Researching my new book God Save Benedict Arnold, I came to appreciate the central role that New York State played in Arnold’s career and in the Revolutionary War itself.
The first shots of the American Revolution rang out early on the morning of April 19, 1775 in Lexington, Massachusetts. Only three weeks later, on May 10, Benedict Arnold managed to capture the most strategic fortification in the colonies at Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain.
He then fitted out a small schooner with cannon and, on his own initiative, proceeded north on the lake into Canada. There he captured a sloop of war, the only British warship in the region, and secured Lake Champlain for the patriots.
His feat was one of the most critical accomplishments of the war. The strategic objective of the British during the first two years of the war was to take control of the
waterway that ran from Montreal to New York City. This was that era’s superhighway through the colonies. British dominance there would have split the colonies, isolated New England, and most likely won the war for the redcoats.
Why is the Ticonderoga victory rarely emphasized in the history books? For one thing, it wasn’t much of a battle — the attackers found the British asleep. But the fact is that history was later revised to take credit away from Arnold after he proved a traitor.
In some accounts, the credit for the capture went to Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys, who supplied the manpower for the operation. Allen was an opportunist who saw the Revolution as a chance to cement his land claims in what is now the state of Vermont. His vigilante band had been harassing the authorities who were trying to maintain New York’s claim to the region.
But the idea for capturing the fort came from Benedict Arnold. He supplied the leadership. And through initiative and skill he secured the lake and protected the fort from being quickly retaken. He also organized the artillery from the fort, which was later used to drive the British out of Boston.
The value of the Fort Ticonderoga was proven the following year, when the British mounted their first invasion from Canada. To do so, they needed a fleet of armed
vessels to counter the Americans’ warships. Otherwise, their troop transports would have been vulnerable to attack.
The summer of 1776 saw an arms race, with both sides building gunboats and ships at opposite ends of Champlain. Benedict Arnold led the nautical effort to stop the invasion. The long delay while the British tried to amass overwhelming firepower worked to the advantage of the patriots.
On October 11, 1776, Arnold’s small fleet finally fought the much larger British force at Valcour Island, just south of today’s Plattsburgh. The initial battle was a stand-off.
Further firing as the British chased Arnold south on the lake largely ruined the American fleet. But by the time the enemy approached Ticonderoga with their main army, it was too late in the season to begin a siege. They returned to Canada — the American effort was a success.
The British did not give up on their plan for an invasion from Canada. In 1777, General John Burgoyne led a powerful army down Lake Champlain. This time, there
was no resistance from American warships, which had largely been destroyed in the action of 1776. Burgoyne took Ticonderoga without firing a shot.
Benedict Arnold now joined Horatio Gates to mount a defense on high ground just south of the village of Saratoga (today’s Schuylerville). Burgoyne had to fight them in order to reach Albany.
They fought two battles, collectively known as the Battle of Saratoga. In both, Burgoyne tried to sweep around the left end of the American line; in both, Benedict Arnold commanded the left division.
In the battle of September 19, he fought Burgoyne to a standstill. On October 7, he decisively defeated the enemy and personally led a charge that smashed through the British field fortifications.
Arnold was severely wounded in the attack, but his heroism forced Burgoyne to retreat and, a few days later, to surrender his entire army. Saratoga became known as the turning point of the war.
Over the years, stories with little basis in fact held that Arnold’s role at Saratoga was minimal. But many historians today consider him to be the essential leader of the essential victory of the war.
Arnold was not finished in New York. In 1780, after his decision to defect to the British — the reason remains murky — he gained command of the lower Hudson Valley.
He planned to hand over to the British the fort at West Point, which guarded the river. The plot was foiled by chance. Arnold escaped to British-held city of New York, and joined their army as a brigadier general. He fought against Americans in Virginia and in 1781 led a raid on New London, Connecticut, close to his hometown of Norwich.
Benedict Arnold has always been a problematic character, both hero and villain, a champion of the Revolution who tried to destroy the Revolution. Yet his complex and paradoxical nature makes him one of the most interesting figures of the era.
His story also offers a cautionary tale. We have to remain aware of the danger of paradoxical figures, who abound in history. Just in the Revolutionary era, Aaron Burr, Charles Lee, Benjamin Church, and Ethan Allen himself all served the American cause and, in one way or another, wavered from it. None went as far as Benedict Arnold, but his example reminds us of the fickle qualities of human nature.
It should serve to keep us always on our guard against treasonous tendencies even in our heroes.
Jack Kelly’s God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America’s Most Hated Man has just been published by St. Martin’s Press. Kirkus Reviews described the book as “a dazzling addition to the history of the American Revolution.” Kelly lives and works in the Hudson Valley. His Substack newsletter is called “Talking to America.” You can read more of his work at the New York Almanack here.
Book purchases made through this link support New York Almanack’s mission to report new publications relevant to New York State.
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There would not in all likelihood be a USA without this man. Especially because of his action in the first 3 years of the war alone. Stopped the British twice from invading from Canada, almost helped us take Canada, then stopped them finally at Saratoga (Daniel Morgan also doesn’t get enough credit either), not to mention his fighting in New England striking fear and earning admiration from the British and colonists alike along the way. Engaged in many an argument over the man, the most recent this past summer with an interpreter at the Saratoga battlefield
” But the fact is that history was later revised to take credit away from Arnold after he proved a traitor.”
So true…….
Much of our published history has been revised to serve the efforts of one group or another. This is totally unethical to a true historian.
When you go back and research the original documents and reports published at the time of the incident you get a completely different story from what has been published in recent years.
