Benedict Arnold’s reputation remains a constant dance of loyalities between his country of birth and to the next door neighbour, a colony of Great Britain. He died and was butied in London, England.
Taken from the Journal of one of Benedict Arnolds’s Troopers
Benedict Arnold was a member of the American Army and infamous for his changing loyalty between the United States and Great Britian.
In the fall of 1775 General Arnold was appointed by General Washington to lead 700 soldiers to Quebec City up through Main into the Gaspe and on to capture the the City of Quebec.
Arnold failed in his mission and returned to the United States a defeated man.
While passing through the Gaspe a journal of one his troopers wrote these thoughts of the people and their hospitality.
“The French Inhabitants Carried all our Provisions and Baggage and were very kind and hospitable to us. All camped in the French houses and bought Bread Milk Eggs Potatoes Rum Brandy Sugar Turkeys Fowl etc.Their fences are made of Ceader Cedar) Stakes Drove Down into the Ground about 2 inches from each other. All their Farming Tools and household Furniture is very Poor. They draw their Oxen by the horns. Their houses and Barns are Chiefly Thatched and very Poor. They Lodge Chiefly on Straw Beds which are raised on Bedsteads about 2 feet high. Their Windows are Chiefly Paper but Some Glass. A Good Chunked Breed of Horses. Small Cattle. Poor Hogs. Very Good Fowls of all sorts. No Chairs to set on. All set on blocks and Stools etc. It is to be observed the French in these Back settlements are very Stupid, not one to 400 that could read one word, but were very Precise in Saying their Prayers Counting their Beads and Crossing themselves.” (sic)