North of Albany, New York about 50 miles south of the Adirondack high peaks sits the bustling community of Saratoga Springs. Renowned for its racetrack, spas and mineral water Saratoga vibrates with the tony electricity only money can buy. About 8 miles outside town a wide expanse of open fields and woods has been set aside as a national landmark. It was here in 1777 that one of the most crucial battles of the Revolutionary War was fought. Tourists who take guided tours of the expansive battlefield are puzzled by a monument that has no name - only an empty boot carved into granite.
The boot honors the most reviled traitor in American history - Benedict Arnold. He won the honor by leading American forces to victory against a British force from Canada commanded by "Gentleman Johnny Burgoyne". He lost the honor by betraying George Washington and the Revolution in September 1780, when he sold the defense plans to the fort at West Point to the British. Hailed in 1777 and reviled in 1780, no man in American military history ascended to heroism and plummeted to treachery as rapidly as Benedict Arnold.
If not for his courage of Benedict Arnold at Saratoga and a year earlier at the Battle of Valcour Island the state of New York would be a province in Canada. Benedict Arnold is a true American hero who deserves more than an empty boot to honor his deeds.
What an odd and fascinating person Benedict Arnold must have been. It would be great to know more about him -- like why he decided to turn traitor. Thanks for this interesting little snippet!
ReplyDeleteAn empty boot (unnamed or not) seems like a really backhanded memorial. It looks fairly new as well, you'd think that time would have lessened the revile for Benedict Arnold.
ReplyDeleteI'm fascinated by these two sides of Benedict Arnold. I'd only known him as a traitor...not as someone who saved New York from the clutches of Canadian rule. Makes me want to know more about this heroic turncoat.
ReplyDeleteI don't see anything advertising your book. It seems this should be here somewhere prominently - built into the page. Not so it looks like a sidebar advertisement, but a significant part of the page - showing the depth of your work and the motivation for the page.
ReplyDeleteLove your ideas, but I wonder about each of words "ironic" "American" "history". Each leaves me nonplussed. For PR, I don't think "ironic" sells like "scoundrels". "American", why just that? "History" - not doing it for me on a Sunday morning. But I am about to look at the news online. That dynamic is so very different than old-school reading. I keep wondering whether incorporating breaking news of scoundrels would be a cool road in to your site for many readers. When you open up your blog what you would see is blogs about Dorner, Postirius,...
While it wouldn't get you as many hits as things that are really new, you might go backwards for a bit just to populate your blog. That way new visitors get to see a bunch of stuff. Do one of Russel Means, Lance Armstrong, and a few others.
Doctor Henley, I like you new Blog. Being a fan of history myself I always find it interesting to reexamine history especially American History.Thanks
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