Arnold

A Website Devoted to Interesting Events in American History

INTERESTING HISTORY NEWSLETTER

June 8, 2009

One of the more successful officers in the early days of the American Revolution was a man named by the name of Arnold. Arnold was born January 14, 1741 in Norwich, Connecticut. Although his family financial situation was quite well early on in his younger years, things eventually began to go poorly prompting Arnold's father to turn to the local Taverns.

Arnold’s early attempts in the business world met with mixed success and eventually, his business dealings turned to smuggling. Before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, Arnold became a Captain in the Governor’s Second Company of Guards and when word spread of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Arnold marched off to action against the British. Although his early success wasn’t greatly appreciated by his immediate superiors, he did gain the attention and trust of George Washington.

One of his first major campaigns was to march to take Quebec, however a combination of bad luck and bad weather doomed the mission. In spite of that, George Washington was impressed with what Arnold had accomplished under the circumstances and promoted him to Brigadier General. Once again Arnold had a way of creating enemies of his immediate superiors.

In the fall of 1777, Arnold found himself under the leadership of General Horatio Gates. Gates was intensely competitive and often felt threatened by those whom we was competing with for advancement. After Gates refused Arnolds requests for reinforcements, removed some of Arnold’s forces without his knowledge and then failed to acknowledge his participation in the Battle of Freeman’s Farm, Arnold had had enough. When Arnold threatened to leave, Gates instead pulled his command for insubordination. Refusing to give in, Arnold, along with Daniel Morgan and his reflemen, lead his men to attack the center of the enemy’s line with great success. This was the famous Battle of Saratoga considered by many to be the turning point in the American Revolutionary War.

Unfortunately for Arnold, his horse was shot in the action and fell on the same leg that had been injured in a previous battle leaving him crippled. His career was not over however. Eventually Washington would appoint him commandant of the city of Philadelphia after the British had evacuated. After a series of questionable business dealings in the late 1770’s, Arnold once again found himself in trouble but this time it resulted in his court-martial in spite of Washington’s continued support.

Arnold’s damaged pride, his shaky financial situation, and the lack of appreciation he felt after everything he had done (including the sacrifice of his leg), finally took its toll and in 1779, Arnold began to make deals with the British. Although Arnold was not that famous at the time, his name is one of the most well known in American history. Arnold was actually his last name. His first name was Benedict.

Mark Bowman

Click here to sign up for the Interesting History Newsletter

BENEDICT ARNOLD BOOKS

Benedict Arnold
(Books)

Click picture to buy this book

Every account of the American Revolution mentions Benedict Arnold and brands him—correctly—as a traitor. There’s no question that Arnold, an American army officer, switched his loyalty to the British side. Over the years, however, historians, partisans, and gossips have added to Arnold’s unsavory reputation by distorting, embroidering, or simply ignoring factual details.

In this informed and thoughtful account, Jim Murphy goes in search of the real man behind the “traitor” label, rumors, and folktales that became part of the Benedict Arnold legend. Drawing on Arnold’s few surviving writings and on the letters, memoirs, and political documents of his contemporaries, Murphy builds a fascinating portrait of a brilliant man, consistently undervalued by his peers, who made a choice that continues to reverberate through American history. Dramatic accounts of crucial battles and political maneuvers round out this lively biography of a patriot who could have been a hero.

By purchasing history books or DVD's from the Interesting History web site, you are helping to cover the expenses and keep the website free for everyone. Thank you.

Bookmark us!

This Day in History (Home)

Interesting History Facts

◦	The Star Spangled Banner
◦	The Mayflower Beer Run
◦	Women in the Civil War
◦	The Gettysburg Address
◦	The First Submarine
◦	New York Dixie
◦	Interesting Civil War Facts
◦	Our Founding Fathers
◦	The War of 1812
◦	Sherrod Bryant

