Turncoat: Benedict Arnold and the Crisis of American Liberty

by Stephen Brumwell

Why did the once-ardent hero of the American Revolutionary cause become its most dishonored traitor?

General Benedict Arnold’s failed attempt to betray the fortress of West Point to the British in 1780 stands as one of the most infamous episodes in American history. In the light of a shining record of bravery and unquestioned commitment to the Revolution, Arnold’s defection came as an appalling shock. Contemporaries believed he had been corrupted by greed; historians have theorized that he had come to resent the lack of recognition for his merits and sacrifices. In this provocative book Stephen Brumwell challenges such interpretations and draws on unexplored archives to reveal other crucial factors that illuminate Arnold’s abandonment of the revolutionary cause he once championed.

This work traces Arnold’s journey from enthusiastic support of American independence to his spectacularly traitorous acts and narrow escape. Brumwell’s research leads to an unexpected conclusion: Arnold’s mystifying betrayal was driven by a staunch conviction that America’s best interests would be served by halting the bloodshed and reuniting the fractured British Empire.

Genres: History, American Revolution, Biography, American History, Nonfiction, Military History, Politics

384 pages, Hardcover

First published May 29, 2018

About the author

Stephen Brumwell is an award-winning writer and historian with a specialist interest in eighteenth-century Britain and North America.

Reviews

[David Eppenstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the seventh Arnold biography that I have read, eigth if you count the biography of Arnold's second wife, Peggy, which covered most of the same ground but from her perspective and possible involvement. To say the least, I have developed a fascination with the life of this man who is clearly our American tragic hero. Our Revolution and the subsequent construction of our national government is a history that I relish reading about. For me there is much that can be learned from this history that goes well beyond the accomplishments of the Founders and the ordeals they had to endure to achieve the things they did. There are so many lessons about life that are as true today as they were in the 18th century. In reading that history I kept running across the the feats of Benedict Arnold and realized that I really didn't know much about this man other than his treason. I decided to correct my ignorance and that effort led to my present fascination with this very unfortunate man. Benedict Arnold is a man that Americans should know more about because his is a life from which there is much to learn.

Because I have read so much about Arnold it would be difficult for me to believe that I could find a book that would offer me anything I haven't already learned. Indeed, this book covers many of the events of Arnold's early life and all of those leading up to and following his treason. However, this is not the usual Arnold biography. The author has included some material that I haven't read before albeit they are minor in detail but they are capable of supporting inferences that the author employs skillfully. This is the biography that I have been searching for without realizing it. This biography attempts an analysis of Arnold's treason for the purpose of understanding and explaining it. In this book the author seems to challenge the reader to refrain from asking why did he do it and instead to wonder what took him so long. The author challenges the accepted, and biased, belief that Arnold was motivated solely by greed and personal enrichment. While Arnold was paid and sought additional compensations the author uses new circumstantial evidence to question this belief and many others that have followed Arnold's story over the last two centuries. The author's detailed investigative analysis does raise some serious doubts about the reasons for Arnold's actions.

What actually motivated Arnold will never be definitively known but in this book the author makes a good case for questioning the accepted theories. However, to understand Arnold or any man of that era a reader must have an appreciation and understanding of the 18th century concept of the "gentleman"and his status in society and its benefits and obligations. These were men that valued and guarded their reputations and "honor" as their most prized possession. Duels were fought routinely and men died over affairs of "honor". In this kind of world Arnold endured abuses unconscionable to any gentleman and at the hands of those he was fighting for. He also distinguished himself repeatedly on the battlefield and was the Revolution's most successful battlefield commander. Yet while his achievements were appreciated the abuses continued and increased. Arnold was a talented leader but he was also a flawed man. He lacked patience, tact, and any sense of politics. He was a man of action with no tolerance for politicians that, to him, were the source of all the suffering of the army and its neglect. Eventually, Arnold had enough and at the Revolution's lowest point he decided that something needed to be done. Did he act out of self-interest or out of a desire to end the suffering of the American people and its starving and neglected army? This is the book that will help you form your own opinion.

