Who the Heck is Benedict Arnold?

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Yes, he betrayed his country. But it’s worth considering some facts about our most infamous traitor:

1. They were all traitors. Every American who took up arms against King George III during the Revolution was committing high treason and subject to hanging.

2. He led the charge. Benedict Arnold was responsible for the patriots’ first offensive operation. Three weeks after Lexington and Concord, he captured the strongest fort in North America and secured the colonies’ northern border.

3. He rivaled Hannibal. Arnold led a thousand-man army over the Maine mountains to attack Quebec, a feat considered among the greatest military expeditions in history.

4. He paid the price. Arnold’s successful business went down the tubes and he was seriously wounded in service to his country—twice.

5. He turned the tide. The patriot victory at Saratoga in 1777, considered the turning point of the Revolution, was largely the work of Benedict Arnold.

In December, St. Martin’s Press will publish my book GOD SAVE BENEDICT ARNOLD: The True Story of America’s Most Hated Man. It’s an American story, intriguing, paradoxical, and one of the most thought-provoking tales of our founding era.

Visit JackKellyBooks.com to pre-order and nail down a copy of the book in advance.