Benedict Arnold: The Traitor
On January 14, 1741 a man by the name of Benedict Arnold was born in Norwich, Connecticut. Benedict Arnold was born into wealth, but his father wasted away their money so Arnold started apprenticed at an apothecary shop. He worked at the apothecary shop up until he fought in the French and Indian War from 1754–1763. After the French and Indian War, Arnold gained his wealth in the trading business. In 1767 Benedict Arnold married the love of his life Margaret Mansfield where they had three children. Not long after they had their last child Margaret became ill and passed away in 1775.
When someone hears the name Benedict Arnold they associate it with the word traitor. Although, this was a fair assumption this was not always the case. Arnold was actually at one point and time considered a decorated war hero in the colonies. When the 13 colonies rebelled against the authority of Great Britain it started the American Revolutionary War. When this happened on April 19, 1775 Arnold did not hesitate to join the Continental Army. Arnold was able to join the war effort by a commission from the revolutionary government in Massachusetts.[1]
Arnold got his start in the war when he partnered up with the Green Mountain Boys. The forces of Arnold and the Green Mountain Boys surprised an unsuspecting British garrison at Fort Ticonderoga in New York on May 10, 1775. In 1776 Arnold also played a key role in preventing a British invasion from Canada into New York.
Although, he had done all of these heroic deeds he did not receive the recognition that he deserved. So in 1777 he resigned from the Continental Army after Congress decided to promote five junior officers above Arnold. When George Washington who at this time was the commander in chief of the Continental Army he urged Arnold to rethink his decision. After giving it some thought Arnold did decide to rejoin the army, and help with the defenses of central New York City against an invading Great Britain under General John Burgoyne in the fall of 1777.
Arnold took orders from General Horatio Gates. Arnold looked down upon Gates, and thought that he did not deserve the position. Gates felt the same way about Arnold. At one point Gates relieved Arnold of his command. At a key battle which was the Battle of Bemis Heights occurred on October 7, 1777. During this battle the British had made the Continental Army retreat, but Arnold was not done fighting. He defied a direct order that Gates gave him and took command of a group of soldiers where he then attacked the British soldiers. When Arnold did this it made the British dazed and confused, this helped give the victory to the colonies.[4]
Just 10 days later General Burgoyne surrendered his entire forces at Saratoga. When this news reached the French this was the deciding factor for them to join the side of the colonies. Once again Arnold had helped secured the independence that the colonies so desperately desired. Although, Arnold lead the forces that ensured the victory Gates downplayed his involvement in the battle. In the official reports that Gates sent he gave most of the credit to himself. During this battle Arnold seriously injured his led, and he was ruled incapable to take a field command. Instead Arnold took the position of military governor of Philadelphia. It was at this point that Arnold’s loyalties began to waiver.
During his time as the military governor rumors began to spread that Arnold was abusing his powers while he was in charge of Philadelphia. During this time he met a woman and began a courtship with a woman by the name of Peggy Shippen whose father was a supposed British loyalist. He would eventually marry Peggy Shippen where they would have five children. Their family would live a lavish life, and during this time they would collect an enormous amount of debt. The debt that he gained during his time as the military governor. The debt and the disrespect that he felt after being passed up for so many promotions are some of the main things that made Arnold become a turncoat.[2]
By the end of 1779 Arnold had begun to start secret negotiations to where Arnold would hand over West Point to the British, in return Arnold wanted a large sum of money and a command in the British army. Arnold was reporting to Major John Andre, and they were negotiating back and forth. John Andre was captured while he was crossing between American and British lines. He had been in a meeting with Arnold where they found papers that showed Arnold’s treason. When Arnold learned of the capture he fled to the British lines before American forces could capture him.[3]
When Arnold joined the British he obtained a small commission, and fought in several small engagements against the Americans. After the war Arnold went back to England where he lived out the remainder of his life. Arnold died on June 14, 1783 in London, England. After his death the British honored him and the Americans despised him. After Arnold’s death the people of America remembered Arnold as the traitor and that is what he is still known to this day.
[1] Willard Wallace, The Life and Fortunes of Benedict Arnold, (Harper and Brothers Publishers, New York, 1954) 5–10
[2] Carl Doren, Secret History of the American Revolution, (The Viking Press, New York, 1941), 168–172
[3] Carl Doren, Secret History of the American Revolution, (The Viking Press, New York, 1941), 196–200
[4] Barry Wilson, Benedict Arnold: A Traitor in Our Midst, (McGill-Queen’s University Press, New York, 2001) 32–41
