Since her launching in 2005, the mission of the General Arnold and her crew has been to offer the public an accurate portrayal of life as a sailor of the 18th and early 19th century.  Through in-depth research, attention to detail, and dedication to the past we strive to present a glimpse into the various aspects of life at sea, including the weaponry, seamanship, naval tactics, and music.

 

 

 

"They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters"

 

Psalms 107:23  

 

 

 

Our Namesake

General Benedict Arnold 

 

Another facet of our mission is to bring attention to one of the greatest fighting generals in America’s History, our namesake, General Benedict Arnold.  Sadly, the name Benedict Arnold has become synonymous with traitor.  Yet few Americans actually know who Benedict Arnold was, let alone the contributions he made to America’s freedom.  It is true that Benedict Arnold committed treason against the American cause for independence, and for that he will forever pay the price of infamy, and rightly so.  But there is another Benedict Arnold that deserves to be recognized.  For without the leadership, courage, and charisma of this man in the early years of the American Revolution prior to his treason, it is very possible that the cause for American independence would have been lost.  

Benedict Arnold was born in Norwich, Connecticut on January 14, 1741. Arnold was of old New England stock that included one of the early governors of Rhode Island. Arnold's mother, Hannah Waterman King, was a wealthy widow, prior to marrying Benedict’s father. His father’s alcoholism and poor business decisions eventually led to the family’s financial decline.  The loss of this family fortune and resulting humiliation played a large role in his decision-making throughout his life.  As a youngster, Arnold attended school at Canterbury, Ct., during which time some of his siblings died from the Yellow Fever.

With the family fortune in ruins, Benedict Arnold was withdrawn from school. With too much time on his hands and an adventurous spirit, the young Arnold often found himself in trouble.  In an effort to channel this youthful energy, his mother apprenticed Benedict to his cousin’s apothecary business, where he worked for several years.  During this time, Arnold left (some historians suggest he ran away) on several occasions during the French and Indian War as part of the Connecticut Militia. 

In 1759 Arnold's mother died, with the death of his father coming two years later. Arnold left the apothecary business and traveled to Europe where he purchased supplies for his own apothecary that he established in New Haven. By this time the only surviving member of his immediate family was his sister Hannah.  Hannah became his assistant in the business, which also included shipping and smuggling.  In 1767, Benedict Arnold married Margaret Mansfield and had three sons.

Prior to the American Revolution, Arnold served as a Captain in the Connecticut Governor's Second Company of Guards. In the April of 1775, Arnold received word of the Battles of Lexington and Concord and led his troops to Cambridge, Massachusetts to join the newly formed American army.  Once there and eager to make a name for himself, he asked for permission of the Massachusetts Committee of Safety to capture Ft. Ticonderoga.  Arnold was well aware of the legendary fort's strategic importance, and of the large number of cannon and military supplies that Ticonderoga could provide to the American cause.

By May of 1775, Arnold had made his way to the Green mountains of Vermont where he met Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys.  Ethan Allen, with an ego equally as large as Arnold, also had plans to capture Ticonderoga.  Unable to convince Allen of his right to command, Arnold agreed to a joint command and attacked Fort Ticonderoga at dawn on May 10.    Taken totally unaware, the British garrison surrendered the fort without resistance.  The ambiguous nature of Arnold’s authority led to several arguments with Allen and others including Colonel Easton who Arnold challenged to a duel.  Easton refused and eventually left Ticonderoga.   Personal conflicts with fellow officers would be a trait that shadowed Arnold for his entire life. 

                                               

One of the few areas in which Arnold and Allen agreed was the need for an invasion of Canada.  However, for reasons of seniority and politics, Arnold was relieved of his command by the Massachusetts Committee of Safety and placed under the command of Colonel Benjamin Hinman.  Arnold, with his volatile temper, took this as a personal affront, resigned his commission, and dismissed his troops.  He removed to Albany where he spent the season informing the Continental Congress of his situation, and seeking their support. 

