Rabble in Arms Summary

Rabble in Arms Plot Summary

Covers the whole plot, including the ending.

1. The Road to Quebec

   The story opens with Peter Merrill, a young man from Arundel, Maine, caught up in the American Revolution. He joins Benedict Arnold's expedition to Quebec, a difficult journey through the Maine wilderness. Peter is initially driven by patriotism and a desire for adventure, leaving his family and home behind. The early march is brutal, with starvation, disease, and constant threats of desertion. Peter quickly learns the harsh realities of war and leadership, seeing both the strength and weakness of his fellow soldiers. He bonds with Cap Huff, a seasoned frontiersman, and admires Arnold's determination despite the troops' hardships.

2. The Siege of Quebec

   Upon reaching Quebec, the American forces, weakened and exhausted, try to besiege the fortified city. Peter Merrill takes part in the failed assault on December 31, 1775. The attack is a disaster; General Montgomery is killed, and Benedict Arnold is wounded. Peter sees firsthand the British defenses' effectiveness and the severe losses the Americans suffer. He faces the grim reality of combat and random death. Despite the defeat, the remaining Americans, led by Arnold, maintain a loose blockade of Quebec through the winter, enduring extreme cold, smallpox, and dwindling supplies. Peter experiences the demoralizing effect of long inactivity and the constant threat of British attacks.

3. Retreat from Canada

   With British reinforcements arriving in the spring, the American position in Canada becomes impossible to hold. Peter Merrill participates in the long retreat from Quebec, a desperate withdrawal marked by disease, starvation, and constant harassment from pursuing British forces. He sees the complete collapse of the American invasion, as soldiers die from smallpox and dysentery, and morale plummets. The retreat shows a strong will to survive, with Peter and his comrades pushing through immense suffering. During this time, Peter's admiration for Arnold grows as he watches Arnold's relentless efforts to save his men and salvage what he can from the disastrous campaign, often against the incompetence and betrayal of other American officers.

4. Building a Fleet on Lake Champlain

   After the retreat from Canada, the story moves to Lake Champlain, the waterway connecting Canada and the American colonies. Peter Merrill is involved in Benedict Arnold's effort to build a fleet of warships from scratch at Skenesborough (now Whitehall, New York) to counter the expected British invasion. This period shows Arnold's resourcefulness and leadership, as he turns raw timber into a fighting navy in months. Peter helps with the construction, learning about naval warfare and the strategic importance of controlling the lake. The urgency of the task is clear, as the Americans know that if the British control Lake Champlain, they will have a clear path to invade New York and potentially divide the colonies.

5. The Battle of Valcour Island

   Peter Merrill participates in the Battle of Valcour Island, a naval engagement on Lake Champlain where Benedict Arnold's hastily built fleet confronts a stronger British force. Despite being outgunned and outnumbered, Arnold uses clever tactics to damage the British and, more importantly, delay their advance. Peter experiences the chaos and terror of naval combat, seeing the bravery of his comrades and the power of cannon fire. Though the American fleet is destroyed, Arnold's actions buy time for the Continental Army to prepare defenses farther south, stopping a British invasion down Lake Champlain in 1776. Peter survives the battle and the subsequent escape of the American remnants.

6. Fort Ticonderoga and the Northern Department

   After the naval campaign, Peter Merrill is at Fort Ticonderoga, a key defensive position. The story then shifts to the deteriorating state of the Northern Department under General Philip Schuyler, and later, General Horatio Gates. Peter observes the political disputes, lack of supplies, and general disarray in the American forces. He witnesses the stunning fall of Fort Ticonderoga to General Burgoyne's advancing British army, a defeat that shocks the American colonies. Peter experiences the despair and confusion among the troops, who are ill-equipped and poorly led. His admiration for Arnold remains, as Arnold is often the most active and capable officer among the general incompetence.

7. The Road to Saratoga

   Following Ticonderoga's fall, Peter Merrill is part of the retreating American army trying to slow Burgoyne's advance through upstate New York. He sees General Schuyler's strategic skill in hindering British progress by felling trees, destroying bridges, and creating obstacles. As American forces regroup and grow with militia arrivals, Peter senses a shift in morale. The story highlights the growing tension between General Gates and Benedict Arnold, with Arnold frustrated by Gates's caution and his lack of recognition. Peter observes Arnold's restless energy and his desire to fight the enemy, contrasting sharply with Gates's more passive approach.

8. The First Battle of Saratoga (Freeman's Farm)

   Peter Merrill participates in the First Battle of Saratoga, specifically the engagement at Freeman's Farm. He fights under Benedict Arnold, who, despite being nominally under General Gates, takes initiative and leads a fierce attack against the British lines. Peter experiences the brutal, close-quarters fighting, seeing the bravery and determination of the American soldiers. Arnold's aggressive tactics inflict heavy casualties on the British and prevent them from breaking American defenses. However, General Gates, driven by jealousy and a desire for sole credit, fails to reinforce Arnold and later tries to diminish Arnold's role in the victory, leading to a major conflict between the two generals. Peter knows the injustice done to Arnold.

9. Arnold's Disgrace and the Second Battle of Saratoga (Bemis Heights)

   After the First Battle, the conflict between Gates and Arnold grows, ending with Gates relieving Arnold of his command. Peter Merrill observes Arnold's frustration and humiliation. Despite being without an official command, during the Second Battle of Saratoga (Bemis Heights), Arnold, driven by patriotism and military skill, rides onto the battlefield and rallies the American troops at a critical moment. Peter witnesses Arnold's bravery as he leads a decisive charge against the Hessian redoubt, despite being severely wounded in the leg. This heroic act breaks the British lines and secures the American victory, forcing Burgoyne's surrender. Peter sees Arnold's uncredited, but undeniable, role in the triumph.

10. Aftermath and Reflection

    Immediately after Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga, Peter Merrill witnesses the elation and relief among the American troops. He reflects on his journey, from the march to Quebec to the decisive victory at Saratoga. The personal cost of the war, and the sacrifices of many individuals, weigh heavily on him. He observes the political maneuvering that deprives Arnold of his credit for the victory, foreshadowing Arnold's later tragic path. Peter, with Cap Huff, looks to the future, understanding that while a major victory has been achieved, the war for independence is far from over. He carries with him the lasting experiences of hardship, courage, and complex heroism.

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