

Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives
By Jim Sheeler $25.95
(Member $23.35)

 

Book Review

The Hero and the Traitor

reviewed by LCDR J.D. Haines, MC, USN

LTG Dave Palmer’s new book is a fine addition to the fascinating history of America’s two most famous Revolutionary War heroes. The book recounts the intersections of Washington’s and Arnold’s careers, which often ran parallel tracts. Washington, however, became celebrated as the father of our country, while Arnold died the man without a country.

Although Arnold will forever be remembered as a traitor, there is also no doubt that he was a legitimate hero of the Revolutionary War and one of Washington’s best field commanders. The compelling questions of why Arnold betrayed his country have never been satisfactorily answered and remain a source of endless speculation. Why did Arnold betray his country—love for his young wife? Failure to get recognition for his service? Resentment of Congress? Disillusionment with the appointing of “political” generals? Disappointment over Washington’s public censure of his military governorship of Philadelphia?

We shall probably never know the true reason; however, Palmer distills the answer down to Arnold’s character defects and his narcissistic personality. This assessment seems right on the mark. Comparing Arnold with Washington in one volume amply makes Palmer’s case. When it came to character, the two men could not have been more different.

Palmer’s book should not be read as a comprehensive biography of each man but as an enlightening comparison of the two from which the reader can draw his own conclusions.

Born to the son of a bankrupt alcoholic Connecticut Yankee, Arnold was driven throughout his life by an unreasonable craving for acceptance. It was the colonial militia that gave him a taste of the status he craved. Arnold rose rapidly in the ranks and was soon a colonel in the Connecticut then Massachusetts Militia.

Early in the Revolutionary War, Arnold established his reputation by helping Ethan Allen save Fort Ticonderoga from the British. In leading 1,100 men in an unsuccessful assault on Quebec, Arnold was severely wounded and widely heralded as a hero. He was rewarded with a promotion to brigadier general.
His rewards seemed to increase his drive for outward approval. Becoming famous and more powerful seemed only to feed his ego and raise the stakes for more recognition. Arnold was stung when he was passed over for promotion to major general. He threatened to resign, but GEN George Washington dissuaded him.

Those who knew him best provided an important insight into Arnold’s personality. They agreed that Arnold had no real commitment to the crusade for independence. He seemed not to act out of a sense of honor, but merely sought a hero’s reward. The war itself had more meaning to him than the goals for which it was fought, as contrasted to Washington’s beliefs.

Arnold helped GEN Horatio Gates defeat British GEN John Burgoyne at the Battle of Bemis Heights and again was severely wounded. Burgoyne commented that Benedict Arnold was the British Army’s “most formidable opponent” in the war. Arnold was finally promoted to major general in May 1777, after driving a British raiding party out of Connecticut.

One of Arnold’s flaws was living well beyond his means, which caused him to frequently find himself short of cash. His courting of Peggy Shippen, a wealthy young woman whose family was sympathetic to the British, compounded his money problems. While Military Commander of Philadelphia, Arnold profited from some questionable financial transactions. The Pennsylvania Council subsequently brought him up on charges.

GEN Washington was sympathetic but could only advise Arnold to ask Congress for a court-martial to clear his name. Congress granted his request for a court-martial. On 3 April 1779, Congress ordered the Commander in Chief to court-martial Arnold. He was stunned and felt betrayed.

Arnold went ahead with his plans to marry Peggy Shippen, and during his honeymoon, he conceived the bold plan that would make his name synonymous with traitor. He reasoned that if America would reprimand him and fail to appreciate his talents and sacrifices, he would then offer his services to the British.

Arnold was subsequently found guilty of a single charge at the court-martial. Congress voted to confirm the verdict and ordered GEN Washington to issue an official reprimand. It took the reluctant Washington 2 months to comply with Congress’ order. But unfortunately, the die had been cast.

Appointed Commandant of West Point, the strategic fort on the Hudson, in 1780, Arnold secretly conceived a plan to deliver the fort to British GEN Clinton. British MAJ Andre, Arnold’s contact with the British before his defection, was caught delivering papers between Arnold and Clinton. MAJ Andre was hung as a spy, causing the British attitude toward Arnold to cool.

After switching sides, Arnold got along poorly with his British commander, GEN Clinton, who held him responsible for the loss of his adjutant, MAJ Andre. Arnold also made the mistake of criticizing Clinton to his superiors, inciting Clinton’s anger further. As a British brigadier, Arnold led undistinguished expeditions that burned Richmond and New London, CT.

As the war wound down, Arnold and his family left for England in 1782 to try to convince Parliament to reinvigorate the war in America. If the British won the war, Arnold felt he would at last be vindicated. A few months after Arnold’s arrival, Parliament voted to abandon the war, however, and doors began closing for Arnold. The remainder of his life was a series of business failures and disappointments. He died in 1800 of heart failure, already the subject of universal ridicule.

A memorial plaque at the West Point Chapel honoring war heroes conspicuously omits Arnold’s name. It reads simply, “Major General, Born 1740.” The name and date of death on the plaque have been blotted out, symbolizing the shunning of the hero turned traitor.

>LCDR Haines is a family physician who has served with Marines and is a frequent reviewer for the Gazette.