A Fortuitous Letter:
Benedict Arnold was not a happy man.
The scene around him—his makeshift command post at Fort Ticonderoga—was an unruly mess of drunken idiots. The militia, along with Ethan Allen's Green Mountain Boys, had been slowly drinking their way through the fort's dwindling stores of alcohol since the capture of the fort itself. These were hardly the disciplined men he had envisioned leading into glory. In fact, they seemed more interested in plundering and revelry than any serious military campaign. Arnold had marched north expecting triumph, expecting to carve his name into the annals of history with this bold capture. And, true enough, glory had come—but it had been shared, to his great frustration. His subordinate and so-called deputy, Ethan Allen, had ensured that.
He had hoped that boy and girl... what was her name, Sarah and James was it? would have provided him much better publicity in the presses of Philidelphia and the rest of the colonies... but still nothing.
That man. Allen's brashness grated on Arnold's nerves like pine needles on his bare skin. Arnold couldn't shake the feeling that Allen would be the death of him one day. The two had quarreled over authority since the moment they'd met, hell he thought Allen almost had him shot because he wore that stolen red coat of his, but Arnold had to begrudgingly admit something: when it came to fighting—and drinking—the Green Mountain Boys were damn fine men and he'd want them in battle.
But respect? Obedience? They knew none of it.
He was a colonel—granted command by both Connecticut and Massachusetts. That meant something. Or at least it should have. But here, at Ticonderoga, his orders were met with sneers, laughter, and outright defiance. He could barely get them to perform the simplest of tasks. This rabble didn't care about his rank or his commission. All they saw was Ethan Allen's gang of irregulars partying and lazing about, their loyalty tied to a man who was more outlaw than an officer and followed that lead.
Why wouldn't they. It was the great Ethan Allen who won the day, with his southern side kick, Benedict Arnold.
Still, Arnold reminded himself, he was here now. He had claimed a role in this victory, no matter how diminished it felt. The cannon and supplies taken from the fort would prove invaluable to the Patriot cause, and soon he would have the chance to prove himself further. He just needed these damnable men to follow him. If only they would listen.
He clenched his jaw, feeling the tension in his shoulders. But with a slow, deliberate breath, he forced his mind back to the task at hand. There was no time to dwell on the chaos around him. There were reports to be written, and orders to draft—though whether they would be followed was another question entirely. His eyes fell to the paper in front of him, the ink and quill ready. He flexed his fingers, feeling the familiar comfort of control return with each stroke of the pen.
For all the disobedience around him, for all the rabble that threatened to undermine his authority, this—here, on paper—was where he still held command. For now.
To the Honorable Members of the Continental Congress,
From Colonel Benedict Arnold, commanding officer of the Connecticut and Massachusetts militia, stationed at Fort Ticonderoga:
I have the honor to report that on the 10th of May, in conjunction with a detachment of militia under the command of Mr. Ethan Allen, I successfully led an assault on Fort Ticonderoga. The operation was executed with minimal resistance, and the fort, along with its valuable artillery and military stores, now rests in our possession.
It is imperative to note that the fort's capture provided the Continental Army with strategic control over the route between the colonies and Canada, as well as much-needed artillery to support our efforts in the ongoing siege of Boston. The seizure of this vital stronghold serves as an important victory in our cause against British tyranny.
While I was prepared for the endeavor and bore the authority granted by both Connecticut and Massachusetts, I must acknowledge the independent forces under Mr. Allen, though their conduct at times lacked the discipline necessary for continued military success. Despite these challenges, our combined efforts have brought about this essential gain.
I await further instructions regarding the fort's defense and the proper use of the captured resources. Rest assured that I remain committed to the cause of liberty and will continue to serve the colonies with the utmost dedication.
I have the honor to be, with great respect,
Your obedient servant,
Colonel Benedict Arnold
Connecticut and Massachusetts militia
He took a breath… and did one more thing.
P.S.
Colonel Ethan Allen has expressed his eagerness to contribute further to any future operations in the northern theater, particularly in advancing our position into Canada. While his enthusiasm is notable, it is my duty to advise that any such efforts must be approached with careful consideration. I believe the success of future campaigns will depend on a more structured and disciplined force than we currently possess.
To that end, I have formulated initial plans for the possible division and reorganization of regular forces to ensure better command and efficiency in future engagements. Such restructuring would allow for a more reliable and unified front, mitigating the challenges we have faced thus far with irregular militia units. A more cohesive force would not only improve our military capacity but also ensure that operations proceed with the authority and control necessary to sustain prolonged campaigns against the enemy.
I remain at your service and am prepared to submit these plans for your review at the earliest opportunity.
Colonel Benedict Arnold.
AN: The First of Many Arnold Omakes.
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