2 NY sites recall Benedict Arnold's early heroics

AP via boston.com ^ | 5-10-12 | Chris Carola

[Pharmboy]

This undated sketch portrait of Gen. Benedict Arnold by an unknown artist was provided by the Library of Congress. While most Americans know Arnold as the man who betrayed his nation by trying to turn over the American fortifications at West Point to the British, then joining the redcoats when the plot was uncovered, his heroic actions at the Revolutionary War's Battles of Saratoga are detailed in a new exhibit opening Thursday, May 10, 2012 at Saratoga National Historical Park.

ALBANY, N.Y.—Benedict Arnold is a hero again, at least temporarily, at two upstate New York historic sites where his pre-treason exploits are being remembered.

Arnold's heroic actions in the Revolutionary War's Battles of Saratoga are detailed in a new exhibit opening Thursday at Saratoga National Historical Park, and his capture of British-held Fort Ticonderoga at the side of Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys is being re-staged later this month in a rare nighttime re-enactment.

The Connecticut-born Arnold led American soldiers through Fort Ticonderoga's front gate in a pre-dawn raid on May 10, 1775, and he helped defeat the British at the Battles of Saratoga two years later. But most Americans know Arnold as the man who betrayed his nation by trying to turn over the American fortifications at West Point to the British, then joining the redcoats when the plot was uncovered.

"He was hated long before he became a traitor," said Eric Schnitzer, a park ranger at Saratoga National Historic Park in Stillwater, 20 miles north of Albany. "Some of the guys fighting with him thought he was a total and complete jerk. Other guys thought he was wonderful."

Count the Green Mountain Boys among the former. Angry at Arnold for his orders forbidding them from looting their British captives, the New Englanders

[Pharmboy]

Well, I used to live up in the Lake George area, and although it is a complete reconstruction, Fort William Henry does show the original excavation and a pretty good historical narrative of the French and Indian War. Also, visit the marker up the road for the Battle of Bloody Pond (as seen in the Last of the Mohicans).

[Chode]

love the Fort... been there several times as a child, an adult and with our kids

the knee high pistol booby-trap makes me shudder every time i see it, and the musket balls looking like chewed gum from biting on during amputations will give anybody pause

[Political Junkie Too]

Here's the restaurant's main link. Lots of inside pictures, history, and menus.

The 76 House.

-PJ

[MomofMarine]

Today, May 10th, is the anniversary of “America’s First Victory,” when Benedict Arnold, Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys took Fort Ti. Like you, I don’t have much use for Benedict Arnold...or Ethan Allen for that matter (although I try to hide that fact when discussing the fort’s history with Vermonters).

[ProtectOurFreedom]

A few of my favorite books:

1. “Saratoga: Turning Point of America’s Revolutionary War,” by Richard M. Ketchum largely about Arnold at Saratoga.
2. “Arundel” by Kenneth Roberts. Focuses on Arnold’s incredible expedition to Quebec through the swamps of Maine and the Battle of Quebec.
3. “Rabble in Arms” also by Kenneth Roberts. This is about Arnold and the Battle of Valcour Island, the Saratoga campaign and the Battles of Saratoga. The stories of how the British disassembled their ships and carried them to Lake Champlain, how the Americans built a small fleet, at the battle at Valcour are amazing.

He was a man of amazing energy and fought Gates at Saratoga to take the fight to the British at a quick tempo.

[DeaconBenjamin]

While Major Andre' was awaiting his execution, he seems to have given serious thought to eternal matters. Doubtless he recalled his early training given him by his Huguenot parents who had found spiritual refuge in England. Until he faced death, Andre' had lived the usual social life of an army officer -- one continuous whirl of gay functions, but his capture and trial changed all of that. Death for him was but a matter of days.

In repentance and faith, he turned to that blessed One who had long before said, "Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out." -- John 6:37 Major Andre' found there was amazing grace even for him, and he tasted the fruits of conversion -- joy and peace in believing after full repentance. This is set forth wonderfully in his own words in a poem, "My Hiding Place," found in his pocket after he was hanged at Tappan, New York, October 2, 1780. Here is the poem.

Hail, sovereign love, which first began
The scheme to rescue fallen man!
Hail, matchless, free, eternal grace,
Which gave my soul a Hiding Place

Against the God who built the sky
I fought with hands uplifted high --
Despised the mention of His grace,
Too proud to seek a Hiding Place.

Enwrapt in thick Egyptian night,
And fond of darkness more than light,
Madly I ran the sinful race,
Secure -- without a Hiding Place!

