Even Benedict Arnold Has A Memorial

[stopbush]

It's true. His name is mentioned on the monument placed at the battle site of Lake Champlain.

That battle happened BEFORE he was a traitor to his country.

Significantly, he is also mentioned through his glaring omission on the memorial to the battlefield at Saratoga:

In the United States, the name of Benedict Arnold is synonymous with treason. In exchange for cash and a commission in the British army, Major General Arnold promised to betray his cause and hand over the American fort at West Point. When American leaders discovered the plot, Arnold fled.

But it’s important to note that Arnold gained his command at West Point by dint of his previous battlefield service. Arnold was a brave, daring and aggressive commander. He had helped seize Fort Ticonderoga, participated in the invasion of Quebec and led American naval forces at the Battle of Valcour Island.

General Arnold’s greatest moment came during the Saratoga campaign, which ended with the surrender of an entire British army. The senior American commander, Horatio Gates, was often indecisive and shy of battle. Arnold, in contrast, was eager for battle. He personally led a successful charge on a British redoubt. During that fight, Arnold was shot in the leg and his horse fell on him.

Had Benedict Arnold died that day, he would likely be known as one of the great heroes of the American Revolutionary War. There would be towns, counties and schools named for him.

But he didn’t die. Arnold lived on to betray his country.

Which brings us to the Saratoga battlefield and the scene of Arnold’s most heroic moment.

Part of the Saratoga battlefield area is a national park. On the grounds are assorted monuments to various leaders and events. These were, of course, all built well after Arnold’s betrayal. How does it address the critical and heroic role of America’s most infamous traitor in that battle?

The monument to Arnold is known as the Boot Monument. That’s because it makes no mention of Arnold by name and honors the leg that was broken during the battle. The inscription reads:

In memory of the most brilliant soldier of the Continental army, who was desperately wounded on this spot, winning for his countrymen the decisive battle of the American Revolution, and for himself the rank of Major General.

John Watts de Peyster, a general in the New York State Militia during the Civil War, erected the monument in 1887. Perhaps de Peyster made it in response to the primary monument, which was erected a few years earlier. The 155-foot tall obelisk has niches for four statues. There are statues for three of the four great American leaders of the battle: General Horatio Gates, General Philip Schuyler and Colonel Daniel Morgan. The fourth niche is empty.

http://www.neatorama.com/2014/01/01/Americas-Monument-to-Its-Most-Infamous-Traitor-Benedict-Arnold/

[NNadir]

1. I'm aware of that monument. When an meeting an American Prisoner...

...after switching sides, Arnold asked, "What do you think your army would do if it captured me."

The soldier replied, "We'd cut off the leg that was wounded at Saratoga and bury it in a place of honor, and hang the rest of you."

It is true that the United States may own its existence to its greatest traitor until now. Arnold's achievements in the American army were tremendous, but he felt slighted and, he fell in love with a Tory, Peggy Shippen.

That's history But America's greatest traitor today, in the White House of all places, is every bit as anxious as to destroy this country and its government as Arnold was in the 18th century. One hopes he will be as unsuccessful a traitor as Arnold was, but they'll be nothing of this horrible being worth burying with honor.

If they bring him dead to Princeton, and bury him with Aaron Burr, we can piss on their graves.

All these men were disgraces to their country.

[spike jones]

3. It was my understanding

that the boot was pulled from his ass by a British doctor.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. I've been to the monument in Schuylerville many times

My grandmother was born there and used to take us as kids. When she was a kid, her friend's grandfather was the guard there and they'd walk up the hill to bring him his lunch. And my grandfather grew up on a farm that's located on what's now the battlefield. We grew up knowing about that empty niche. Interesting article, thanks for posting!