Due to a severe attack of gout, and receiving word of his wife having fallen ill, Arnold returned to Connecticut.  Upon his arrival, he learned of Margaret’s death, and his tattered financial state.  He was ordered to Cambridge to settle his accounts, and was soon made a Colonel in the Continental Army.  Washington’s plans for the invasion of Canada had become a priority, and his choice to lead one prong of the invasion was the brash Arnold.  In the fall of 1775, Arnold was ordered to lead his force through the vast wilderness of Maine, where he would link up with American General Montgomery below the walls of Quebec.  Arnold’s force left Cambridge on September 19, 1775, and the resulting march through the frozen wilderness of Maine was an incredible example of the leadership and daring that he often displayed. Even today his march through Maine remains one of the most noteworthy feats in American military history.

Unfortunately for Arnold and his men, the advanced season and severe weather proved a nearly insurmountable obstacle in their advance on Quebec.  Moreover, difficult terrain, leaky bateaux, damaged or insufficient rations resulted in desertions and numerous fatalities amongst the ranks.  To make matters worse, a letter from Arnold to Schuyler fell into the hands of the British warning, them of the American advance.  Despite these hardships, in early November Arnold finally reached the St. Lawrence opposite Quebec with six hundred men.

                                                         

American forces led by General Richard Montgomery, which had come by way of Lake Champlain and Montreal, Canada, joined Arnold’s force.  The combined American forces attacked Quebec during a blinding blizzard on December 31, but the attack failed.  General Montgomery was killed early in the battle, and Arnold was severely wounded in the leg.   Now in command, Arnold refused to end the siege, giving orders from his sickbed.  Hearing of Arnold’s determination and gallantry, Washington promoted him to Brigadier-General.  However, with the coming of spring and the subsequent arrival of British reinforcements down the St. Laurence River, the American army had no choice but to abandon the siege of Quebec and evacuate Canada.  As the last American boat left Canadian soil in the spring of 1776, Arnold shot his horse, and stepped aboard as the last man to retreat.

During the early summer of 1776, Arnold found himself fighting legal battles rather than the British.  Several officers had accused Arnold of plundering Montreal during the retreat from Canada.  Arnold placed the blame on Moses Hazen who requested a court martial to clear his name.  Upon Hazen’s acquittal, Arnold turned on the members of the court martial challenging their members to a dual.  Arnold again added to the growing list of life-long enemies.

                                                         

With the threat of invasion from the northern water route of Lake Champlain, the Americans under the direction of Benedict Arnold undertook a massive shipbuilding effort in response to reports of British ships being constructed to the north at St. Johns.  A classic arms race was underway.  Despite the lack of sufficient numbers of sailors and shipwrights, the American fleet was completed and underway by August, due largely to the leadership and determination of Arnold.   Arnold struggled to crew his vessels with experienced sailors, and was forced to rely on army conscripts.  He wrote to General Gates that his ships were manned by “a wretched and motley crew.” 

                           

 By October of 1776, Arnold’s fleet of 15 vessels had taken a defensive position at Valcour Island on Lake Champlain, and on the 11^th the much more powerful British fleet engaged them.  During the daylong battle Arnold’s vessels were battered, with the gondola Philadelphia sinking just before the sunset.  Knowing that his fleet could not withstand another day of fighting, Arnold managed to escape under the cover of nightfall and head south toward Ticonderoga.  On the 13^th, the British fleet caught up to the fleeing American vessels, however, forcing Arnold to burn many of his ships on the eastern shore of the lake in the bay that today carries his name.  He and his men were barely able to escape to Fort Ticonderoga on foot.  Only four of Arnold’s vessels survived to reach Ticonderoga.  Because of the lateness of the season the British were unable to follow up on their naval victory over the Americans, and had no choice but to return to Canada to wait for the Spring campaign season.

