was scolded for using poor judgment by General Washington. (Macks 118) Soon,
Arnold became enraged and irritated with his own country. He thought he deserved
to be recognized for his money, rank, and glory. (Macks 118) Only a year and a
half after Arnold?s heroic courage at Saratoga, he offered his services to the
British Army. (BA?s Leg) Arnold convinced General George Washington to give
him command over West Point, a fierce American fort in which he was soon to take
over. (Macks 118 and BA?s Leg) The West Point fort guards the Hudson River,
which is north of New York City. (Macks 118 and BA?s Leg) In May of 1779,
Arnold became in command of West Point, but he worked out a plan to surrender
the fort to the British general, Sir Henry Clinton. Benedict had arranged to
hand over the keys to West Point. (BA?s Leg) He had been corresponding with
the British for almost sixteen months. In September of 1780, a group of thieves
trapped a traveler in the woods right outside of West Point. (Macks 119)
American forces captured the man. He was turned over to the American Army where
his true identity was revealed. (Macks 119) The ?traveler? turned out to be
Major John Andrй,
who was part of the British Army. (Macks 119) He was Benedict Arnold?s
connection with the British. (BA?s Leg) The scandalous scheme was quickly
detected. (BA?s Leg) The American?s found a map and many letters in his
boot. (Macks 119 and BA?s Leg) The letters that were found, implicated
Benedict. (BA?s Leg) Arnold?s scheme to surrender West Point was fully
uncovered. (Macks 119) Before General Washington could arrest, then later
capture and kill Arnold for being a traitor, he escaped from the American?s
and went to New York City where he became a Brigadier general in the British
Army. (Macks 119 and BA?s Leg) The British sent a frigate called ?Vulture?
so he could disappear without harm. (BA?s Leg) A frigate is a fast, medium
sized sailing war ship of the eighteenth century. Soon after his escape, Arnold
began to conquer British forces. Arnold demanded 20,000 pounds from the British
for the losses he suffered in joining them. He received only 6,315 pounds. Now a
British officer, he led his new men on expeditions that burned Richmond,
Virginia and New London, Connecticut, his native state. (BA?s Leg) Thankfully,
West Point was saved. The British agent, Major John Andrй, was soon hanged by the
American Army. (Macks 120 and BA?s Leg) The British lost the battle and Arnold
became dismayed at the mistake of switching sides. (BA?s Leg) The once great
Benedict Arnold, was referred to as a ?businessman turned ruthless, ambitious
soldier?. (Macks 70) Arnold was recognized kindly by King George III when he
went to England in 1781, but others there looked down upon him. In 1797, the
British government granted him 13,400 acres in Canada. The land was of little
use to him. Benedict spent most of his remaining years as a merchant in the West
India trade, just like he had once done. His second wife Peggy was faithful to
him through all of his troubles. Arnold?s wife was considered an innocent
person throughout Arnold?s betrayal. (B Arnold) People believed that Peggy
indeed played an extremely important role in knowing what was going on with her
husband and the British. (B Arnold) Peggy had been close friends with Major John
Andrй before she met Arnold. (B Arnold) It was said that during the winter of
1777 and 1778, the young woman held many parties in her Philadelphia home. (B
Arnold) By this time, Peggy had made many friends. Her parties and balls were
strictly for people of high status. Lots of British officers and Tories
attended. (B Arnold) It was thought that she may have encouraged him to become a
traitor but it is not a proven fact. In Benedict Arnold?s last days he was
burdened with debt, became discouraged, and was basically distrusted by most
people. Arnold soon passed away in England in 1801. (BA?s Leg) He left behind
a total of eight children. (B Arnold) Five of the children were from Peggy?s
first marriage and the other three were from his first marriage to Margaret. (B
Arnold) His four sons then became members of the British military. America now
has their first despicable traitor! (Macks 120)
Bibliography
?The
Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.? Online. May 1775.
28 Feb. 2000. . ~?Benedict Arnold.? Online. 19 March 2000. . ~?Benedict
Arnold?s Leg.? Online. 7 March 2000. . ~?Benedict Arnold on Lake
Champlain. The Battle of Valcour Island.? Online. 7 March 2000. . ~Flynn, J.
Michael. ?Benedict Arnold: The Traitor Who Saved America.? Online. 18 March
2000. . ~Kenneth, Dave C. ?Say You Want a Revolution.? Don?t Know Much
About History. U.S.A: Avon Books, 1995. ~Mack, Stan. ?Redcoats and
Guerrillas.? Real Life American Revolution. USA: Avon Books, 1994.