Benedict Arnold: A Revolutionary War Hero Turned Infamous Traitor

Background

Benedict Arnold was an early American hero of revolutionary war. Later he became one of the most infamous traitors in the history of the United States (Tillson Jr, 2013). He was considered a traitor for switching sides from the United States to Britain. George Washington bestowed him with the fullest trust when Arnold decided to surrender the fort to British forces. He was widely known as the treason and betrayal for he was fought with those men whom he had once commanded. The life of Benedict Arnold is the aim of the essay focusing his life from birth to post-revolutionary war. In the essay, the life of Benedict Arnold is discussed beginning with his background, personal life, his plan to betray the United States and his later life.

Benedict Arnold was born on January 14, 1741, in Norwich, Connecticut (United States) and died on June 14, 1801, London, England. He was a merchant who was operating ships on the Atlantic oceans during the inception of the war. Through the acts of bravery and intelligence, Arnold joined the growing army outside Boston. Following his father and great-grandfather who was an early governor of Rhode Island one of a number was Benedict Arnold. Hannah Waterman King, Arnold’s mother, was a wealthy widow before she got married to the elder Arnold (Philbrick, 2017). He belonged to a wealthy family that prospered until some poor business deals caused financial problems. He attended school at Canterbury. His two sister, one brother, died suffering from yellow fever. Arnold was withdrawn from school due to lack of money, therefore, he did not receive any formal schooling. Lack of formal education and parent control Arnold often got into trouble. With the help from family, Arnold was taken into the apothecary business. Often he discontinued his apprenticeship in order to join the army during the French and Indian war. However, he sustained in the family business for years.

After the death of his mother and father, he left apprenticeship and travelled to Europe where he established his own apothecary. Hannah, his sister, was the only surviving member of his immediate family who became his assistance and helped him. Soon, his business dealings turned into smuggling. Arnold married Margaret Mansfield in 1767 and soon had three sons. He also became a captain in the governor’s second company of guard before the official outbreak.

In 1775, between Great Britain and thirteen American colonies the revolution broke out. During this period Arnold became a part of the Continental army. While he was working under a commission from the revolutionary government of Massachusetts, he partnered with Ethan Allen who was the Vermont frontiersman and Allen’s Green mountain boys. The partnership was for capturing the unsuspicious British garrison at Fort Ticonderoga in the year 1775. In the same year, Arnold was leading a voyage on a challenging trek from Maine to Quebec. In order to rally the citizens of Canada with a nationalist reason was the primary purpose for the journey and to deprive the Britain government of a northern base from which to strikes into the thirteen colonies. As Arnold did not have another choice, he had to launch a desperate attack on December 31, 1775, against Quebec City through a blizzard. In the battle’s initial time Arnold was severely injured in his leg, and he was taken to the battlefield’s backside. In the battle there were hundreds of American soldiers who died, and many were injured and captured. British retained Canada in their hand (Breen, 2017).

Benedict Arnold and the American Revolution

In late 1776, Arnold was recovered to some extent from his wound. He was getting ready to enter the field once again. Arnold was one of the people who played a vital role in creating an obstacle for British in invading from Canada into New York during the fall of the same year. He was an intelligent captain and his prediction of British general Guy Carleton sailing an invasion force down lake chaplain also proved correct in that time. He was the supervisor of the rapid manufacture of an American flotilla on that lake so that he could meet Carleton’s fleet. During the October of 1776, America’s foes were surprised near the Valcour Bay. Although America’s way was driven by Carleton’s flotilla, Carleton’s approach was delayed by Arnold’s action. The action was delayed to such an extent that by the time the British general made it to New York, the battle was almost towards the ending. The British had no other way but to return back to Canada. The patriot cause from becoming into a potential disaster was saved by Arnold’s performance in the battle.

According to Arnold, his heroic performance and services did not get the deserving recognition. Later five junior officers were promoted above him which made him resign from the Continental Army in the year 1777.  The commander chief of the Continental Army, General George Washington insisted Arnold reconsider, and he was convinced to rejoin the army. Under General John Burgoyne in the year 1777, Arnold responded and joined the military in time to participate in defence of central New York from a British force (Gooch, 2015).

During 1728-1806, while the battle against Burgoyne, Arnold was serving under General Horatio Gates. General Horatio Gates was the officer whom Arnold approached when he faced the disrespect. Since there were a mutual antipathy and an existing history between them, at one instance Gate relieved Arnold of his command.

In Arnold’s term as governor, the rumours that circulated around Philadelphia was about his misuse of his position for his personal benefit. There were several questions revolving his courtship and his marriage with the daughter of the man who was doubted of loyalist sympathies. Arnold lived a lavish life with his wife and children accumulating a considerable debt. The recognition and promotion that he did not receive were the things pushing him in becoming a betrayer. He had even stated that from the endless suffering in the American army, his interest would be served better helping British (Washington & Army, 2014).

In late 1779, negotiation with the British had begun from Arnold’s side about the American fort at West Point, New York in return of money and a position in the British army. John Andre was the chief intermediary of Arnold who was captured in the September 1780 while disguised in civilian clothes he was crossing between the British and American lines. The papers that were found from Andre conveyed Arnold in treason. Arnold fled to British lines when he became aware of the fact that Andre was captured before the Patriots could capture him. Since America retained West point, Arnold received only a portion of what was promised to him. Andre was hand by the American as a spy in 1780 (Fissell, 2016).

Arnold was soon seen as the most reviled figure in the history of the United States. It is ironical the way his treason turned out as his final service provided to the American cause. Although the slow progress toward the independence frustrated Americans, the betrayal of Arnold angered the patriot’s slowing morale and reenergized it.

After Arnold came to the enemy behalf, he was given a commission with the British army. He aided in many petty engagements that occurred against Americans. After forth the war when America won the victory with the treaty of Paris in 1783, Arnold continued to reside in England. On June 14, 1801, he died in London, England. The British considered him with ambivalence, and in the meantime Americans, his former countrymen despised him (Hughes, 2013). When he died his name was only alive in the and where he was born, and that was with a synonym with the word ‘traitor’ (Randall, 2014).

Benedict Arnold was a hero with extraordinary intelligence and bravery. He was considered a traitor for switching sides from the United States to Britain. However, in the end he did not receive what he wanted, a prestigious position in the army which he desired since childhood. At different points he was loyal to the United States and to the Britain, however from neither did he receive satisfactory recognition. Lastly he died when his health began declining. He suffered from gout for few years. His legs were in severe pain for few years when he had to take cane to walk. He could not survive even after medication. Few historians consider him as minor figure while fictional invocation of Benedict Arnold’s name can strongly give negative overtones.

Reference:

Breen, T. H. (2017). “Baubles of Britain”: the American and consumer revolutions of the eighteenth century. In Colonial America and the Early Republic (pp. 197-228). Routledge.

Fissell, M. C. (2016). English Warfare, 1511–1642. Routledge.

Gooch, J. (2015). The Plans of War: The General Staff and British Military Strategy c. 1900-1916. Routledge.

Hughes, M. (2013). Allenby and British strategy in the Middle East, 1917-1919. Routledge.

Philbrick, N. (2017). Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution. Penguin.

Randall, W. S. (2014). Benedict Arnold: patriot and traitor. New Word City.

Tillson Jr, A. H. (2013). Patriotic Gore. History: Reviews of New Books, 41(4), 113-116.

Washington, G., & Army, C. (2014). The American Revolution: 1775-1783. Vol. II. Boston: Little, Brown.