                                               

The defeat of Arnold’s Fleet on Lake Champlain was a tactical defeat for the Americans.  Strategically, however, the very presence of the American fleet, due in large part to Arnold’s leadership, forced the British to delay their invasion of the American colonies by one year.   Had the British advanced on Ticonderoga earlier that year, it is unlikely that the Americans could have stopped them.  At that time, the American army and their defenses at Ticonderoga were severely weakened by disease and desertions following the disastrous Canadian campaign.  The delay created by the presence of the American fleet allowed the Americans to augment their ranks and strengthen their defenses.  Moreover, with the withdrawal of  the British army to Canada for winter quarters, the Americans were able to send desperately needed troops from Ticonderoga to Washington’s army to the south.  This infusion of troops contributed to Washington's decisive victories at Princeton and Trenton that winter.  But most importantly, the respite provided by Arnold's delaying action set the stage for the American victory at the Battles of Saratoga.

Despite Arnold’s valor and exemplary leadership on Lake Champlain, his political problems worsened.  In February 1777 Congress promoted five other brigadier generals, all of whom were Arnold's juniors, to the rank of major general. Only Washington's pleas kept Arnold from resigning from the army. Regardless of his being passed over, Arnold would soon again prove his courage.  While visiting his New Haven home, Arnold received reports of a British assault on American supply depots in Danbury, Connecticut. He rallied the local militia and raced to oppose the advancing British threat. Too late to stop the destruction of the supplies, Arnold did force the British to retreat. In honor of his deeds at Danbury, he was promoted to Major General on May 2.  Nevertheless, Congress still refused to return his seniority.  In addition, accusations of illegal conduct while in Montreal still haunted him, and as a result he resigned from the army in July of 1777.  They were slights to his honor that he would never forget.

With the rising British threat against Ticonderoga yet again in 1777, Washington had recommended Arnold to aid Schuyler in the defense of the region.  The temptation was too great for Arnold, so he put his resignation aside and headed for Lake Champlain.  But Arnold’s support of General Schuyler would place him on a collision course with General Horatio Gates.

Soon after reporting to Gates’ army north of Albany, he volunteered to lead a successful relief force to Fort Schuyler on the western approaches of the Mohawk River. The American fort had been under siege by a diversionary British force under Barry St. Leger.  The British capture of the fort would have been disastrous, as it would have exposed the western flank of Albany, and caught the American army between St. Leger’s force, and Burgoyne’s army approaching from the north.

                                              

Arnold immediately returned to the main American force entrenched at Saratoga, where he soon found himself at odds with the commanding General Gates.  When the Battle of Freeman's Farm began on September 19^th, 1777, Arnold was more than ready to lead his New England troops again Burgoyne’s army, and the New Englanders were more than willing to follow their popular General.  The more cautious Gates, however, was less enthusiastic and refused to reinforce Arnold when he gained the advantage against the British during the battle.   Even worse, Gates withdrew some of Arnold’s forces without his knowledge.  The resulting hard feelings were exacerbated when Gates failed to mention Arnold’s decisive actions in his after-battle reports to Congress.  Enraged, Arnold again threatened to resign his commission, only to have his command removed by Gates as punishment for what Gates saw as Arnold’s insubordination. 

Without a command, Arnold remained in camp in a state of limbo until October 7, when the Battle of Saratoga began.  Arnold paced his tent like a caged lion at the sounds of cannon in the distance.  Unable to endure it any longer, Arnold ordered his aides to saddle a horse and he charged into the rising battle.  Up until that moment, the tide of the battle was wavering between Americans and British.  However, cheering American troops now rallied at the sight of Arnold racing through a flurry of lead along the line of battle.  Again and again the Americans assaulted the British lines with Arnold at the lead, until finally the British lines began to collapse.  With victory at hand, Arnold was shot in the same leg wounded two years before at Quebec, as his horse was shot from under him. Pinned beneath the dead animal, Arnold continued to bark orders to his troops.  Ten days later, while Arnold lay recuperating under the care of Phillip Schuyler, Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga.  As a direct result of this American success, the French would come to the aid of the fledgling nation.  The victory at Saratoga, considered today as one of the 15 most decisive battles in world history, was due in no small part to the courage and leadership of Arnold. 

Physically, Arnold slowly recuperated, though he would walk with a limp for the rest of his life adding yet another blow to the pride of this once athletic man.   Psychologically, Arnold had received too many wounds to his fragile honor that would not heal.  Arnold spent the winter in Valley Forge, and following the British evacuation of Philadelphia, he was appointed as the city’s commandant by Washington.

