Little remains to show that the controversial American military leader, Benedict Arnold (1741-1801), lived in Saint John for several years after the American Revolution, except for a plaque on a building in the uptown area of the city. His name became synonymous with treason because of his involvement in an unsuccessful plot to turn over the Continental army’s fortifications at West Point on the Hudson River to the British in 1780, and his later appointment as an officer in the British army. In that capacity, he led successful expeditions against Charleton, South Carolina and New London, Connecticut before leaving American for London. In addition to remaining the worst example of a traitor in American history for United States citizens, Arnold continues to fascinate historians and recently was portrayed in the AMC historical drama Turn, a fictional account of espionage during the American War of Independence.
In this episode, we discuss how historians have portrayed Benedict Arnold and how his early life may have shaped his character and approach to life, which combined a strong sense of personal honour, self-confidence, stubbornness and bravery with a lack of diplomacy and an inability to appreciate politics. The Connecticut-born entrepreneur was an early convert to the protests that led the Thirteen colonies to resist British economic policies in the 1760s and 1770s and eventually take up arms in the quest for independence. Despite only limited militia experience, Arnold emerged as a high-profile combat leader with superb tactical and strategic sense. His role in the capture of Ticonderoga, the invasion of Quebec and the retreat from Quebec early in the war placed him in the centre of the action. His leadership of a small flotilla on Lake Champlain in 1776 was instrumental in delaying a British counter offensive and his aggressive role in the Saratoga campaign the following year not only helped destroy that counter offensive, but also contributed to France joining the war as an ally of the American Patriots. Despite his considerable military contributions, Arnold had enemies in Congress and the Continental army. He was also suffering from battlefield wounds and financial problems. His appointment as military governor of Philadelphia led to his marriage to 18-year-old Peggy Shippen and sent in motion his positive response to British overtures to switch sides. We conclude this Part by exploring why Arnold chose to betray the cause of America independence and what resulted from this fateful decision.
Part 2
This episode examines Arnold’s attempts to set up a business empire in the pioneer colony of New Brunswick, based in the struggling and divided Loyalist town of Saint John from 1785 to 1791. As one of the few prominent residents with money, he bought and sold land, leased or purchased sailing vessels and established trading establishments in Saint John, Fredericton and on Campobello Island. He also advanced credit to customers and suppliers and became a partner with Munson Hayt, a Loyalist who had served in the Prince of Wales Regiment.
Part 2 also examines Arnold’s personal and social life while he resided in Saint John, where he was joined by his wife and small children. The poverty and lack of currency in the fledgling colony led to Arnold resorting to the courts to recover funds from his many debtors-who included members of the elite. Following a fire that destroyed his warehouse and its contents, Arnold’s ill-fated partnership with Hayt led to New Brunswick’s first slander trial in 1791. Following an examination of whether a riot outside Arnold’s King Street residence after the slander trial actually took place, the episode concludes by looking at Benedict Arnold’s legacy in Saint John.
Items listed for public auction at the house of General Arnold, King Street, Saint John, Sept. 22, 1791.
A quantity of household furniture comprising excellent feather beds, mahogany four post bedsteads, with furniture; a set of Cabriole chairs, covered with blue damask, sofa and curtains to match; card tea and other tables, looking glasses, a Secretary desk and book case, fire screens, girandoles, lustres and easy and sedan chair, with a great variety of other furniture. Likewise: An elegant set of Wedgewood Gilt ware, two tea table sets of Nankeen China, a variety of glassware, a Terrestrial Globe. Also a double Wheel Jack and a great variety of kitchen furniture. Also a Lady’s elegant Saddle and Bridle.
Sources:
Mark R. Anderson, Battle for the Fourteenth Colony: America's War of Liberation in Canada, 1774–1776 ( Hanover: University Press of New England, 2013).
Stephen Brumwell, Turncoat: Benedict Arnold and the crisis of American liberty (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2013).
John Al Churchill, “ Benedict Arnold Redux,” St. Croix Historical Society, June 14, 2023: http://stcroixhistorical.com/?p=4496
Thomas A. Desjardin, Through a Howling Wilderness: Benedict Arnold's March to Quebec, 1775 (New York: St. Martin's Press., 2006).
Curtis Fahey, “Benedict Arnold,” Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Vol. 5 (1801-1820): https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/arnold_benedict_5E.html
Eric D. Lehman, Homegrown Terror: Benedict Arnold and the Burning of New London (Middleton, CT: Wesleyan University Press, 2015).
W.S. MacNutt, New Brunswick: A History: 1784-1867 (Toronto: McLelland and Stewart, 1963).
Joyce Lee Malcolm, The Tragedy of Benedict Arnold: An American Life (London: Pegasus, 2018).
Jane Merrill with John Endicott, The Late Years of Benedict Arnold: Fugitive, Smuggler, Mercenary, 1780-1801 (Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, 2022).
Nathan Philbrick, Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold and the Fate of the American Revolution (New York: Penguin, 2016).
Louis Quigley, Benedict Arnold: The Canadian Connection (Riverview: Queue Printing, 2000).
University of New Brunswick, The Winslow Papers: https://web.lib.unb.ca/winslow/index.html
Barry K. Wilson, Benedict Arnold: A Traitor in Our Midst (Kingston: McGill Queen’s University Press, 2001).
Eric L. Teed, “Footprints of Benedict Arnold, Late Major General, Congressional Army of the Americas, Late Brigadier General, British Army,” Collections of the New Brunswick Historical Society, No. 20 Nineteen Hundred and Seventy-One (Saint John, N,B.) 57-97
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