The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777 (The Revolution Trilogy Book 1)

by Rick Atkinson

This year it had been Benedict Arnold’s turn. “No man ever maneuvered with more dexterity, fought with more bravery, or retreated with more firmness,” declared James Thacher, an American army physician. Upon Britain’s retraction into Canada—“of as great consequence as if they had been defeated,” in Brigadier General Arthur St. Clair’s assessment—Arnold promptly headed south with reinforcements for General Washington. When he finally went home to see his sons in Connecticut, he would draw cannon salutes and a hero’s welcome in Hartford, Middletown, and New Haven. Once again he had demonstrated that he was the most competent battle commander in an American uniform, and perhaps the finest combat officer for either side, able to lead other men through peril, on land or otherwise, with ferocity, prudence, judgment, luck, and an implacable will.