In Philadelphia he met Peggy Shippen, a vivacious young woman, and one of three daughters of Judge Edward Shippen. Arnold, now 38 years old, was immediately taken by the pretty Tory who had previously shared the company of Captain John Andre’ during the recent British occupation of Philadelphia.  Courting her vigorously, Arnold succeeded in winning the hand of 18-year old Peggy, and overcoming the resistance of her father, they were married.  His marriage into the Shippen family thrust him into the upper crust of Philadelphia society.  His new life style, however, was well above his financial means.  Arnold began to seek alternative means of income and became involved in shady business dealings including real estate speculation, smuggling, and the use of public wagons for personal business.  Under constant scrutiny by his numerous enemies, Arnold was soon brought up on charges and court-martialed.  He denied the charges vehemently, but eventually was found guilty of using government wagons for personal interests, and issuing a pass to a ship engaged in smuggling, in which he had a personal investment.  The most severe result of Arnold's actions was the public censure by Washington denouncing his misconduct.  For Arnold, this was the fatal blow, so assisted by his new bride Peggy, he began corresponding with the British in May of 1779. 

                                                           

 

Arnold convinced Washington to give him command of West Point on the Hudson River.  Arnold new that this strategic fortification was the key to controlling the colonies, and that the British would pay dearly to gain its possession.  His contact during these secret communications was no other than Peggy’s previous suitor John Andre’, now adjutant general and intelligence chief to Sir Henry Clinton commanding at the City of New York. Andre’ served as Clinton’s emissary and courier during his negotiations for West Point with Arnold.

                           

Following one meeting with Arnold, Andre’ was forced to return to New York City by land, when his ship, the Vulture, was forced by American troops to withdraw down the Hudson River.  Andre’ was subsequently captured along with the West Point documents in his possession that implicated Benedict Arnold.  Hearing of Andre’s capture Arnold was able to make his escape to New York City where he offered his services to the British.  For his defection, he received a commission as a Brigadier General, land in Canada, and a large monetary bounty.  Andre’, on the other hand, was tried by the Americans as a spy, and hung at the gallows.

Arnold served during several campaigns against the Americans but never received any significant commands of his own.  This was probably due to the lack of trust that the British had for him following his treason.  Eventually Arnold and his family moved to London where he struggled for acceptance in British society, many of whose members showed open contempt for the traitorous American General.  Leaving his family in London, Arnold relocated to Canada to establish a shipping business; however the business soon failed.  Arnold’s lack of success in Canada was probably due in part to the severe dislike for him by the local Tories who had relocated to the region following the loss of their lands at the end of the American Revolution.  Eventually he returned to Peggy and his family in London.   He sought a military commission when war broke out between France and Britain, but his services were refused.  A broken man, Benedict Arnold died in 1801 in the country he had once sworn to defeat.   His wife Peggy followed three years later.

Benedict Arnold will be forever remembered as America’s greatest traitor.  The reasons why he chose to betray the cause of American freedom for which he fought so dearly are as complex as the man himself, and without question went beyond mere honor or money.  But he was undoubtedly resentful over the perceived slights incurred on him by Congress, fellow officers, and his numerous political enemies.  In addition, his finances were in ruin, which he blamed in part to the failure of Congress to honor his accounts while in Canada.  And he no doubt felt bitter over the promotion of officers above him that he believed to be his junior in both rank and ability.  Another factor may have been the American alliance with France, which Arnold believed to be the trading of one European yoke for yet another.  Moreover, his service to what he now believed to be an unappreciative country left him partially crippled from wounds received while serving valiantly at Quebec and Saratoga.  It may be that he simply grew weary of a cause that he now thought lost.

Whatever his reasons, one cannot help but wonder what other course history would have taken had Arnold perished from his wounds during his valiant service at Saratoga.  It is likely that he would have taken his place in our nation's history alongside Washington, Lafayette, Grant, Patton and the rest of America’s greatest fighting generals.

 

 

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