Interesting History Myths

◦	Myth: George Washington was the First President of the United States
◦	Myth: Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone
◦	Myth: Daniel Boone wore a coonskin cap
◦	Myth: Betsy Ross designed the first American flag
◦	Myth: Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin
◦	Myth: Christopher Columbus discovered the earth is round
◦	Myth: Abraham Lincoln's childhood log cabin is on display in Hodgenville, Kentucky
◦	Myth: The Civil War was all about slavery
◦	Myth: In April of 1775, Paul Revere rode through the streets from Boston to Lexington yelling "The British Are Coming"
◦	Myth: The Pilgrims lived in log cabins
◦	Myth: During the Civil War, Lincoln once said about Grant's drinking: "If I knew what brand he used, I'd send every general a barrel"
◦	Myth: Charles Lindbergh was the first man to fly nonstop across the Atlantic
◦	Myth: George Washington fathered several children by his slaves
◦	Myth: When Confederate president, Jefferson Davis was arrested after the Civil War, he was wearing his wife's clothes
◦	Myth: The Liberty Bell rang on July 4, 1776 in celebration of American independence
◦	Myth: The reason Germany got off to such a fast start in World War II was because of its pre-war preparations

Interesting Presidential Facts and Trivia

◦	Presidents Adams through Jackson (alphabetic)
◦	John Adams
◦	Books About John Adams
◦	John Quincy Adams
◦	Books About John Quincy Adams
◦	Chester Arthur
◦	James Buchanan
◦	George H.W. Bush
◦	George W. Bush
◦	Jimmy Carter
◦	Grover Cleveland
◦	Grover Cleveland (2nd term)
◦	William J. Clinton
◦	Calvin Coolidge
◦	Dwight Eisenhower
◦	Millard Fillmore
◦	Gerald Ford
◦	James Garfield
◦	Ulysses S. Grant
◦	Books And DVD's About Ulysses S. Grant
◦	Warren Harding
◦	Benjamin Harrison
◦	William Henry Harrison
◦	Books About William Henry Harrison
◦	Rutherford B. Hayes
◦	Herbert Hoover
◦	Andrew Jackson
◦	Books About Andrew Jackson
◦	Presidents Jefferson through Wilson (alphabetic)
◦	Thomas Jefferson
◦	Books About Thomas Jefferson
◦	Andrew Johnson
◦	Lyndon Johnson
◦	John F. Kennedy
◦	Abraham Lincoln
◦	Books and DVD's About Abraham Lincoln
◦	James Madison
◦	Books About James Madison
◦	William McKinley
◦	James Monroe
◦	Books About James Monroe
◦	Richard Nixon
◦	Barack Obama
◦	Books About Barack Obama
◦	Franklin Pierce
◦	James Polk
◦	Books About James Polk
◦	Ronald Reagan
◦	Franklin D. Roosevelt
◦	Theodore Roosevelt
◦	William H. Taft
◦	Zachary Taylor
◦	Books About Zachary Taylor
◦	Harry Truman
◦	John Tyler
◦	Books About John Tyler
◦	Martin Van Buren
◦	Books About Martin Van Buren
◦	George Washington
◦	Books About George Washington
◦	Woodrow Wilson

Civil War Generals

The Origin of Common Items

History Quizzes

Interesting History Newletter Archive

◦	Lincoln's Pocket Watch
◦	George Washington: The Man (part 1)
◦	George Washington: The Man (part 2)
◦	The True Story of Bass Reeves
◦	The True Story of Sam Wilson
◦	The Incredible Story of Sam Whittemore
◦	Julia and Hiram
◦	The Boston Massacre Lawyer
◦	Women in the American Civil War
◦	Beyond the Medal
◦	Jackson and Benton
◦	Arnold
◦	King and Colvin
◦	Stand Watie
◦	Carbine Williams
◦	George Read
◦	Newsletter Signup

History Movie and TV Previews

Books, Audio Books, & DVD's

◦	The American Revolution
◦	The American Civil War

Link Request

Links Page

Feedback

Click Here for Hundreds of Free Books and Resources About United States History

This Day in History (Home) This Day in World History Interesting History Facts Interesting History Myths Interesting Presidential Facts and Trivia Civil War Generals The Origin of Common Items History Quizzes Interesting History Newletter Archive History Movie and TV Previews Books, Audio Books, & DVD's Link Request Links Page Feedback Site Map

INTERESTING HISTORY NEWSLETTER

June 8, 2009

Arnold

BENEDICT ARNOLD BOOKS

Benedict Arnold (Books)

Benedict Arnold
(Books)