[Ben Denison · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK #7 of AFRICA TRIP

Much to say, but don’t want to write via mobile phone. Review to follow.

[Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a young boy in junior high I recall reading a biography about Benedict Arnold that attempted to paint the man and his motivations as more complex than what most retellings portray. He was a man who saw himself as wronged and who saw maybe a chance to regain stature by reuniting the rebellious colonials with England. I was pleased to find this book presented much the same story, meaning I wasn't led astray with that biography long ago.

The character of Benedict Arnold is a fascinating one, and one I rarely heard of beyond an episode of "Brady Bunch" where one of the boys despairs at having been cast as the traitor in the school play, a role which for some reason everyone uses as an excuse to impute poor character attributes on him making this perhaps the most accurate episode of that show in my recollection. However this review is not about my childhood memories of sitcom reruns, but about this book.

Armed with Junior High and Brady Bunch memories, I went into the book with some expectations as to what I might find. Brumwell uses a lot of data to discuss possible motives for Arnold's betrayal of the revolutionary cause, and rarely delves into what the individual players might be thinking beyond what they've written and their actions. I've found it fortunate that many in this time were prolific writers, giving us plenty to use to understand why they might have done what they have.

Arnold was a man of great passion and enthusiasm, but one also of great pride. His personal sense of honor plays quite a bit in this biography, and it is this -- and not the usual excuse of greed -- that Brumwell supposes Arnold turns his coat. Throughout the course of the revolutionary struggle, Arnold finds himself at odds with Congress that is struggling to keep the thirteen colonies together in the face of one of the strongest military powers of the time. Supplies and pay were short, and many colonial soldiers face shortages. Benedict Arnold was one amongst a large number of grumblers.

It is fascinating to read. Perhaps the most remarkable moment comes as he's rowed aboard the British ship and admits to his men that he's turned to the British cause and promises them good pay and personal honors should they come with him. He is, according to accounts, genuinely surprised they refused, and it's speculated that he didn't realize that grumbling similar to his own wouldn't naturally change allegiances. In fact the British hoped that Arnold turning his coat would inspire other soldiers. However, though many soldiers left the revolutionary army, few if any would actually go as far as to fight for the other side.

Thus the tragedy of his action is that Arnold acts to defend his personal sense of honor, and finds that he has little. America almost universally condemns him as a traitor, and England grants him little trust -- after all, he was a turncoat once and could be again.

This is an excellent biography for anyone interested in US history or history in general.

[Jon Gautier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent, well-researched book, with lots of nice detail, some of which, incredibly, is absent from the 11 other Arnold biographies I’ve read. I did not expect to get a such a fresh take. As the most recent Arnold study, this one is also able to address the disagreements among its predecessors, which is also of great interest. The author is also a pretty darn good writer. He’s not a Philbrick, though, so I often found this easier to put down in favor of the crossword. All that said, I still stick with Wallace as my go to Arnold book, but this is a close second, if only because Wallace tells a more comprehensive story. I’ve read too much perhaps to judge this accurately, but I think someone with little knowledge of either the Revolutionary War or Arnold would be lost in this book. Brumwell does some deep dives on which he might lose the general reader. But for the knowledgeable reader, I might rate this as the best Arnold book.

In addition to the detail, Brumwell’s analysis of Arnold’s personality and motives are subtle, well-argued, and spot on. Brumwell convincingly shows that Arnold defected because his overweening sense of honor, his hunger for recognition, and his powerful ambition rendered him incapable of navigating, or even identifying, the treacherous political rocks upon which he foundered and finally wrecked. Brumwell also convincingly explodes the idea that Arnold did it for the money. Brumwell is more forgiving of Arnold than, say, Flexnor, while still able to illustrate how Arnold’s problems were largely of Arnold’s own making, due to Arnold’s considerable flaws. But Brumwell is not as easy on Arnold as Wallace or Martin, who seem to want to give Arnold a pass because of Arnold’s great achievements. It does show how complex a person Arnold was to generate as much disagreement as he does. Highly recommended.

[Lissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book, and it really made me think about what I "knew" about Benedict Arnold's treason versus what I've been taught over the years.

Brumwell makes a very clear case that several of the widely-held beliefs about Arnold's treason aren't based in fact, mainly: 1) Arnold defected not for money or glory but for sincere belief that reuniting with Great Britain was the best route for America (which several of his British contemporaries, including John Graves Simcoe and Sir Henry Clinton, believed him to hold as well); 2) Arnold had already committed to this act long before his last court-martial, the troubles he faced in Philadelphia and governing it, and the latest troubles he'd had with Congress; and 3) Arnold's defection to the British did not unify the country as so many historians have suggested, and that it did practically nothing to stop the Continental Army from hemorrhaging soldiers.

The author obviously did a great deal of research for this book and backed up his arguments well. The tone gets a little dry at times, particularly towards the middle of the book, but the last few chapters sped by as I read them.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting in-depth look at the exploits, quirks, and motivations of Benedict Arnold. More of a flawed individual, first a military hero and then a reviled traitor. This historian shows him more of a complex individual struggling against his sense that he was not adequately respected and honored, while also trying to make sense of a destructive war. He justified his actions and perhaps believed that it was time to bring the bloodshed to an end and the best resolution was for the colonies to accept that they had gained what they started out to get and should accept their proper place in the British Empire. Most interesting was all the background about how disorganized and demoralized the "Patriots" were. I got a real sense of how amazing it was that the Revolution was actually successful.

[Christopher A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5 star rating. I don’t agree at all with the authors main premise that Arnold became a turncoat out of love for Country and wanting the war to end. I enjoyed the first half of the book but once Arnold turns he is somehow lost as a focus of the narrative. It isn’t until he goes to meet Andre that he comes back into focus.
Also disappointed that his service w/ the British is reduced to a couple pages, the New London raid is described in only a couple paragraphs. His exile is also disposed of quickly.

[Robert Matzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen Brumwell's past books have impressed me for their rugged narrative style and two-fisted swagger. Turncoat continues this tradition, presenting a raw take on Benedict Arnold and his grievances not with the American cause but rather with the men in the Continental Congress who were running it. Best of all, the book becomes a page-turner even though you know the fate awaiting the principals.

I am an armchair historian and not an expert on the American Revolution, so it was new to me the depth of malaise and discontent in the colonies of 1780. I knew it existed; it's the degree of it that makes Arnold not a loan "traitor" at all but perhaps just the boldest of many of his contemporaries who secretly contemplated a move back toward the king. It makes perfect sense now that when the crown's peace overtures were rebuffed by the Congress that Arnold already hated, this became a final straw. And the entry into the war of France--a country Arnold hated--another. Now I understand why this man faced (and took) bullets for one side, and was ready and willing to do the same for the other. It's a book full of "aha moments," as when Brumwell reveals that Arnold was ready to change coats even before West Point entered the picture. The Turncoat Arnold is a vain and reckless man, ego-driven, foolish with his money, but ultimately fearless.

Turncoat makes Arnold not a traitor but a bold man taking what he considered reasonable actions; he had every right to believe he would be seen by future historians as a trendsetter and ultimately a conciliator. So that's Arnold as Brumwell paints him. Then there's the Philadelphia Lolita, Peggy Shippen, who comes along to cast a spell over the conflicted American general. In our current decade, the author unearthed convincing documents that paint Shippen not as an 18-year-old innocent but as a cunning and mature-beyond-her-years co-conspirator who lived out her life on payments from the crown for "services rendered."

As Brumwell concludes, winners write the history, however inaccurately, and that fate befell a loser, Benedict Arnold. But here, finally, the author gives us a more balanced and honest view of Arnold, a crazy-colorful character, and makes sense of his life and decisions. Brumwell even swats aside the idea that on his deathbed Arnold regretted his actions against the fledgling United States. The man depicted in this narrative knew his mind and would never have condescended to such a thing. I like him this way, sure of himself and unrepentant to the end.