But thus the eternal counsel ran:
Almighty love, arrest that man!
I felt the arrows of distress,
And found I had no Hiding Place.

Indignant Justice stood in view;
To Sinai's fiery mount I flew;
But Justice cried with frowning face,
This mountain is no Hiding Place!

Ere long a heavenly voice I heard,
And mercy's angel soon appeared:
He led me, with a beaming face
To JESUS as a Hiding Place.

On Him almighty vengeance fell,
Which must have sunk a world to hell!
He bore it for a sinful race,
And thus became our Hiding Place.

Should sevenfold storms of thunder roll,
And shake this globe from pole to pole,
No thunderbolt shall daunt my face,
For Jesus is my Hiding Place.

A few more setting suns at most
Shall land me on that glorious coast,
Where I shall sing the song of grace,
And see my glorious Hiding Place!

[DeaconBenjamin]

See post above

[MomofMarine]

Have you been back in the past few years? The Magazin du Roi has been restored with a very impressive art exhibit being continued for another year. And this year, there are a lot of changes, including a completely new weapons exhibit (in the room where the chewed musket balls used to be).

[Pharmboy]

Yes indeed...Allen had his moments, but also had many that were shameful. I’m with you on his count. He hated NYers more than the Brits, from what I understand...or close to it, anyway.

[bunkerhill7]

`At Ticonderoga, the May 19 restaging of the fort’s capture is the first nighttime re-enactment at the privately owned tourist attraction since the one held on May 10, 1975, the raid’s 200th anniversary`

Nope- there was a pre-dawn reenactment in 1950 with the Ti National Guard along the road from the gate to the fort complete with machine gun nests and bazookas. I was there as a young boy. I guess it was a combination reenactment and Russian invasion maneuvers coz they had a machine gun also set up in front of the bank and a half-tracked 105mm parked a block away.

[Chode]

haven't been since 95 or 96... i guess it's about time again

[RightOnline]

"I still don't think Hollywood has done the definitive George Washington, though, and am still waiting for it."

My personal nomination would be David Morse's unbelievably understated portrayal of Washington in the "John Adams" mini-series (a MUST-HAVE for your collection). Paul Giamatti's Adams was a tour-de-force; Morse played the perfect foil, even with limited screen time. He exuded strength, determination, and humility....as well as righteous anger at times. I thought he was brilliant.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Ping for later.

[Political Junkie Too]

I thought the 13-episode documentary The Revolution was interesting. I linked to the Netflix streaming offering.

As a reenacted documentary, there were some cheesy scenes, reused footage, etc., but it was a good refresher on the history of the Revolution.

-PJ

[NonValueAdded]

From what I understand, the early histories, those written closer to the events in question, were not kind to Arnold. Benedict's main claim to fame was that he wrote the reports about the action and yes, claimed the fame. He did have a knack for showing up at the right place and the right time. He ignored orders and did turn the tide during the Battle of Saratoga so we can all be glad it turned out as it did - in spite of "Granny" Gates. However, sooner or later a rogue operator could just as easily invite disaster when he undermines the plan.

One way to test this theory is to compare Arnold's written report about the "fleet" he built on Lake Champlain and compare it to what was actually found when that fleet was actually inspected.

As to Benedict Arnold vs Ethan Allen, perhaps Arnold's position could best be summed up as "the Green Mountain Boys are 'fighting on my behalf.'"

[SunkenCiv]

GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach	join list or digest view topics view or post blog bookmark post a topic subscribe
Thanks Pharmboy, and well put. Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.

[Jaxmum]

That is very interesting to learn. Thank you for posting it.

[Tainan]

I quite agree about Morse in the Adams story. Great series.

I thought it was very good acting on Morses' part how he played the obvious pain Washington had with his teeth. It was very subtle acting of a historical side note. My wife and son picked up on his facial grimaces and asked me about it. I explained to them about GW's ongoing dental troubles and his eventual use of wooden false teeth.

[Pharmboy]

[Pharmboy]

Great stuff...thanks for posting. Andre was a large personality that was a man whom others liked. Washington felt terrible about having to execute him, but refused to grant him a firing squad (which was more honorable) and had him hung like a spy (if he were captured in uniform, he would have been--most likely--executed by firing squad).

In 1985, on a visit to England, I was on the second floor of Westminster Abbey and turning a corner, bumped into a wooden box on the floor against a railing...I read the writing on the box and it was the bones of Major John Andre. I will never forget that.