Benedict Arnold in the Company of Heroes by Arthur S. Lefkowitz

Author:Arthur S. Lefkowitz [Lefkowitz, Arthur S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, United States, Revolutionary Period (1775-1800), Biography & Autobiography, Military
ISBN: 9781611211122
Google: dMWIDwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Grub Street Publishers
Published: 2013-01-19T04:08:30+00:00

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1 Writing to Arnold on December 5, 1775, Washington assured Arnold that his officers and he would not be forgotten in the planned reorganization of the Continental Army: “I was not unmindful of you or them [Arnold's officers] in the Establishment of a new army—One out of 26 Regiments (likely Genl. Putnams) you are appointed to the Command of, and I have Ordered all the Officers with you, to the one or the other of these Regiments, in the Rank they now bear… .” W.W. Abbot, et al., eds., The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, II: 494.

2 Burr's friendly biographers often twisted this story to read that he joined Washington's military family until a more suitable appointment could be procured for him. See, for example, Samuel L. Knapp, Life of Aaron Burr (New York: Wiley & Long, 1835), 81. The idea of Burr marking time at headquarters is silly because the most desirable and prestigious post for an aide-de-camp was on Washington's personal staff.

3 For an account of the American retreat from New York City, see Henry P. Johnston, The Campaign of 1776 Around New York and Brooklyn (Brooklyn, New York: The Long Island Historical Society, 1878), 237-239. There is an excellent folded map of colonial Manhattan Island, including the American and British troop positions during the Battle of Kips Bay, in the back of this book. The story of Burr's guiding the troops out of New York also appears in Christopher Ward, The War of the Revolution, 2 vols. (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1952), I: 243. Ward says that General Putnam “would have found himself hopelessly entrapped, had not young Aaron Burr, his aide-de-camp, guided him to an unfrequented road along the west side, close to the Hudson.”

4 Supporting the story about Duncan being at Fort Washington is W. W. Abott, et al., eds., The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, VI: 485, and Heitman, Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army, 206. Although it is known that Duncan was taken prisoner by the British, his name does not appear on a list of American officers and volunteers who were British prisoners from the Arnold Expedition on May 18, 1776. Force, ed., American Archives, Fourth Series, IV: 708-709. Duncan was from Pennsylvania, and troops from that colony made up the bulk of the Fort Washington garrison.

5 George Washington to Nicholas Cooke, letter dated “Head Qrs Harlem Heights [northern Manhattan Island] Octr 12, 1776” in W.W. Abbot, et al., eds., The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, VI: 544-545.

6 George Washington to John Hancock, dated “Head Quarters, Heights of Harlem [upper Manhattan Island] Septr 28 1776,” in Ibid., VI:421. Col. Hugh Stephenson was in Virginia at the time of his death recruiting a new rifle regiment for the Continental Army. He was reported to have died from “a return of camp fever.” For additional information about Stephenson, see Danske Dandridge, Historic Shepherdstown (Charlottesville, Virginia: The Michie Company, 1910), 349.

7 Ibid., VII: 93.

8 Ibid.

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