[Danilo DiPietro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of speculation. Not many facts to support his view.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

To history buffs and readers from the Toronto area, reading this book was a little like a "Local Loyalist Reunion" for me. Rev. Samuel Peters (Not S. P. Jarvis but probably his grandfather); John Graves Simcoe (Of course. He was also Major John Andre's good friend. He figures several times in this book, usually just offstage.), Beverly Robinson (Did you know his estate was used as the house of West Point's commander? This means that all the fuss and agitation when Ben found out that British spy Major Andre was captured, just as Washington and his party was coming up the road, happened in his house. Robinson was also on the nearby British ship, waiting for Andre's return), General Sir Henry Clinton, General Sir Guy Carleton and other generals after whom Simcoe named townships.

It was one reason I so enjoyed this book. Who would appear next?

But is was not entirely for glimpses of Simcoe, Andre, Clinton and Robinson that I wanted to read this book. Benedict Arnold has always been an enigma to me, as he probably is to the Americans. Arnold was an ultra-patriot. The Rev. Peters was physically harassed twice by Arnold and his fellow "Sons of Liberty" before the war, for condemning the Boston Tea Party and preaching loyalty to the King. Peters had to hold them off with a musket the third time. Arnold and his men nearly captured Quebec after going through a heroic slog through the snow for weeks. Quite a feat! He made fools of the British on Lake Champlain. He was crippled in the leg at Saratoga. Everyone, including the British soldiers and the London newspapers, praised his daring and courage.

Well, everyone except General Horatio Gates and a few people Arnold had rubbed the wrong way or who were ambitious to have his rank and his epaulets (a personal gift from Washington), and who had supporters in the Continental Congress. But General Arnold was a patriot, a hero, whose daring for his country's independence had crippled him and kept him out of action. The man seemed like Patton - always wanted to be in the thick of the fight - until ...

Was it resentment at being refused his due? Was it that he had spent his fortune and had two young sons to support, but his pay was in arrears, he owed money and so he had to do some devious things to get cash? Ungentlemanly actions - and he prided himself on being a gentleman. That must've hurt. Maybe he felt forced by an ungrateful Congress to expect better from the British. Maybe it was the charms of his new wife, the Loyalist Peggy Shippen. Or did he change his mind because the United States was obviously drained out and losing, and think that fighting for independence was a costly mistake for his countrymen as well as for himself?

Stephen Brumwell stresses that Arnold always averred that it was the latter reason that made him turn. The war was a costly mistake for the thirteen colonies. Best to be defeated, end the war, and re-unite with the British Empire. The other reasons counted too, Brumwell says, but that one predominated. Is he right? Most historians the Revolution say Arnold was out for himself and sugar-coated his treachery by saying he did it to save his countrymen. But that reason deserves consideration. The soldiers were hungry and significant numbers - including officers - were deserting to the British or just to get out of the army and go home. Some were "foraging" (ie. stealing food and livestock). Washington had to coerce the local governments to give voluntarily or the army would come and take it. It might have taken that to make up Arnold's mind.

[Andrew Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My problems with the cover are two-fold -- its title and image of Benedict Arnold. To the latter point, the image is a known fraud, which can easily be checked via an online search. It depicts Arnold as... well, weird. I get the publisher's idea -- colorize it with a part blue, part red coat and voila -- Turncoat! "How clever we are!" Unfortunately, both the image and title belie the author's thesis: that Arnold's reasons for returning his allegiance to mother country England were sincere and not selfish or frivolous. (I have to give kudos here to author Stephen Brumwell for disowning the cover's image in the book's "glossy" pages.)

Beyond the dubious cover I was pleased to find an excellent, current presentation of Benedict Arnold's life. Brumwell's account of "pre-treason" Arnold's many significant contributions to the Patriot cause are written in an easily comprehensible style. Most Americans have no idea of Arnold's background and the formation of his character, or that he was a wild-eyed Patriot for the first two years of the revolution -- let alone his heroics at Fort Ticonderoga, Quebec City, Valcour Island, Ridgefield, Fort Stanwix and Saratoga. Turncoat studiously affords Arnold his rightful due in this respect, then moves on to his travails in a chapter entitled "Philadelphia." As governor of the city -- seat of the Second Continental Congress -- Arnold regularly clashed with that "august" body of men as well as state and local officials.

