Benedict Arnold – Traitor of the American Revolution
Okay, let’s talk about Benedict Arnold. You know, that Benedict Arnold. The name that’s practically synonymous with "traitor" in American history. But before we dive into the whole betrayal thing, let’s rewind and see what made this guy tick.
Born in Norwich, Connecticut, way back in 1741, Benedict was one of six kids. Sadly, only he and his sister Hannah made it to adulthood. His family had some social standing and a decent business going, but things took a turn when his dad started hitting the bottle hard. Young Benedict had to drop out of private school and get an apprenticeship to help support the family.
Before he became a soldier, Arnold tried his hand at being an apothecary (that’s like a pharmacist back in the day) under the guidance of his uncles. He also had a brief stint in the New York Militia during the French and Indian War, but he deserted twice because his family needed him at home. Talk about family drama!
He was super close to his mom, and when she died, his dad’s drinking got even worse. Benedict stepped up, taking care of his dad and his younger sister. After his dad passed away, Benedict moved himself and his sister to New Haven, Connecticut, where he opened a small store. He was successful, owning ships that sailed from the Caribbean to Canada.
In 1767, he got married to Margaret Mansfield, and they had three sons together.
From Merchant to Military Man
Fast forward to 1775, the start of the Revolutionary War. Arnold was a merchant, sailing ships all over the Atlantic. But when the fighting broke out, he jumped right in, joining the American army near Boston. And let me tell you, he made a name for himself pretty quickly.
He was smart, he was brave, and he knew how to get things done. After the events at Lexington, he led his Connecticut Militia Company to Cambridge, Massachusetts. He proposed a return attack on the British. He even convinced the bigwigs to let him lead a raid on British Fort Ticonderoga in New York. That’s where things got interesting.
On the way to Ticonderoga, Arnold bumped into Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys, who had the same idea. After a bit of arguing (as you do), they decided to share command. And guess what? They captured the fort with hardly any resistance! Arnold’s crew kept the ball rolling, taking Crown Point and Fort George, too. Not a bad start, right? His wife died that same month.
But here’s where the cracks start to appear. Arnold felt like he was being pushed aside, not getting the recognition he deserved. Still, he didn’t let it stop him.
Heroics and Hurt Feelings
In September 1775, Arnold joined the American invasion of Canada. The plan was to add a "Fourteenth Colony" to the cause, but it didn’t work out. The attack on Quebec was a disaster, but Arnold was seen as a hero for his bravery and tactical skills, even after getting shot in the leg. He got promoted to brigadier general for his efforts.
The following summer, Arnold was put in charge of the American Naval Fleet in Lake Champlain. His mission was to defend the area, but he got into a bit of a tiff with his superior, General Horatio Gates. Arnold took the offensive against a British fleet, and even though he didn’t win the battle, he saved a lot of his men. But Gates wasn’t happy, saying Arnold had disobeyed orders.
Now, Arnold was starting to feel seriously underappreciated. He was feuding with his bosses and felt like Congress was snubbing him when it came to promotions. But 1777 was his chance to prove himself.
When the British started making moves toward Fort Schuyler, General Philip Schuyler sent Arnold to stop them. Arnold pulled a fast one, blackmailing a loyalist into spreading rumors among the Indians about his coming. It worked! The British allies retreated, and Arnold saved the day.
But the drama wasn’t over. When Arnold returned to Albany, he butted heads with General Gates again. During a battle near Stillwater, Arnold was relieved of command after arguing with Gates about whether or not to attack the British. On October 7, Burgoyne attacked again closer to the American lines. Seeing the enemy entrenched, Arnold rode to the battlefield to lead an American attack that captured an enemy stronghold, all against Gates’ orders. This minor victory led the Americans to gain the position they needed to force a British surrender. Arnold was wounded in the same leg that he suffered an injury in Canada.
Despite being thanked by Washington and Congress, he was promoted to Major General and sent to Philadelphia to recover, as he could not command the field.
The Turn
While recovering in Philadelphia, Arnold started hanging out with Loyalist sympathizers. He married Peggy Shippen, who came from a Loyalist family. It’s said that she played a big role in connecting him with the British commanders he would eventually betray the Americans for.
As rumors about his loyalty started swirling, Arnold asked for a new assignment. He wanted to be in charge of West Point, a super important American fort on the Hudson River. And that’s when the plan really started to take shape.
The Betrayal
General George Washington, who admired Arnold, gave him command of West Point in July 1780. Arnold’s plan was simple: surrender the fort to the British. But things went sideways in September when the American militia captured a British major named John André carrying papers that exposed the whole plot.
The British had promised Arnold a hefty sum of money for West Point, but now the deal was off. Arnold managed to escape to the British lines, but André was captured and hanged as a spy.
West Point was a huge strategic prize, and losing it would have been a major blow to the American cause. Even though Arnold didn’t succeed in handing it over, the British still rewarded him with a commission as a brigadier general in their army, a pension, money for his lost property, and command of troops. He even led British forces against the very soldiers he used to command!
And that’s how Benedict Arnold became a household name for treason.
Why?
People have been debating the reasons for Arnold’s betrayal ever since it happened. Was it the money? Was it the lack of recognition? Was it his Loyalist wife’s influence? Maybe it was a combination of all these things. Whatever the reason, his decision changed the course of his life and cemented his place in history as the ultimate American traitor.
Life After Treason
After the war, Arnold and his family moved to London. He was welcomed by King George III and the British elite, but he wasn’t exactly popular with everyone. In 1787, he tried his hand at business in Canada, but that didn’t go so well either. He eventually returned to London for good in 1791.
In January 1801, Benedict Arnold’s health started to decline. He’d been suffering from gout for years, and it was getting worse. He died on June 14, 1801, at the age of 60. He was buried at St. Mary’s Church in Battersea, England.
The Legacy
Benedict Arnold’s name became synonymous with "traitor" almost immediately after his betrayal. People were furious. His hometown of Norwich, Connecticut, even defaced his birth record, and his family’s gravestones were destroyed.
So, yeah, Benedict Arnold is a complicated figure. He was a brilliant military leader who played a key role in the early days of the American Revolution, but he’s remembered for one thing above all else: his betrayal. And that’s why his name will forever be associated with treason in the United States.