” But the fact is that history was later revised to take credit away from Arnold after he proved a traitor.”
So true…….
Much of our published history has been revised to serve the efforts of one group or another. This is totally unethical to a true historian.
When you go back and research the original documents and reports published at the time of the incident you get a completely different story from what has been published in recent years.
It is true that Benedict Arnold served a very important role in the battles leading up to the great American victory at Saratoga in October of 1777 which was the turnign point of the American Revolution, particularly the Battle of Freeman’s farm in September 1777. Hiwever, Arnold quarreled with his comanding officer General Horatio Gates over the strategy at the final Battle of Bemis Heights and Gates had to relieve him of his command.Gates defensive strategy of awaiting an improvident attack by General Burgoyne on October 7, 1777 proved decsive resulting in the American victory.
It is unfortunate tht to this day Arnold, who was George Washington’sfavorite, and later betrayed his country, is in certain quarters is said to be primarily responsible for the victory at Saratga largely ignoring the primary role of General Gates who ws the commanding officer and designed the starategy. Unlike the traitor Benedeict Arnold, Gates , despite his deffeat in 1780 at the Battel of Camden in South Carolina, later after tthe revolutionary War moved to New York City where he was one of the leaders of the Society of Cinncinnati and a critical factor in the New York City elections of 1800 which led to the victory of Thomas Jefferson over John Adams, the defeat of Alexnander Hamilton’s Federalist party and the rise of the New ork State Democratic party, which would rule the City for the next 160 years.
As I argued in an article in October 8, 2023 in this publication., iit is too bad that there seems to be a fasciantion with Benedict Arnold apparently because he later betrayed his country, while Gneral Horatio Gates, a true patriot who played a very important role in the nation’s founding is largerly ignored. Fortunately the DAR in 2012 marked his grave in Trinity churchyard which was previously unmarked for 200 years and the Lower Manhattan Historical Association honors him every year in its Saaratoga Yorktown celebration commemorating every October the American victories at Saratoga and Yorktown.
It is time to set the record straight on this important elecment of this state’s history.
I agree with Sean and Peter. My Arnold family (not related to Gen. Benedict) settled in Saratoga Co (then Albany Co) in 1799. I went to school in the shadow of the Saratoga Battle Monument south of Schuylerville (Old Saratoga). Being called “Benny” by classmates was not a compliment in the 1950s!
And in Stalinist fashion, note how Arnold is replaced by a child in the much-used painting of Allen confronting Delaplace at Fort Ticonderoga!
True Brian. Having recently visiting Fort Ti on it’s opening day this year for the first time in decades made me think of that painting and Arnold’s history with the fort and area. Then later this year at the battlefield again, especially at the boot monument. It is sad even today in schools the contribution of Arnold and not just about Ticonderoga to our country is glossed over, if not straight up ignored EXCEPT his betrayal. It is sad from a historical viewpoint, even worse we’ve seen this hydra monster rearing it’s ugly head too much again in recent years in our country about it’s history. In many ways Arnold is a perfect synopsis of our country, the good, bad and ugly.
Let’s set the record straight. The idea to capture Fort Ticonderoga did not originate with Benedict Arnold as his fan club would like to believe. Documentary evidence shows that John Brown, a patriot lawyer from Massachusetts told Samuel Adams and Joseph Warren back in March 1775 that the fort should be captured. Brown had been sent to Canada by Adams and Warren to take the temperature of the Canadians, seeking out whether they would support the rebel cause. On his return, Brown stopped at Fort Ticonderoga and assessed its vulnerability. Arnold got information from Samuel Parsons in April 1775 about the fort and usurped it as his own idea. Allen and the GMBs captured the fort with Arnold along as a hanger-on.
Literally, anybody, with any kind of military acumen even before Lexington and Concord would have had Fort Ti in mind to be taken. Same goes for Canada. Now, we can play the pissing game about who thought up the idea of attacking both, yet DESPITE his betrayal Arnold’s name is still talked about suggesting the idea of taking both Ti and Canada. WHO actually followed through with those actions not just words is even fact Arnold. Your idea as Arnold being hanger on in any shape of form suggest serious jaundiced and foolish eyes, especially after the fanboy comment made by you. Now if you cannot admire and appreciate what he did for our country before his betrayal is sad because I stand by my comment that without his leadership and action this country may not exist in it’s present form at all. Yet can at the same time despise the man for the betrayal of our country at the same time. Basically it’s akin to the ability to chew bubble gum and walk at the same time
True Brian. Having recently visiting Fort Ti on it’s opening day this year for the first time in decades made me think of that painting and Arnold’s history with the fort and area. Then later this year at the battlefield again, especially at the boot monument. It is sad even today in schools the contribution of Arnold and not just about Ticonderoga to our country is glossed over, if not straight up ignored EXCEPT his betrayal. It is sad from a historical viewpoint, even worse we’ve seen this hydra monster rearing it’s ugly head too much again in recent years in our country about it’s history. In many ways Arnold is a perfect synopsis of our country, the good, bad and ugly.
Ouch. Just look at the documentation as an historian should do, Sean. Your lack of knowledge regarding the capture of the fort is astounding. Arnold showed up with no men, the GMBs refused to follow him, and Ethan Allen permitted him to come along on the raid as long as he stayed on Allen “left side.” I’m sure your military acumen knows what that meant. Not much leadership on Arnold’s part. BTW, John Brown was at the capture of the fort with Allen too. Arnold was barely a supporting actor. And remember, if you know, what John Brown said of Arnold in 1777: “Money is this man’s God and to get enough of it, he would sacrifice his country.” Pretty good assessment of your boy.