The next chapter "Embarking on Treason," clearly states the author's view (doubtless surprising to many) that Arnold's primary motive for switching loyalties was not money or ego, as most historians suggest. Instead, Arnold was wholeheartedly sincere in his beliefs. One was that reconciliation with England was far preferable to rule under a Congress of petty, selfish and tyrannical Radical Patriots who had lost sight of the revolution’s principles and goals. Another was his disapproval of the Patriot alliance with France -- Britain's hated, perennial, Catholic enemy. All of this is well-documented by Brumwell, and his sources include newly uncovered documents. (I definitely agree with the author, but would add that a crippled leg, the loss of his wealth, ingratitude on the part of his countrymen, a moribund rebellion, Washington's reprimand, etc. -- all had a part in Arnold's defection. To me, he got fed up with all of it.)

Some modern historians have taken a new, unbiased look at Benedict Arnold and view him in a much brighter light. In my view this has been a long time coming, and Turncoat ranks as highly as any book on the subject.

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dare say that if you conducted a survey of 100 persons at random in any non-academic setting, consisting solely of the question; Who was Benedict Arnold ? Depending on the demographic it would be fair to suggest that you would receive fully a quarter of your respondents who, quite sadly, would not know to whom you were referring ! If the remaining 75 percent had remembered, no doubt from their compulsory secondary education in U.S. History, they would answer with little more than, Benedict Arnold was a traitor, and that would not be put forth without shades of doubt on the part of the respondent. However, it is beyond a doubt that this survey would conclude that 100% of persons at random would have NO IDEA of a single fact about Arnold's life save that one. It would take moving the same said survey to a collegiate campus before you would (hopefully) receive a 100% recognition of the name Benedict Arnold, but even in such a setting of academia I wager that fewer than a quarter, perhaps fewer than a tenth, of those surveyed could offer more than the 'Traitor" tag.
In his book, ' Turncoat: Benedict Arnold and the Crisis of American Liberty, author Stephen Brumwell does a superior job of not only revealing and exhaustively describing the many examples of Arnold's heroism and devotion to country, but also provides the reader with a thorough and quite reasonable explanation, via various circumstances, of Arnold's historic decision to turncoats. Brumwell does not condone the decision by Arnold to change coats from Continental Blue to British Scarlet, but he does provide the reader with more than ample evidence to bestow an honest, educated determination of the same. I say with confidence that 'Turncoat' is yet another volume that MUST BE READ by anyone yearning a true understanding of the foundations of this country's heritage.

[KB · Rating 4 out of 5]

When reading about the war, Benedict Arnold’s tends to pop up. From history classes, I knew he was a traitor to the American cause. From a History Channel series on Washington some years back, I knew he came dangerously close to surrendering West Point to the enemy. What I didn’t know was that prior to that “treason of the blackest dye,” Benedict Arnold had been an American hero, wounded twice in the cause for liberty. I downloaded this book to learn what caused Arnold to betray his country.

The work is thorough and provided the information I was looking for. While others may appreciate all the details on the war effort and of the numerous individuals involved on both sides of the conflict, for me it was a bit tedious. At other times, the book was quite engaging and difficult to put down. As for Arnold’s part, the author came across as wanting to cast a new light on Arnold’s motivations, suggesting it involved more than that which had been established long ago. Instead, by laying out Arnold’s actions, experiences, and frustrations prior to the betrayal, I felt the author reinforced the idea that the commander who demanded honor, without truly knowing the meaning of the word, was greedy for glory first, and then for any gold he might earn from it. When he failed to find it on the side of the Patriots, he joined the British.

