Benedict Arnold grew up in one of the richest families in Norwich, Connecticut. But after a family tragedy, Arnold's father turned to alcohol and soon the family was deeply in debt.
The old man finally died in 1762, leaving his son with nothing but debts and a fouled family name.
Arnold dedicated his life trying to recover his family name.
That was how Benedict Arnold lived his life. There were long periods of hard work, occasionally interrupted by explosions of temper. The work part was paying off - his business was thriving.
As one of the first volunteers, Arnold was elected to be the leader of the New Haven militia. It was the first of many steps he thought he needed to take to restore the Arnold name.
Everyone still remembered the long decline of Arnold's family, still talked about his father's public drunkenness, his own wild youth. This is what made the coming war with Britain so important to Arnold. Yes, he believed in the cause of American independence, but there was much more to it. War would be a heaven-sent chance to wipe out the marks against him, to soar up and over everyone who'd ever dared to judge him.
Benedict Arnold was a brilliant strategist and courageous on the battlefield. He solved the problem of finding cannons and led (with the help of the Green Mountain Boys) the ten-minute attack on the British fort, Ticonderoga. He captured the British warship George without firing a shot. He led the attack to Quebec, marching his troops hundreds of miles in winter temperatures. He built America's first naval fleet and he led the Battle for Valcour Island.
Benedict Arnold's little navy was gone. But it had kept the American Revolution alive.
As talented as he was on the battlefield, Benedict Arnold was tormented by free time and politics. And he wasn't the only man who had military ambitions. Along the way, Arnold made enemies.
What led Benedict Arnold, once the greatest hero of the American Revolutionary War, to become the greatest villain in American history? The Notorious Benedict Arnold is a good read for anyone who has an interest in American history, historical fiction, nonfiction, or fascinating reads about real heroes and villains.
Rating: 9 out of 10 stars
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