On this day in 1777, the Continental Congress votes to promote Thomas Mifflin; Arthur St. Clair; William Alexander, Lord Stirling; Adam Stephen; and Benjamin Lincoln to the rank of major general. Although the promotions were intended in part to balance the number of generals from each state, Brigadier General Benedict Arnold felt slighted that five junior officers received promotions ahead of him and, in response, threatened to resign from the Patriot army. [More]
I didn't know that part.
ReplyDeleteWe remember Benedict Arnold as a traitor, and George Washington as the general who won the war, but until I started my own reading in history I didn't fully realize how valuable Arnold's service to the rebels was before he turned. (Although it stands to reason, or his turning wouldn't have been such a blow.) If he'd been given all the honors he thought he deserved, he probably would have stayed loyal.
It's interesting to me how much his ego drove everything he did. Even after he defected to the British, he expected and promised that his name would lead more men to join the British - only a handful did. Then he expected the British to give him a larger command than they did - they either didn't have an opening or were too smart for that. He apparently had a comfortable retirement, but it must have killed a man like that not to be remembered on either side as the military genius he, largely correctly, thought he was.
I'm afraid I have to disagree with Dave R.
ReplyDeleteBenedict Arnold was a narcissistic elitist. Even the British recognized that his few successes were due more to luck than leadership.
My ancestor, Arthur St.Clair, was not a great general. But, he did his part and was even President of the Continental Congress for a term.
ReplyDeleteHe stuck his neck out like the rest of the Founders. He took the risk and did his duty.