Excerpt from The Life of Benedict Arnold: His Patriotism and His Treason
Standing, not very long ago, on the battle-field of Saratoga, near where Benedict Arnold was grievously wounded, as he led as gallant a charge as was ever made, I realized that if he had died on that bloody field how brilliant would have been his record as a soldier and patriot. His name, associated with those of Montgomery and Warren, would have been canonized in American history, and his faults and foibles would have been lost in the blaze of glory which would have encircled it.
Standing there, I was impressed with the injustice which has been done him; not in condemning his treason, but in ignoring his virtues, and in refusing to recognize his great services; and I resolved to tell the story of his life truthfully and fairly. Yet conscious of the deep and merited and universal prejudice existing against him, I fear the American people will listen with some impatience to such a story of his life. He was not so black as he has been painted. I have no desire to change the indignation and resentment felt towards him for his treason. I can neither excuse nor extenuate his guilt. But I wish to make known his patriotic services, his sufferings, heroism, and the wrongs which drove him to desperation, and converted one of the most heroic men of a heroic age to the perpetration of an unpardonable crime.
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