If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the new stand side by side and admit of being compared; when the energies of all men are searched by fear and by hope; when the historic glories of the old can be compensated by the rich possibilities of the new era? This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, The American Scholar (1837)
2012 by Arthur S. Lefkowitz
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Lefkowitz, Arthur S.
Benedict Arnold in the company of heroes: the lives of the extraordinary patriots who followed Arnold to Canada at the start of the American Revolution / Arthur S. Lefkowitz. 1st ed. p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-61121-111-5
ISBN 9781611211122 (epub)
ISBN 9781611211122 (prc)
1. Canadian Invasion, 1775-1776. 2. Arnold, Benedict, 1741-1801. 3. United StatesHistoryRevolution, 1775-1783Campaigns. 4. United StatesHistoryRevolution, 1775-1783Biography. 5. United States. Continental ArmyOfficersBiography. 6. SoldiersUnited StatesBiography. I. Title.
E231.L438 2012
973.3820922--dc23
2012032377
First edition, first printing
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Printed in the United States of America.
This book is dedicated
to my grandson Jonah Goth Lawrence
With the hope that he will help to keep the Spirit of '76 alive
The Arnold Expedition was launched during the first year of the Revolution when the rebel army had few uniforms or standard weapons. American soldiers wore their civilian clothing and brought their personal firearms and accouterments from home. Despite their appearance, these men were tough fighters. Similarly equipped patriot troops inflicted a crippling blow to the British army at Bunker Hill just two months prior to the organization of the Arnold Expedition. George C. Woodbridge, Author's Collection
Contents
Chapter One
The Patriotism of Benedict Arnold
Chapter Two
The Nursery of Heroes
Chapter Three
Montgomery and Arnold at Quebec
Chapter Four
A Winter of Despair
Chapter Five
Arnold's Men Return to the War
Chapter Six
Arnold's Men Fight On
Chapter Seven
The Last Roll Call
Chapter Eight
Benedict Arnold: The American Traitor and British General
Chapter Nine
The Last Veterans of the Arnold Expedition
Postscript
The Legacy of the Arnold Expedition
Illustrations and maps have been placed throughout the text for the convenience of the reader.
Preface
T he audacious Arnold Expedition of 1775 has always appealed to me as one of the most amazing stories in American military history. However, I was warned not to write a book on the subject since the campaign ultimately ended in failure and its commander, Benedict Arnold, is the most famous traitor in American history. However, I decided I could give the story of the Arnold Expedition a positive ending by concentrating on the military careers of the men who served under Arnold and survived the grueling campaign. The only Arnold Expedition veterans I knew about when I started my book were Daniel Morgan, Aaron Burr, and Henry Dearborn, but I felt certain that there must have been others who returned from captivity in Quebec and rejoined the fight for the patriot cause.
As I began researching the military records of Arnold's Kennebec Corps, I was amazed at how many Arnold Expedition veterans eagerly returned to the Continental Army, and at their impressive combat records. But as I began to craft my Arnold Expedition book, I realized that its logical and dramatic conclusion had to be their attack on Quebec on New Year's Eve, 1775. The result was Benedict Arnold's Army, which told the story of the Arnold Expedition and early American efforts to seize Canada during the Revolutionary War. However, I remained fascinated by the later military exploits of the men of Arnold's Kennebec Corps, and I continued to learn about them.
I also wanted to expand my study of the character of Arnold, who was a great motivator of men and a fearless combat officer. It took a dynamic leader to get a band of starving men to follow him through the Maine wilderness to Quebec in 1775, and to stand and fight against overwhelming odds at Valcour Bay in 1776.
Arnold is also a complicated historical figure, and I followed his career as a British general after he switched sides to provide clues to his character. This book is the result of my interest in the veterans of the Arnold Expedition and its ill-fated commander.
Benedict Arnold in the Company of Heroes also includes a summary account of the Arnold Expedition. I included this information because it is important to identify the names of the campaign's officers and some of the enlisted men in order to appreciate their subsequent contributions to the American war effort. My book Benedict Arnold's Army gives a more detailed account of the Arnold Expedition.
Benedict Arnold in the Company of Heroes continues the story of the Arnold Expedition by describing the imprisonment of Arnold's men at Quebec, their efforts to escape, their parole and exchange, and their ultimate return to active militarsy service. It is an incredible story of determined men who remained faithful to the cause of liberty. For many of them, the Arnold Expedition was their first experience of war, and they had the great opportunity to learn from Benedict Arnold, a courageous and charismatic officer who led by example. I believe that they took much of what they learned and observed from their experience under Arnold and applied it to the benefit of the fledgling Continental Army. The men who survived the Arnold Expedition went on to become some of the best officers in the patriot army. This is their storywhich constitutes the positive ending to the tale of the ill-fated Arnold Expedition and the future traitor who led it.
Acknowledgments
Writing a history book on a challenging subject is an excellent way to learn and Benedict Arnold in the Company of Heroes was no exception. Part of my education consisted of discussing my manuscript with eminent historians and serious Revolutionary War enthusiasts who critiqued my work and recommended sources for additional information. This is my opportunity to thank these people for sharing their expertise and ideas with me.
