18 Comments

One should never become so self-enthralled by one’s accomplishments that their self value becomes overinflated. His successes were incredible and his failures were amazing feats. His humility failed him and a young lady helped to turn him. That small character flaw overwhelmed his better judgment. He was a very capable leader in warfare, and the Continental Congress should have recognized him perhaps, but it didn’t and Arnold apparently took it as an irrevocable slight. What a shame!

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Arnold’s character defect first exhibited itself with his contrast with Ethan Allen when he tried to usurp command.

When Allen’s men said they would not serve under Arnold, he agreed to have a ‘joint’ command.

Arnold always wanted the limelight.

Reading deeply into his career and those who met and knew him. He was a good battle leader, but he did not play well with others.

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Benedict Arnold was a fine General Officer and obviously a skilled tactician. It's too bad that he let his ego and/or lady friend turn his Patriotism into Traitor.

Thank you Tara.

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Perceived slights and the feeling that he would never receive the "proper" recognition led to his actions. He had done so much toward setting the tone of freedom and destroyed it with actions that not only disaffected him from his fellow patriots, but never set him in England's good graces either. No one likes a turncoat.

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Amazing that the British with all of their armament could not defeat him, but rhat little thing called pride had no problem.

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40% excellent tactician. 60% narcissist. It doesn't take much to guess which side overturned the other side.

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A once great leader/tactician whose ego got in the way of perhaps even greater command. Yet that same ego led him astray by the woman of some questionable character. ❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

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Legitimate hero to

Ultimate Zero,

Benedict Arnold .

🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️

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So I know the origin of the name Enterprise. A name that has been part of our history from the lake in New York to Space. Thanks again Tara for this lesson.

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Arnold's successes and contributions earlier in the war, are of course forgotten or ignored due to his later perfidy.

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Benedict Arnold did so much good, but what he is remembered for is the bad thing he did afterwards. His name is synonymous with traitor. It’s so sad that a man with so much potential and who was greatly admired fell to such depths. It can happen to anyone. Everyone makes mistakes, but choices have consequences that can change everything. Arnold is an example of the legacy we leave based on what we end up choosing to do.

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👍👍👍

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Ooh, now you're in my backyard! I'm hoping to get to Lake Champlain this summer and visualize all those invasions of Canada in the 1750s and 1770s. I think Nathaniel Philbrick mentioned in Valiant Ambition that Arnold asked to be put in the American Navy. He was an experienced sailor as he was a Caribbean merchant before the War. One of those fascinating "what if" moments in history. Would Admiral Arnold have betrayed his country?

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Great read! Thank you, Tara. Many do not know how skilled Benedict Arnold was.

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From Patriot to Traitor!

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