The Curious London Legacy of Benedict Arnold

[Jim]

From Smithsonian Magazine: A little something to enlighten the historical fans.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-a ... 05-insider" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Fide Ut Armis]

Thank you for sharing Ranger Jim. I may have to pay closer attention to the Smithsonian Magazine in the future.

Stanley did not deny Arnold’s treachery. He just felt the man should have gotten more credit for what he did prior to switching sides. “He saved America, before he betrayed it,” he once said.

Reminds me of the expression, "A hundred attaboys undone by one oh shit."

“As an American, I’m quite pleased to see that, in death, Benedict Arnold is hardly a celebrated figure to most Brits,” he said.

And being buried in the basement, next to a fish tank?

“Serves him right.”

In the fish tank maybe better placement...

I got a good laugh at the last comparison.

After all, even the tireless Bill Stanley didn’t try to defend the “second half” of Benedict Arnold’s career. “He knew it was a tough sell,” his son acknowledged. “It was like trying to get people to look at all the great things O.J. did before the Bronco.”

V/r,

FUA

[C-MAC]

This reminds me of his accomplice, Major Andre, who was hung just down the road from here. There is still all this local folklore about what a good, social, decent gentlemen he was. I have no doubt Andre was most-likely all those things, but what he ultimately became, his defining moment, was as a spy and traitor. To me that says he used the confidence and trust built through relationships as one pillar in a diabolical scheme of betrayal. I can think of nothing worse.

As for those who believe neither Arnold nor Andre were fairly treated; every time I wander by the Yale Club next to Grand Central Station in NY and read Nathan Hale's story, I think the same thing.

[rgrokelley]

This reminds me of his accomplice, Major Andre, who was hung just down the road from here. There is still all this local folklore about what a good, social, decent gentlemen he was. I have no doubt Andre was most-likely all those things, but what he ultimately became, his defining moment, was as a spy and traitor. To me that says he used the confidence and trust built through relationships as one pillar in a diabolical scheme of betrayal. I can think of nothing worse.

As for those who believe neither Arnold nor Andre were fairly treated; every time I wander by the Yale Club next to Grand Central Station in NY and read Nathan Hale's story, I think the same thing.

Andre wasn't a traitor and not really a spy either. He was the "spy master" to Arnold, and he wasn't a traitor to England by getting Arnold to switch sides, and almost bagging Washington at the same time. The only thing that fucked up Andre was when he got close to his own lines, he saw the American soldiers, wearing some captured Hessian clothing. He thought he was safe in his own lines and let his guard down. It cost him.