On one lovely spring day in April…
…we visited the private retreat of Thomas Jefferson called Poplar Forest…
to meet with Thomas Jefferson and his special guest…Benedict Arnold???
Indeed, the man whose name is synonymous with treason, the man who rampaged through Virginia causing then Governor Jefferson to flee from Richmond to Monticello and ultimately to this private retreat of Poplar Forest…was invited???
After a wonderful chat with Jefferson and Arnold, we found seats for the program.
As President Jefferson walked by, he grandly shook his hand.
Then as Gen. Arnold walked by, he too shook my son’s hand and said, “You might regret this later.” 😉
Although we had time traveled to the Federal Era during Jefferson’s presidency, Gen. Arnold was dressed as he did during the war, saying that although he hadn’t worn it in years, he decided to try it on that morning.
This annual presentation of “Conversations with Thomas Jefferson” was wonderful as always, but especially so in that we got to hear from the most puzzling man of the American Revolution.
At last, we got to hear his side of the story.
Arnold was a perfect gentleman and from the audience there was not a single “boo” or “hiss.”
Arnold recounted his boyhood and early profession in his home colony of Connecticut.
In fact, one of the guests was from Connecticut and asked him to recount a tale of horror with which she thought he had partaken as a redcoat.
He assured her that the massacre was not ordered by him, in fact, he had sent a command to not massacre but the message had not been received.
Arnold further told the story of his part in fighting the taxation issues before the war to joining the Continental Army to his part in the Battles of Quebec and Saratoga.
Most interesting was his admiration for men like Daniel Morgan and General Washington.
His disdain though was for men like Ethan Allen, who took over his idea to take the cannons from the British controlled Fort Ticonderoga, so he received no credit for the attack.
For the victory of Saratoga, the turning point of the war, causing the French to openly aid America, he again received no credit.
Whenever anyone in the audience gave him credit for these victories, he agreed with them and thanked them most profusely.
On the table was a display of the rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, which Thomas Jefferson had written, and for which Benedict Arnold had once fought.
If only his pride had not gotten in the way, had he remained in the Continental Army faithfully serving the patriotic cause, he would likely have been one of the most famed generals today, in a positive way.
Instead honors that I’ve seen for him do not reflect his name.
There is the boot monument at Saratoga and the no-name plaque at West Point.
Arnold performed an incredible service to our country, then threw it all away.
It is considered more honorable to make the decision as to which side to serve before the action.
However, to turn traitor (in the middle of the conflict) is unforgiveable.
The British never trusted him, assigning Colonel Dundis the task of keeping an eye on this British general who had once fought valiantly for America.
No one really trusted him after the war either.
What a great opportunity we had to meet Benedict Arnold and hear his side of the story and finally be able to query him (respectfully) without threat of punishment when he’s taking over Williamsburg!
