Join the Ledyard Public Library in welcoming Matthew Reardon to talk about his new book The Traitor's Homecoming: Benedict Arnold's Raid on New London, Connecticut, September 4-13, 1781 as a part of the 2024 Connecticut Author's Trail.

By 1781, the war in North America had reached a stalemate. Throughout the summer the combined Franco-American armies of Generals George Washington and Jean-Baptiste comte de Rochambeau deceived British General Sir Henry Clinton into believing they were about to lay siege to New York City. When in fact, they were moving south toward Yorktown, Virginia, in a bid to trap Lord Cornwallis’ army against the sea. Clinton, falling for the deception, dispatched former American General Benedict Arnold to attack New London, hoping the move would derail militia reinforcements and supplies headed from Connecticut to the allied armies outside New York City, as well as destroy the privateers which operated out of its harbor.

Mr. Reardon's new book offers up a fresh interpretation utilizing dozens of newly discovered British and American sources on the battle in which Colonel William Ledyard, namesake of the town, was killed. Indeed, Reardon achieves a major reinterpretation of the battle while dismantling its myths.

Matthew Reardon is a native of northeastern Connecticut. He earned his BA in history and an MA in education from Sacred Heart University. His research interests mainly focus on Connecticut during the American Revolution and Civil War. He served as executive director of the New England Civil War Museum & Research Center for more than 15 years. He currently works as a middle school teacher in Vernon, Connecticut, and serves as a command historian for the Connecticut Military Department. Matthew, his wife Melisa, and son Michael live in Enfield, Connecticut.