Benedict Arnold in the Company of Heroes: The Lives of the Extraordinary Patriots Who Followed Arnold to Canada at the Start of the American Revolution

by Arthur S. Lefkowitz

Hundreds of Men followed Colonel Benedict Arnold northward on his famous expedition to capture Quebec in late December 1775. They joined with General Richard Montgomery, but after Montgomery was killed by enemy fire, his men retreated. Arnold’s troops, however, continued fighting after Arnold fell wounded and only surrendered when hopelessly outnumbered and trapped inside the city. Who were these men and what became of them? Arthur Lefkowitz answers these questions in his fresh and compelling Benedict Arnold in the Company of Heroes.

An award-winning writer on the American Revolution, Lefkowitz spent years searching through archival materials to paint splendid and compelling portraits of Arnold’s amazing cast of veterans whose fates offer a fascinating glimpse into the lives of early American patriots. His original monograph begins with an overview of the failed Canadian invasion before following these men into prison (where some devised intricate plots to break out and even seize weapons to capture the city). Despite their hardships, many returned to the rebel army to continue their fight for independence.

Arnold’s men, explained George Washington, were worthy of particular notice and they never disappointed him. Some of those portrayed in detail include Charles Porterfield (who led troops at Brandywine); Daniel Morgan (the hero of Cowpens); Henry Dearborn and Timothy Bigelow (who fought alongside their old commander at Saratoga); Christian Febiger and Return Jonathan Meigs (who were at the forefront of the attack on Stony Point); Simeon Thayer (who refused to surrender Fort Mifflin); and Colonel Aaron Burr (whose impressive wartime record was marred by his tumultuous political career). What accounts for the inspired leadership of so many veterans from Arnold’s expedition? Lefkowitz presents a compelling argument that they learned by example from Benedict Arnold, himself a courageous and charismatic officer.

Original, fast-paced, and deeply researched, Benedict Arnold in the Company of Heroes is essential reading for everyone interested in our endlessly fascinating American Revolution.

312 pages, Hardcover

First published May 19, 2012

Reviews

[Donna Pingry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a great lover of historical fact...the little known tidbits, the curious nuances, the people behind the people most of us think we know. This book is a great example. I received this book as a giveaway copy from Savas Beatie LLC. I was thinking perhaps this would help me understand the man who so easily betrayed his country after so valiantly defending it. That answer never came. Instead, I got the backdoor tour of the men behind the man. It was intriguing to be a tiny fly on the wall of history. The author, Arthur Lefkowitz, filled this book with such incredible footnotes that I soon became sure that he didn't have "an agenda". The facts were interesting enough on their own that he didn't really need to create one. Instead, what he got was another reader who will be waiting to read more of his well documented novels. On the other hand, I lost a lot of respect for many of the men I learned about in school, marveled at the misinformation in so many textbooks, and have a greater appreciation for many of the true heroes that should have had more place in our education. I'd have consumed this book in my early teens on up to my senior years so if you love history, it's a great reference book to read and add to your library.

[Charles Heckman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed and carefully referenced while still a good read.

Unlike most Revolutionary history books, the author does not limit the story to Washington's army. Following the officers and men of Arnold's Expedition into Canada throughout their war careers introduced me to a deeper understanding of the Revolution.

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

What came through most was how much the author disliked Arnold. He really did not come to the point until the last chapter and then I had already lost interest in the book.