This is definitely a must read if anyone is interested in learning more about the Arnold intrigue.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first foray into the world of Benedict Arnold and his fervent patriotism that morphed into "treason of the blackest dye." Well, not quite my first introduction, actually. I remember reading "Arundel" by Kenneth Roberts when I was in my teens and being struck by his sympathetic treatment of Arnold on his march to Quebec. Being a proud Nutmegger, perhaps I'm biased - without mitigating his sins, I've only ever been curious about how Arnold became a gallant patriot, and why he betrayed the cause. I think after reading Brumwell's well-researched volume on Arnold, I can finally begin to see why he did so. While I found some of the evidence convoluted at times (maybe I need more background knowledge on 18th century notions on honor), for someone who did so much to aid the Revolution, Arnold seemed to only get confronted with envious, back-stabbing colleagues. Congress wasn't much better, either - they were a form of tyranny as well.

Reading this biography on Arnold left me feeling pretty jaded about our nation's origin story. It made me think of the quote from a Loyalist at the time who declared he would rather be governed by tyrants 3000 miles away than three miles away.

[Brian Skillin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book about Benedict Arnold, great soldier turned traitor. This book would’ve been a solid 5 if it had covered any of the years between 1785 and his death in any kind of detail, even if it comes down to supposition and educated guesswork. Whether history has judged Arnold rightly I leave to others to judge, but a little more fleshing out of his non-combat years would’ve at least served to humanize him a little bit more. Still well worth a purchase and read, even if it is woefully light on his last years.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the unexplored archives that Brumwell has uncovered, he concludes that Arnold's treason was predicated on ending the war to saving lives. However, it would seem that a good case can be made that greed and especially a bruised ego played a more prominent role. In any event this scholarly work is well worth reading.

[Steve Crooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

In between all the writings about Arnold it seems to stand out that the Patriots won the revolution in spite of the Continental Congress who differ little from the current incumbents in Congress. We really owe a lot to George Washington who prevailed despite Congress's half-hearted support of the struggle.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

For historians, this book is probably a delight. For this novice delving into Revolutionary War nonfiction, finishing this well-researched, heavily notated tome proved to be educational and challenging. I do have a stronger foundation in the politics of the War for Independence because of this book.

[Kelly Marsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

While interesting, the tangents, from short to several pages long, to contextualize one small piece of information made this a lot harder to get through. It almost felt like there was more information on the side characters of Arnold's life and choices than Arnold himself and the ending was very abrupt leaving little about his life post defection.

[Daniel Pearse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very in depth and informative biography of Benedict Arnold and why he decided to "betray" the American Revolution and return his allegiance back to Great Britain.
I wonder what would have happened if he had married differently? Would he now be considered on of America's greatest heroes?
Really well done and balanced with a lot of good information.

[Jack Hargraves-Dix · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want to read about Benedict Arnold, I would recommended: “The Tragedy of Benedict Arnold” by Joyce Lee Malcolm.

This was still pretty good. Less of a character study and more of a historical story. Part of the subtitle includes “the Crisis of Liberty” so while Arnold is the focus the book delves deep into other elements of the Revolutionary War, which was fairly interesting.

[Zachary Coppage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, I remember learning about Benedict Arnold in school but I couldn't remember what he had actually done. Not only does this book explain what happened but gives a background into WHY it happened as well. I had a hard time putting this down.

[Tim McRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely golden how childish and petulant the founding fathers and grown men behaved. lol. This book really lays out the events of his life beautifully... and doesn't pull any punches when it comes to describing the behavior of all involved.

[Joe Mcateer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brumwell's book goes beyond the story of events and into the mind and motives of America's most notorious traitor.

[Lacey Loves cats! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clearly aimed at the academic rather than casual reader. Parts of it dragged but overall it was a splendid slice of Revolutionary intrigue.

[Rahobeth Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great look at the reasons that led Benedict Arnold to betray his country. The author tells of motives other than money that ultimately caused Benedict to decide to side with the British and attempt to let West Point fall into enemy hands. Also gives a nice follow up to Benedict's life after returning to England.

[Jonathan]

I may go back to this. It was interesting enough, with perhaps too many names and military moves. But I think I'd like to finish it some day.